23 May 2014. Ear emergence in forward wheat crops is now common but none reported at full ear emergence yet. Flowering in this crop is still probably a week away for the earlier crops. Wheat blossom midge reported in the south but not elsewhere. Oilseed rape crops now waiting for desiccation time. Winter barley crops remain disease free as they start to flower.

Click here to check the Fusarium ear blight updates as crops move into ear emergence.

Earliest ear emergence (GS50) dates from previous crop reports, these are all from southern crops...

2014 - 16 May
2013 - 17 Jun
2012 - 25 May
2011 - 20 May
2010 - 28 May
2009 - 20 May
2008 - 21 May

• T3 fungicides as fusarium risk rises
• Fungicide shortages a concern
• Ear emergence in early wheat crops
• Wild oats emerging
• Flowering in winter barley
• Sugar beet meeting in the rows

Winter Wheat

South. September & early October sown crops continue to race ahead with many crops now having ears 2/3+ emerged, and remaining wheats generally between GS39-45. Milling wheats have recently had an extra 40 kg/ha applied to help boost grain proteins. Damp with some wet tramlines still following recent showery conditions again – next week looking potentially unsettled again which may compromise timely T3 applications on the more advanced crops.
Brown rust: none found in last 2 weeks.
Yellow rust: have seen some evidence of localised leaf infection following T1 applications on leaf 2
Mildew: still only very low levels of mildew seen to date.
Septoria: most September/early October sown crops are carrying very high levels of Septoria on older leaves, with symptoms commonly present on leaf 4 & odd lesions on tip leaf 3 in earlier sown crops (reminiscent of 2012), otherwise still generally confined to oldest leaves – pressure remains very high & keeping fingers crossed that infection on upper canopy will be minimal.
Eyespot: increasing frequency of stem based browning symptoms and clear eyespot lesions on the more susceptible varieties (Cordiale, Solstice and Gallant), particularly on heavier soils.
Fusarium: Andover site is indicating increasing levels of foliar Michrodochium infection, which is reminiscent of the 2012 inoculum build up – unsettled and warm conditions are predicted for the next 10 days or so which will only aggravate the infection risks ahead of T3.
Aphids: beginning to find low levels of adult aphids in some crops now.
Wheat blossom midge: reports of significant numbers caught in traps.

Eastern Counties. The majority of crops are now booting with the most forward at 75% ear emergence. Recent showery conditions with occasional heavy downpour has increased the risk of Septoria spreading through wheat canopies.
Yellow rust: trace levels only.
Brown rust: trace levels.
Mildew: trace levels.
Eyespot: not significant.
Septoria: septoria pressure remains high.
Weed control: Groundsel taking a long time to die.

East Midlands. Ears emerging in forward crops and majority have flag leaf out and booting.
Slugs: high numbers in some crops with heavy grazing of leaf 4 and 5.
Yellow rust: crops generally clean.
Brown rust: none seen.
Septoria: top 3 leaves remain clean on the whole.
Mildew: levels continue to be low.
Eyespot: levels remain under control but prolonged wet feet may cause some to re emerge.

West Midlands. The most forward crops now have ears emerging and many crops at boot stage. Late sown crops are just at flag leaf tip visible stage. Recent heavy rain has brought field work to a halt. Flowering is expected to start late May.
Slugs: still surprisingly high numbers in some crops.
Yellow rust: seen in Spring Wheat.
Brown rust: none seen.
Septoria: control variable, early crops in the main have leaf 3 just about clean, some with leaf 4 also clean others with leaf 4 about 40% infected.
Mildew: very little seen.
Eyespot: huge range of incidence ranging from only a few percent up to 35% of tillers.
Aphids: not too difficult to find aphids on lower leaves on the early sown wheat crops.
Weed control: brome control has been good this year. Some late wild oats now starting to wave above the crop.

North East. Crops range from early flag leaf emergence to the start of ear emergence. A lot of T2 spraying completed over the last week and crops are showing good potential. Average temp for week  14.3 degrees Nil rain for week.
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.

Winter Oilseed Rape 

South. All crops now at pod filling stages – no further inputs until desiccation time.
Seed weevil: levels beginning to increase again in last few days with some crops frustratingly approaching thresholds for spraying despite being at the end of flowering.
Sclerotinia:  all crops have had early to mid-flowering sprays applied.

Eastern Counties. Surprisingly a few late crops still in flower and fields of Cabernet holding onto a tinge of yellow. Pod set looks promising, we have had good conditions during flowering for pollination.
Sclerotinia: a few last minute late flowering applications to rape.
Weed control: appears to be a lot of charlock flowering in crops, several didn’t get Fox this year.

East Midlands. Vast majority of crops now at late flowering with the odd forward crop almost finished flowering.
Light leaf spot: levels remain low.
Sclerotinia: all crops sprayed now.
Seed weevil: no weevil seen to any extent and examination of forward crops show no midge damage yet.

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: period for control now finished.

North East. Crops now at the end of flowering and await desiccation timing.
Seed weevil : none at thresholds.
Sclerotinia: control sprays main focus.

Winter Barley.

South. Crops now generally at flowering to early grain fill – no more inputs until the combine.
Eastern. Most crops are about 50-75% in ear. Very little disease present.
West Midlands. Crops at ear emergence to early flowering. Crops remain free of disease.
East Midlands. All crops have awns out now and look well.
North East.  Crops now flowering. Good  growing conditions making some crops taller than usual despite growth regulators.

Sugar Beet

The most forward crops are meeting down the row and may well meet across the row in a week to 10 days. Growth is excellent following the decent rainfall just over a week ago and warm, sunny weather. This is very early and makes some crops 3 weeks ahead of average in leaf cover. Late drilled crops in contrast are way behind this in growth and it highlights how much bare ground there is in these fields where leaves are not intercepting incident radiation. Following the heavy rains a few new beet have emerged from seed which has a last been wetted on heavier soils, but in many cases plant populations remain patchy on these soil types.

Weed control is practically complete and has been very good throughout.  Debut began to work well in the warm weather & cleaver control has improved.  We have seen good control of black-grass from both Centurion Max and Aramo (high rate 1.5l/ha) both with added water conditioner and applied early in the middle of the broad leaved weed herbicide programme. No crop effects from Centurion Max have been reported to date. I am still checking fields for newly emerged tall weeds eg fat hen, volunteer oilseed rape, charlock, redshank or pale persicaria in case a final cheap tidy up is needed (especially relevant for gappy of backward crops.)

Final volunteer potato herbicide applications are being made. Applications of manganese and magnesium are also taking place. We have been adding manganese to most of the post emergence herbicide sprays from T2 onwards- but now go back and apply a good dose at the end of the herbicide programme.

Tractor hoeing is continuing for weed beet, twice through the crop where possible.