Farming News - Latest Crop Report from around the regions
News
Latest Crop Report from around the regions
25 March 2010. Crops noticeably greening up with some very rapid growth noted in oilseed rape crops. Timing of fungicides for growth regulation predicted to be first week of April. Brown rust on winter wheat found in Eastern counties but elsewhere rusts of any colour are absent. Concern that recent rain and forecast for a wet week will delay outstanding herbicide applications. Final leaf 4 yet to appear in many wheat crops so no rush for T0 fungicides and some doubt if they will be needed at all as flag leaf emergence may only be six to seven weeks away.
Winter Oilseed Rape
South East. Rosette-early stem extension (green buds still enclosed) – many crops are now showing signs of early stem extension and have responded well to applied N. ES Alienor keenest to get going again this year.
With low residual soil Nitrogen levels in evidence, N+S been applied to most crops – lowest priority are those crops with larger GAI of 1-1.5. Crops with GAI of 1 or less having 50% of remaining N applied now. Crops generally looking reasonable , and have retained GAI of 0.8-1+ in most cases. Still very little serious pigeon grazing to date in most crops.
Light leaf spot: first lesions beginning to show now in crops where no fungicides applied pre-Xmas. Proline/Sanction will be applied prior to stem extension to prevent infection of new growth.
Weed control: frost has proved to be a very effective natural “herbicide” on charlock in most crops this year. A few fields where rape has been grown closer than 1 year in 4/5 and headlands have moderate levels of Hedge Mustard.
South West. Crops now moving into stem extension however pigeon grazing persisting.
Light Leaf Spot: can be found where the pigeons have left some leaf and prothioconazole treatments will be applied as soon as ground allows. Careful assessments needed as not all leaf blotches are LLS. If in doubt incubate in polythene bags in a warm place and look out for sporulation.
Weed control: Galera applications for cleavers and thistles will be applied as soon as it dries up.
Eastern Counties. Crops have changed colour and have greened up well, plenty of new growth in plant centres and most forward have just stated stem extension. Second applications of N to be applied starting next week.
Fungicides for growth regulatory effect probably due in about 10 days + , these are late his year and it is likely that the interval will be less than usual before the early flowering sclerotinia spray is required.
Light Leaf Spot: some LLS seen in the field with low levels on Castille. Apply Folicur at early/ mid stem extension. Go early if no Nov/Dec fungicide was applied.
Weed control: a low level of poppies now germinating through a split application of Novall. Crop should smoother these hopefully. Weed beet noted in several light land fields, Galera will have some effect.
East Midlands. Growth now taking place but not shooting away but plenty of new middle leaves appearing. Generally very few crops have flower buds showing but some pigeon damaged fields vary from flower buds appearing on “bolted” stems to new growth just appearing where pigeons have feasted.
All first split now on with 2nd part of first dressing just gone on as growth occurs. Main top dressing aimed at early flower as late as spreader can get into crop to spread evenly.
Light leaf spot: have done plenty of incubations but so far none have shown LLS but vigilance is needed as new growth appears.
Weed control : Galera going on with hope of some vigorous rape growth and before flower buds appear.
West Midlands. Green buds now visible. Probably the fastest growing crop of the lot, stand still long enough and you can see it happening!! Noticed today that a crop of Excalibur was taking off a lot quicker than its neighbouring crop of Castile.
Will look to apply growth regulatory product from end of next week/week comm. 5th April.
Light leaf spot: waiting for this to appear.
Phoma: unsprayed crops still have low levels.
Weed control: Charlock in oilseed rape crops has been totally destroyed by the frosts and will not need any treatment, Runch on the other hand has survived and will need treating. No product applied as yet.
North east. Rape crops have changed dramatically in last 7 days. They now have excellent colour and most forward crops have some extension.
All early N:S applications completed now. Next application planned for next 7 days. Final application will not be until yellow bud.
Light Leaf Spot: despite higher temperatures still not seen any significant levels. 0.6 -0.75 L /Ha Folicur planned at ‘buds proud’ stage. This will be early April for most crops. A trace element mix will be included.
Weed control: patches of Mayweed seen on a few headlands.
Winter Wheat.
South East. With a run of warmer days and nights recently all crops have grown, with significant greening in response to applied N. However, growth stages remain around 2-3 weeks behind normal due to severity and duration of the winter, with most ranging from tillering to very early stem extension (ie. From GS 21-22 to 23-29), with bulk of crops still at mid-tillering. Seems likely that many crops will not approach GS 30 until early/mid-April this year, particularly as only leaf 5 is emerging at present – no pressing need to apply T0 fungicides until leaf 4 is fully emerged (unless yellow rust is present), and in many cases crops may only need a 3-spray programme this year, particularly as is now only around 8-9 weeks until ear emergence !
2.5 inches of rain since last Friday have made many fields very wet again. Soil temperatures are now at around 7-8’C.
With very low residual soil Nitrogen levels in evidence (25-40 kg/ha – virtually all low Index 0) first priority is applying N+S to most crops.
Brown rust: none seen.
Yellow rust: none seen.
Mildew: no active pustules visible now.
Septoria: very evident on all older leaves – only top 3 leaves appear free from symptoms
Weed control : outstanding Blackgrass control - Atlantis applications now being made when ground conditions are suitable (ie. Not saturated) and while soil temperatures are 7-8’C.
South West. Wheat has pushed out new leaf as soils warm and initial 40kg/ha N takes effect. soil temperatures having risen considerably. Everything is still vegetative except for an early September sown Grafton which is at GS 30. No sign of leaf 4 yet so T0s and chlormequat still on hold. Fields are wet and sticky.
Brown rust: gone in the frost.
Yellow rust: frost keeping it at bay for now.
Mildew: gone in the frost.
Weed control : Atlantis and Pacifica applications were scheduled to start this week. Unfortunately a wet start to the week has stopped progress.
Eastern Counties. Crops actively growing and majority at GS 2.5. Soils dry enough for al field operations. Daytime soil temperatures up to 11ËšC, night time temperatures 5ËšC.
Brown rust: odd pustules on susceptible varieties; Duxford, Zebedee, Cordiale. Epoxiconazole applications on susceptible varieties where there is risk of delay with GS 30 fungicide applications.
Yellow rust: none seen.
Mildew: disease present on late drilled crops and on susceptible varieties, Solstice, Conqueror and Claire, but not active.
Septoria: apparent in most crops, in particular on early drilled and forward crops.
Weed control : wild oats now at GS. 1.2 - 2.4 where not controlled in the autumn. Some spring wild oats germinating.
East Midlands. Generally crops at GS 24-29 and mainly at the GS 29 . Growth slow but sure last week with spurt over weekend after rain. Soils a bit sticky but generally OK – some water in tramlines but not stopping fieldwork.
Brown rust: none seen.
Yellow rust: none seen.
Mildew: gone in the frost.
Septoria: usual lesions found on older leaves.
Eyespot: stem browning found in Einstein in particular but hard to say if Fusarium or Eyespot at this stage.
Weed control : soil temps have not hit around 7 deg C but did fall back to 6 deg C after a frost this week. On the whole blackgrass is now active so just waiting for settled weather.
West Midlands. Crops range from three leaves to GS 30. 6mm of rain on Friday 19th followed by further rainfall has seen crops leap into life, visibly changing colour over night. Although heavy showers over the last 4-5 days ground conditions are very good, with field operations continuing.
All P and K now applied (although some are still awaiting MOP deliveries, apparently something to do with the bad winter weather and salt mining!).
Majority of clients have applied either N/S product and are now topping up to around 60-70kg total first split (some have done both jobs others are on the second time through) or where not applying sulphur products have applied first split in one pass. Probably around 10% have not applied anything yet and crops starting to look hungry.
Brown rust: none seen.
Yellow rust: none seen.
Mildew: sorted out by the cold weather.
Septoria: low levels on bottom leaves.
Weed control: Brome control - Will apply Broadway Star after T0 or where no T0 being applied approximately week beginning. 5th April. Remember 7 day interval either side of chlormequat applications.
North east: A few very forward crops of Duxford and Viscount at GS30-31. Most crops fully tillered but very little stem extension yet. Most forward crops have a split dose PGR planned with 1.75L CCC now. Other crops only a single early application of CCC + Moddus planned at T0 fungicide timing. 15 mm rainfall over last 7 days, but also had some warm drying days so fields still travelling OK, except for a few problem areas.
The first N application has been made to all crops now. Most second wheats had 65 kg, and the wheats after rape and peas had only 50 kg.
SMN results indicating less than 25kg N available in most fields, and even those had autumn chicken muck are well below expected figures.
No further N planned on wheats until second week in April.
Brown rust: none seen.
Yellow rust: none seen. However, will apply a T0 fungicide to all varieties with a resistance rating of 5 or less. This includes Oakley, Robigus, Duxford, Gallant, Glasgow and Viscount. The T0 will be 0.75 L Cherokee.
Mildew: gone in the frost.
Septoria: very high levels on all susceptible varieties, and surprisingly severe on Viscount. Robigus is relatively clean.
Eyespot: some leaf sheath penetration seen this week, but if weather stays dry the old leaves will die away and take the infection with them, so control measures not planed until T1 timing.
Weed control : there are crops where Blackgrass is not a problem and where no Autumn herbicide was applied. Meadow grass is well tillered now. There is also big chickweed in these fields. 0.75 L Othello + 40ml Boxer planned as conditions permit.
Winter Barley.
North East. Little growth in last 7days but crops have a much better colour now, and are taking up the recently applied N. Most fully tillered to GS30.
Mildew: the cold weather has stopped mildew development, but where had a high infection last Autumn the frost has taken off quite a lot of leaf from some varieties, particularly Cassia and Cassata, but crops look fine and new clean leaf appearing now.
Net-blotch: moderate level in the more susceptible varieties such as Carat , Cassata and Retriever, and very little in Cassia, Volume and Saffron. Level looks less now as new clean growth appears.
Broad spectrum fungicide mix of Proline 275 + Comet planned for early April.
West Mildands. Crops range from GS 24 - 30. Traces of net-blotch and Rhynchosporium and will probably start T1 fungicides from 5th April. East Midlands. Crops approaching 29 and looking well after the cold winter if a bit backward.Very little disease present. Sugar beet Spring Beans: drilling nearly completed and pre emergence herbicides applied. Spring barley about to emerge.
Drilling continuing on most farms (a few have finished). There was a break over the weekend following 12 mm of rain in Norfolk but light soils were fit to drill again on Monday. Seeds are germinating quickly it is warm and moist at seed level. We therefore expect little mouse damage. Seedbeds are generally fine especially where fields were ploughed pre-winter so coverage of seed is not an issue and it is important not to drill too deeply. Farmers on soils prone to capping are keeping an eye on the rainfall predicted for the end of the week, the soil surface is more stable if it can dry well before receiving any heavy rain. Conditions are good for pre-em herbicide activity and we are adding glyphosate if any weeds are present.