21 February 2014. The wettest winter on record has certainly made its mark, notwithstanding the river flooding, many fields are still impassable. However, the mild conditions have meant that crop growth (where not actually underwater) has continued. Forward crops of winter wheat are at or close to GS30 and flower buds are visible in forward crops of oilseed rape. The early crop development in oilseed rape could prevent applications of post emergence herbicides so check growth stages carefully if you still have some to apply.

• Phoma new infections rare
• Light leaf spot at low levels
• Slugs still active
• Blackgrass - outstanding herbicides need applying
• Yellow rust at low levels
• Brown rust in South

Winter Oilseed Rape 

South. With no major cold weather, crops remain very leafy.
Phoma: there has been no resurgence of Phoma spotting despite wet and mild conditions.
Light leaf spot: none seen in the field or found from leaf incubation to date.
Weed control: main priority is to complete Kerb applications which for a number of farms have been outstanding now since early December – given 24-48 hours of dry weather, most lighter fields are traveling fine, problem is lower lying and wetter fields, and these may have to be switched into Crawler now. Also still some outstanding Fox applications needed for Charlock and/or runch control.

Eastern Counties. Plants showing lots of fresh growth in centres and some stem extension in places ( odd plant). A lot of purpling of outer leaves appeared on older leaves over last week following more heavy rainfall. Plan to put NS on as soon as it dries. None applied yet. Still very wet under foot.
Light leaf spot: trace levels found.
Phoma: very little signs of fresh disease.
Weed control: Still waiting to apply some herbicides but time is running out. Charlock is in flower in some fields.

East Midlands. Big range of growth. Forward crops have flower buds showing or about to show with a few wellington boot high. These will get a split growth regulator to slow them down a bit, but many now going blue/purple with wet feet. Backward and suffering crops will get an early N – probably a split of the first main application. More forward crops not hurting yet, but some crops going backwards with wet feet.
Light leaf spot: j ust one suspect crop which is now being incubated but otherwise crops look fairly clear so far.
Phoma: crops remain clean with just a few plants with lesions on upper leaves.
Weed control: Some poor blackgrass control from Kerb in some fields – generally Kerb control varies from very good to looking like none appled with black-grass showing no signs of take up – down to mild winter and wet? Some follow up with Crawler will be used on bad patches but difficult to see how to get into fields before end February. Charlock is a problem in a few fields – again getting in with Fox plus oil in time may be a challenge.

West Midlands. Majority of crops very easy to find green buds visible but as yet no obvious signs of stem extension. Crops not looking as big, bushy and forward as they did a month ago and definitely not as forward as before Christmas.
Phoma:autumn phoma control very good from one spray! With all new leaves clean at the moment.
Club root: have two cases now both on Troy, - going to start investigating purple patches to a greater degree now as initial thoughts were that the stunting was because the crop was sat in water.
Light leaf spot: none seen anywhere.
Weed control: Charlock and runch are the main issue as with the absence of any decent frost they are thriving.


North East. Crops at 8 leaf to stem extension. The continuing mild weather has resulted in rapid growthand buds are developing. A few lighter fields just able to travel and spray this week. Considering mild and forward crop, disease levels low, fungicides working well.
Phoma: still only at low levels.
Light Leaf Spot: seen in odd crop.
Weed control: Charlock needs controlling.

Winter Wheat

South. With mild conditions of last month, crops continue to grow and in many cases have produced both new leaf and tillers. Most fields are too wet to travel.
Brown rust : pustules can be found in many September drilled wheats (especially Solstice, Grafton, Cordiale and Scout).
Yellow rust : evident in non-Galmano dressed crops of Solstice and Gallant.
Weed control: Weed control from residuals and/or Atlantis follow-ups is generally looking very good (high 90%) apart from the odd field with very challenging blackgrass.

Eastern Counties. Majority of crops are at the mid-tillering stage. Later sown wheats have germinated and are starting to push through thanks to the mild conditions.
Yellow rust:a few isolated yellow rust infections here and there.  Varieties involved include Oakley, Solstice, Humber and Santiago. 
Slugs: present after oilseed rape so keep checking backward fields for levels of potential damage.
Weed control: residual herbicides have worked well, in most cases.

East Midlands. Wheat not really moved much although some forward crops at early stem extension approaching GS 29 and some crops will need a split growth regulator. Some yellowing of crops due to wet and some later sown crops now suffering with low tiller numbers. Soils remain very wet with some ponding. Generally will be 1-2 weeks before any field work as long as no further heavy rain.
Yellow rust: low levels - generally isolated and localised as opposed to easily seen.
Septoria: found on older lower leaves but many of these now rotting with constant wet. Upper leaves predominantly clean.
Mildew: low levels.
Weed control: generally good control from pre ems as moisture at application had increased their effectiveness. Autumn Unite and Atlantis application are on for the early drilled wheat. Good effects have been seen especially when mixed with Auxillary or a PDM products.

West Midlands. Crops range from one extreme to the other with most forward crops with 6-7 tillers and far too thick to crops just emerging or at 1 -2 true leaf. The vast majority has at least 2-3 tillers.
Yellow rust: trace levels only.
Septoria: early sown crops carrying high levels.
Mildew: not an issue with just enough frosts to seemingly keep it at bay
Weed control: autumn weed control has been very good with the later sown/ploughed fields almost spotless bar the odd cleaver and wild oat. The early stuff is different, with plenty of big brome, cleavers, groundsel and crane's bill where this weed is an issue, it is very noticeable how much better a job full rate Liberator and Crystal do when used to tackle either black-grass or keep known ryegrass and brome issues at bay.

North East. Crops continue to grow and majority now at GS 23. Field conditions are very wet.
Yellow rust: yet to find any.
Mildew: at low level in some forward crops.
Septoria: first infections seen in a few crops.
Weed control: Good control weeds so far this year.

Winter Barley.

South.  Mild conditions have encouraged barley crops to produce new growth and most fields now look a healthy green rather than the sickly yellow of early December. Main disease evident is net-blotch along with some brown rust (especially Volume).
West Midlands. All looking quite well , as with the wheat the early sown crops are too forward and pretty dirty with mildew still kicking around and net blotch/ryncho visible ( very few managed to get kayak on due to the wet ), majority of the remaining crops have 2-3 tillers and are looking about right. As wheat pre ems have done a good job with just low levels of cleavers, groundsel, mayweed (mainly on headlands) and volunteer oilseed rape, all of which are small. Wild oats visible where you would expect them.
East Midlands. Suffering a bit from the wet and generally has not moved forward much – if anything some crops have moved back a bit.
North East. Earliest sown now at six tiller stage. Low levels of net-blotch.