23 March 2012. Oilseed rape crops this time last year were mainly at the early green bud stage and under attack from pollen beetle. This year crops are a lot more advanced but forecasts for temperatures to rise above 16 degrees at the weekend could see a return of large numbers of pollen beetles. Note that once crops have started to flower control of this pest is no longer necessary. Yellow rust although present in some crops of Oakley has yet to develop significantly in other varieties. Brown rust on the other hand seems to be becoming more prevalent but still confined to the south and east.

• Pollen beetle new thresholds for control
• Brown rust in east, south and north east - keep monitoring.
• Net-blotch and Rhynchosporium developing in the NE .

New thresholds proposed for pollen beetle control in oilseed rape suggest that the thicker the crop the lower is the threshold per plant - click here for HGCA information sheet.

Winter Oilseed Rape 

South East. All crops now at early green bud with crops of Alienor even showing some yellow buds.
Phoma: no significant renewed spotting seen to date.
Light Leaf Spot: was being found widely at around 10-20% infection levels in most crops/varieties in last two weeks and particularly those that only had one autumn Phoma/PGR spray applied.
Pollen beetle: only very low levels have been found so far and well below threshold levels – warm weather forecast for next 7 days may cause a surge in numbers. Hoping that will be far fewer problems this year as crops are more advanced and generally very even in development.
Weed control: most crops beyond the growth stage for further weed control.

Eastern Counties. Crops rapidly moving into stem extension with flower buds proud. Camelot noticeably early. Variability between fields and varieties. Most forward crops have had growth regulator applied this week. Second N dressings have just been applied or some currently going on with some N held back for yellow bud (solid) or flowering ( liquid). GAIs have been used to determine quantity needed and crops with plenty of leafy canopy are receiving less N than in some years. Currently applying some trace elements B & Mn. Mg also being applied as foliar application where necessary.
Light leaf spot :  visible but levels have remained low in North West Norfolk.
Pollen Beetle: very few pollen beetle seen in the crop to date but with temperatures increasing and some sunny intervals we will need to inspect crops especially on warm sunny still afternoons.
Weed control: all applications completed.

East Midlands. Most crops very forward with GAI of 2+ in some forward crops. Even later crops are growing rapidly and in most crops flower buds are now showing above the crop. Most rape has had some nitrogen but forward crops have had relatively low amounts. Aim is to keep main application for early flowering time but concerned about potential dry weather at that time. Problem with cutting early rates is sulphur applications have been low as well. The real difficulty this year is predicting N requirements as many crops look very well so far with little or no N applied – anyone with a crystal ball re future weather would be useful.
Light Leaf Spot: just odd pieces but nothing of concern yet.. Some forward crops getting low rate Folicur now as  a means of keeping growth at bay before main growth regulator and this will give control on any light leaf spot.
Pollen Beetle : some pollen beetle found in flower of bolters and spring rape volunteers which are in flower but generally not a lot seen yet.

West Midlands. Crops really lifting off now with quite a few crops with majority buds above the crop/extending also signs of early flowers on buds that extended some weeks ago. Growth regulatory sprays being applied as of Monday of this week most crops will be done by end of this week
Phoma: no new infections.
Light Leaf Spot: very low levels which have not developed.
Pollen beetle: not an issue as yet, will start to keep an eye on the backward crops as temperatures start to climb.
Weed control: all herbicide applications made.

North East. All crops are ‘buds proud’ now, and just a tinge of yellow in the moist forward. Good. Crops have good colour and grew very quickly during recent warm spell. They have slowed a little now but are at least 10-14 days ahead of last year.
Light Leaf Spot: a few lesions can be seen in crops now but the level is not causing concern.
Phoma: no further infections seen.
Pollen Beetle: none seen yet.
Weed control: all herbicide applications made.

Winter Wheat

South. All crops now responding to applied N and have grown rapidly in last few weeks of mild weather. Crops range from late tillering to GS29 (late October+ sowings) to early stem extension GS 30-31 (September sowings) with leaf 4 up to 75% emerged now, particularly on Gallant/Solstice. Even seen tip of leaf 3 emerging in one particularly strong crop of Solstice. Following first N+S Applications to all crops, first main N doses now been applied to all second wheat and crops sown after oats/linseed and maize. Remaining wheats to get first main N applications next week to take advantage of still damp soils and dewy mornings. Soils are generally still damp enough to “wash” in nitrogen prills, but could do with a good rain in next 2 weeks to fully activate applied N.
Brown rust: just beginning to reappear now, particularly in September crops of Claire, Cordiale, Gallant, Target and Solstice.
Mildew: with very little sign to date of any fresh pustules.
Yellow rust: no foci or leaf pustule stripes seen, but remain vigilant particularly on varieties that may be prone to the Warrior race.
Septoria: most lower leaves now completely senesced due to Septoria infection.
Eyespot: quite a lot of stem based browning now appearing in many September/early October sown crops.
Weed control: where present blackgrass all spring applications of Atlantis have now been completed. However, wheat fields that in harvest 2010 had Atlantis applications delayed until the Spring of 2010 and had poor resultant blackgrass control, are now exhibiting quite high levels of Blackgrass plants unaffected by Atlantis (only 50-60% control in some cases). Fortunately, this is a small percentage of fields, but is nonetheless a worrying development.

Eastern Counties. Crops range from 2 tillers after sugar beet to 10 tillers and some wheat at GS31. There are some very tall thick crops.
Brown rust: easily found in some crops. Varieties include Claire, Grafton, Hereford, and most other varieties.
Yellow rust: quite a lot of rust in Oakley and Robigus, low levels in Viscount. Yellow rust is harder to find in fields treated with either Jockey or Epona seed treatments.
Mildew: the more backwards crops showing quite a lot of mildew.
Eyespot: low levels in very forward crops. We are expecting high levels this year as early drilled and crops very thick.
Weed control: the mild winter has given rise to more cleavers this year than usual. Good autumn control of blackgrass but some cases with resistance. Also where cloddy, dry seedbeds some poor control from pre – ems. Where Atlantis was not applied in the autumn, it is now going on. Pacifica being used in some places.


East Midlands. Forward crops at GS 30+ with vast majority at GS 29-30 and later crops at GS 29. All crops have had some N with clients concerned with dry conditions and possible dry soils later on. Expect second application to be early to mid April depending on weather. Most crops have had 40 kg N and second wheat 50-60 kg N/ha. Soils dry on top with no wheeling damage in tramlines.
Brown rust: none seen.
Yellow rust: easily found in Oakley but none in other crops. No increase seen since last week – Gallant, Duxford and Solstice remain clean.
Mildew: levels remain very low even in varieties such as Gallant and no real concern.
Septoria: older leaves dying off in dry conditions but plenty of potential infection but a T0 fungicide should hold it ok Most crops will be getting T0 in the next 7 days as crops get to GS 30.
Eyespot: lower leaves dying off and in drier conditions there is less penetration.
Weed control: some larger flushes of cleavers which will get reduced rate Eagle with T0.

West Midlands. Crops range from GS21 to GS31. T0 fungicide sprays planned for this coming week. Some drought stress signs beginning to show on light land crops and with no rain forecast for next two weeks things could start to get critical quickly.
Brown rust: none seen.
Yellow rust: still only traces in Oakley and Conqueror.
Mildew: pretty much everything has got more mildew on it to a lesser or greater degree, applying cyflamid to all varieties apart from Grafton at T0.
Eyespot: some lesions seen in the base of Oakley.
Septoria: lots of septoria in the base of many crops.
Weed control: some big cranesbill in some fields. Broadway Star applied from the beginning middle of last week and can already see effects on broad leaved weeds (cleavers/poppy/groundsel) slight discolouration to wild oats and ryegrass, no significant effects on brome as yet - good signs as to how warm it is to see effects within one week of application!

North East. Despite the cool nights, longer days and plenty of sunshine has encouraged significant crop growth. Even the later sown crops are at GS 30 now, and the more forward are GS 31. Its dried up again after the rain at the beginning of March. There has been no rain locally for 11 days. A PGR mix of CCC/Optimus/Manganese is being applied to all crops at GS 30 along with the T0 fungicide for most crops, but where Yellow Rust infection is severe in smaller crops the fungicide has been applied,  and the PGR mix is planned for GS 30, which is going to be over next 7 days.
Brown Rust: low levels seen in the most susceptible varieties, such as Duxford and Grafton.
Yellow Rust: some crops of Oakley with SPD seed dressing developed a severe level of infection last week. Also present in Santiago and Viscount but to a much lesser degree. Crops that had Jockey seed dressing are virtually clean.
Mildew: only the most resistant varieties are clean such as Warrior and Viscount. All the rest have varying levels of infection.
Eyespot: the level of infection seen has the potential to become a significant problem in many crops.Will continue to monitor and apply a T1 fungicide with good activity against Eyespot such as Proline or Tracker.
Weed control: Cranesbill  is the most common broad leaved weed, and there are some severe infestations. Platform S + Cherokee applied this week to some fields. Others will treat with Ally Max SX or Harmony M at T1.

Winter Barley.

South. Crops still mostly range in growth stage from GS29-30 - all crops have tillered well this year. Brown rust pustules still very evident in many crops and getting active again – have seen one crop of Volume where only top 2-3 leaves are green and rest have largely senesced due to brown rust!
East. Most crops have at least 4 tillers. Most forwards are up to 7 or 8 tillers and just below wellington boot height. Some looking as though could lodge. Net-blotch at treatable levels in some varieties such as Flagon and Cassata and will be treated with Siltra. Brown rust present in Carat and Pearl.
East Midlands. Generally crops at GS 29 and not moving forward much. Levels of mildew, net-blotch and Rhynchosporium all remain low in the dry conditions.
West Midlands. Crops range from late tillering to GS 30 it will be another week or two before T1 fungicides are needed. Very little Net-blotch or Rhynchosporium and no brown rust. Late sown light land crops losing bottom leaves to mildew + looking short of everything else as well applying manganese + magnesium + kayak at earliest possible opportunity to these crops.
North East. All crops are at leaf sheath erect stage (GS 30 - 31). Net-blotch and Rhynchosporium remain at significant levels in most crops.

Sugar beet

Gentle rainfall ( 4 to 7mm) over the weekend was less than expected and some farms were able to start drilling again by Monday afternoon. Drilling continuing apace especially on lighter soil types where we should be finished this week. Heavier soils are drying more slowly with better drying conditions this week than last. There is plenty of moisture at seed depth in the seedbeds at the moment and seeds are germinating quickly which should help with mouse damage. The first few beet are just emerging in those fields drilled about 3 weeks ago- seedbeds on the early drilled slumped after the heavy rain in early March but we are hopeful that they have not developed a severe cap yet.

Plenty of weed about on the over–wintered ploughed land we are mixing glyphosate in with the pre-emergence herbicides.