9 May 2014. Winter wheat crops continue to develop at a rapid pace with many reporting that the flag leaf is visible to fully emerged in early sown crops. However, a turn in the weather is now delaying T2 fungicide applications which considering the amount of Septoria in the crops could be a potential problem. Fungicide supply shortages aren't helping in a high disease pressure year, but considering the amount of wheat in the ground and the number who chose to apply an SDHI at T1 perhaps it is not surprising there is a dearth of preferred product. Winter barley crops are looking well and ear emergence is imminent. Winter oilseed rape crops are moving out of flowering so thoughts will now turn to desiccation timing.

Earliest Flag leaf (GS37) dates from previous crop reports, these are all from southern crops...

2014 - 02 May
2013 - 20 May
2012 - 17 May
2011 - 06 May
2010 - 21 May
2009 - 07 May
2008 - 09 May
2007 - 04 May
2006 - 08 May
2005 - 04 May

• Seed weevil numbers dropping
• T2 fungicides started
• Septoria remains the main threat
• Fungicide shortages a concern
• Slugs active in wheat crops
• Wild oats emerging
• Ears emerging in winter barley
• Flag leaf fully out on forward wheat
• Sugar beet - leaf miner eggs

Winter Wheat

South. September and early October sown crops of Gallant, Solstice, and Cordiale now have flag-leaf up to fully emerged on main shoots, with other varieties now at early GS37. All crops have had final main doses applied, with totals being between 200-250 kg/ha generally – milling wheats will have an extra 40 kg/ha applied from mid-May onwards to help boost grain proteins. Tramlines remain wet on lower lying fields following more rain recently – combination of winds and rain look likely to disrupt timely T2 applications over the next week. T2 applications are underway/due on most crops in the next 7-14 days – based around either Aviator or Adexar +/- Strobilurin.
Brown rust: generally only low levels detectable now following earlier T0 and T1 fungicide applications.
Yellow rust: some foci have recently appeared in November sown Solstice where T1 applications were delayed by around 10 days, otherwise none been seen since T0.
Mildew: there has been a slight increase in the last 2 weeks as crops respond to applied N and canopies thicken up.
Septoria: most September/early October sown crops are carrying very high levels of Septoria on older leaves, with symptoms now present on tip leaf 4 in earlier sown crops (reminiscent of 2012), otherwise still generally confined to oldest leaves.
Eyespot: wet soil conditions and frequent rain events are increasing the frequency of stem based browning symptoms and clear eyespot lesions can be readily found on the more susceptible varieties (Cordiale, Solstice and Gallant), particularly on heavier soils.
Aphids: despite generally mild winter conditions no adults have been found to date. No signs of BYDV showing up yet either.
Weed control: spring applied Atlantis or Pacifica has generally  given high levels of control of blackgrass to date.

Eastern Counties. Flag leaf now tipping on most crops and is between 10-40mm out of the leaf sheath. No flag leaves 100% out yet but expect this in 7 days on the most southerly wheat. Santiago is looking very tall and in need of more PGR which will come in the form of Terpal asap. Septoria is the main threat to the crops, even where Aviator was applied @ T1 - dare not leave the gap between T1 and T2 more than 24 days as there is a lot of active septoria bubbling away in the bottom of the crops. Kielder looks the cleanest of the bunch, Santiago the dirtiest. Diego has some huge leaf 2s out which almost look like wild oats!
Yellow rust: only found where a T0 did not go on.
Brown rust: trace levels.
Mildew: trace levels.
Eyespot: not significant.
Septoria: septoria pressure high where farmers did not use SDHI at T1 these farms are being lined up for a hefty SDHI mix at T2.
Weed control: Seen some serious damage on crops where Atlantis went on to wet areas. Seems to be worse on Horatio. Overlaps have completely died and on one field in particular is about 6 inches shorter than the part of the field which had none! Just reiterates how sensitive crops are to Atlantis when under stress. Atlantis has worked really well though on most and smoked the blackgrass and wild oats

East Midlands. A few forward crops at early boot and flag spray applied on 7th May – earliest I have known. Most crops have flag leaf appearing with just a few late crops at GS 33-37. Soils travel well but continued showers  causing things to slow down. Next 5 days almost non spray days – hope for dry weather next week!
Slugs: high numbers in some crops with heavy grazing of leaf 4 and 5.
Yellow rust: now under control from T1 sprays
Brown rust: none seen.
Septoria: hopefully sprays for flag going on at about 3 ½ weeks after T1 but with lack of any SDHI fungicides around now prolonged wet weather may mean adding prothioconazole or epoxyconazole rather than SDHI if topping up needed due to delays. Chlorothalonil to be included in mix.
Mildew: levels continue to be low.
Eyespot: levels remain under control but prolonged wet feet may cause some to re emerge.
Weed control: Blackgrass ears now starting to emerge. Flushes of bindweed to get Ally+Starane or equivalent at flag on the odd field.

West Midlands. Pretty much all wheat crops have flag leaf anywhere from just poking through to ¾ out (the really forward stuff was being sprayed on 6 May). Have perhaps around 5-8% of my acreage which only has leaf 2 ¾ out with no flag leaves showing these are all crops sown end of November and also tends to be 2012 seed. Some T1 applications were delayed and not applied until leaf 2 was fully out and hate to think what state these will be in in 2-3 weeks time. Most applying final split of nitrogen this week. The vast majority of wheat crops look to have really good potential (not as thin as 2011) but equally not too thick, septoria control and the weather from now on will determine if the yield potential is met.
Slugs: shredding wheat after rape all the way up to final leaf emerged, not sure which is worse the shredding or the septoria!
Yellow rust: no new infection seen.
Brown rust: none seen.
Septoria: seems to have pretty much stripped leaf 5 with varying amounts on leaf 4 dependent upon variety sowing date and altitude (somewhere between 5-30%) , so far leaf 3 seems ok.
Mildew: very little seen..
Eyespot: huge range of incidence ranging from only a few percent up to 35% of tillers.
Weed control: more cleavers have emerged along with groundsel and volunteer oilseed rape, some fields still very low cleavers and small.

North East. Forward crops have the flag leaf tip emerging and crops are growing fast. Field conditions are good and most applications are up to date.
Yellow rust: controlled by T0 fungicides.
Brown rust: none seen.
Mildew: none seen.
Septoria: present in many crops.
Eyespot: developing in a few crops, sharp eyespot seen.
Take-all: confirmed from lab test, on crop seed treated for take-all. This is an early sighting.
Weed control: Polygonum weeds and still a few cranesbill emerging.

Winter Oilseed Rape 

South. All crops now typically at late flowering, with only around 10% flower left on main raceme of Alienor and Trinity now.
Seed weevil: levels beginning to decline again as crops move towards the end of flowering.
Light leaf spot: Sclerotinia sprays based around Proline should have aided control on pods/upper canopy.
Sclerotinia:  all crops have had early to mid-flowering sprays applied before Easter with follow-up applications applied 14-21 days later. Early flowering applications of Folicur/Proline + Mbc  been completed in all crops and been repeated again 14-21 days afterwards at mid-flower to form basis for robust control.

Eastern Counties. Many rape crops now going out of full flower with petals falling rapidly in current windy, dry conditions. Pod set looks good we have had a predominantly dry time during flowering. Still dry only about 5mm this week, showery forecast ahead but light land rape crops will soon start to suffer after a prolonged dry time in the east.
Light leaf spot: no recent infections.
Seed weevil: in warm dry conditions seed weevils have been noted and Mavrik included with second (or first) fungicide where thresholds have been reached.
Sclerotinia: some growers have opted not to apply a second fungicide during flowering as conditions have been dry. Some second applications were made last week a few this week on some of the later crops which still have a lot of flowers and petals to fall (mainly N Norfolk). It has been difficult to obtain preferred fungicides.
Weed control: we are very pleased with the poppy control achieved from Astrokerb applications made in Nov and Jan.

East Midlands. Crops at mid to late flowering with good pod set – yield prospects look good if June weather kind – doubt if dry weather would hinder rape crops now though
Light leaf spot: levels remain low.
Sclerotinia: all crops sprayed now with some early sprayed crops having had their second sclerotinia spray where some risk – with the constant showers this could be money well spent as risk remains high
Seed weevil: no reports of weevils being treated and few seen in crops – front of sprayer when sclerotinia sprays applied is usually best indicator and these have been clear.

West Midlands. crops are definitely on the turn so next time through the crop will be with a desiccant.
Seed weevil: none seen.
Light leaf spot: trace levels in some crops.
Sclerotinia: may need to apply a second fungicide if flowering continues.

North East. Crops range from  mid to late flowering and are looking well. Average temp for week  10.5 degrees 7.6 mm rain for week
Seed weevil : none at thresholds.
Light Leaf Spot: under control now.
Sclerotinia: control sprays main focus as there is a high risk of petal stick expected at the end of this week with wet forecast.

Winter Barley.

South.  Crops now generally at GS39-55 – T2 fungicide spraying now underway over next 7 days. T2 applications based on Siltra/Bontima + Comet now underway.
Eastern. Ears emerging. T2 planned to go on this week with Siltra 0.4lts/ha on most. Crops are quite tall but PGRS are working and crops are bouncing back at me which has to be a good sign.
West Midlands. crops suddenly popped the awns out over the weekend with 70% + crops now in this state. No disease worth speaking of.
East Midlands. Awns now showing and T2 fungicides due to go on when weather allows, with Chlorothalonil in mix. All crops look very well.
North East.  Crops have moved quickly through growth stages with many crops now at awns visible. Disease levels remain low.

Sugar Beet

Early drilled well established light land crops now at 4 to 6 leaf stage and growing rapidly. Weed control almost complete on these crops just finishing off with volunteer potato, thistle and wild oat control. Will continue to inspect for any fresh weed flushes, volunteer oilseed rape still appearing on some fields. Tractor hoeing for weed beet control scheduled to start now on these early crops.

Heavier land beet still struggling to establish and is growing more slowly. Cleavers are one of the main weeds appearing in flushes, they are often blue and slow growing in the dry conditions when they first emerge. Debut works best when cleavers have the first whorl showing and are actively growing. We have slotted in blackgrass control using graminicides (mainly Aramo) in between FAR sprays or Debut sprays leaving intervals of about 5 to 7 days.

On the whole we have had plenty of spray days so far this spring to apply beet herbicides effectively (this week looks windy however!) and feel as if on the whole we are in the driving seat.

Beet leaf miner eggs are present on the back of leaves on many seedlings, the insecticide in the seed pellet should control the leaf miners as they hatch.