16 May 2014. Winter wheat crops are a full month ahead of last year with early sown crops now at ear emergence. However, they are only a week earlier than average if we look back at the previous five years. Wheat blossom midge numbers reported as low from soil samples. Oilseed rape crops are rapidly losing colour as they reach the end of flowering. 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

• Seed weevil numbers late surge
• T2 fungicides Septoria remains the main threat
• Fungicide shortages a concern
• Ear emergence in early wheat crops
• Wild oats emerging
• Flowering in winter barley
• Sugar beet - leaf miner eggs

Winter Wheat

South. September and early October sown crops of Gallant, Solstice, and Cordiale are racing ahead and now have flag-leaves fully emerged with ears up to 1/3 emerged, and remaining wheats generally between GS37-39. Damp with some wet tramlines still, following shower conditions earlier in the week – next week looking potentially unsettled again which may delay T2 application on later crops. With ears now emerging in some varieties, we may need to consider T4 fungicide inputs to maximise foliar protection and canopy duration as could potentially be a long interval until harvest.
Brown rust: generally only low levels detectable.
Yellow rust: have seen some evidence of localised leaf infection following T1 applications on leaf 2
Mildew: low levels only.
Septoria: recent and frequent rain splash events now mean that Septoria will be actively moving between leaf layers, placing fungicide strategies under close scrutiny.
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.
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.

Eastern Counties. The majority of crops are at full flag and some early drilled crops are starting to boot. Recent showery conditions with occassional heavy downpour has increased the risk of Septoria spreading through wheat canopies.
Yellow rust: at treatable levels where timings have been stretched on certain varieties.
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. Some forward crops have ear emerged and majority have flag leaf out with the late drilled crops after maize at flag tip showing. Many wheat crops will have bittersaltz with the T2. Some T2 have been applied to early crops but many will get T2 from now onwards with later ones in 7-10 days time.
Slugs: high numbers in some crops with heavy grazing of leaf 4 and 5.
Yellow rust: crops generally clean but any misses or where sprayer couldn’t reach have yellow rust showing. One crop of Beluga has yellow rust in bottom even though T1 went on just 2 weeks ago and will get Folicur to get it through to T2 which is some 10 days away.
Brown rust: none seen.
Septoria: top 3 leaves remain clean on the whole with the odd late T1 where maize drilling got in the way sprayed showing a bit of septoria
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. The most forward crops, such as early sown Panorama, now at ear emergence. However, the majority are at flag leaf emergence to fully emerged. Late sown crops are just at flag leaf tip visible stage. The recent warm dry spell of weather has helped growers catch up with field work and many T2 fungicides applied over the last few days. Return to catchy weather next week.
Slugs: still surprisingly high numbers in some crops.
Yellow rust: seen in Spring Wheat.
Brown rust: none seen.
Septoria: still remains main threat especially after recent heavy showers. Most crops still have leaf 3 clear but many have tipof leaf four carrying lesions.
Mildew: very little seen.
Eyespot: huge range of incidence ranging from only a few percent up to 35% of tillers.
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 first node to flag leaf emerged. Many crops are showing good potential for yield.
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 now.
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.
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.

Eastern Counties. There are still a few late crops in flower and many are hanging on to a tinge of yellow! Plenty of rain at last with 30 to 40 mm typical. Some very heavy down pours in places and hail. Now still and dry good spraying weather.
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: a few last minute late flowering applications to rape, some intended for last week but conditions prevented application. Now being applied to late flowering crops following recent perceived risk with sclerotinia after the rainy days. Difficulty still obtaining preferred chemicals.
Weed control: we are very pleased with the poppy control achieved from Astrokerb applications made in Nov and Jan.

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 are fast approaching the end of flowering and for the most forward this will be within the week. Average temp for week  10.9 degrees. 39.6 mm rain for week
Seed weevil : none at thresholds.
Sclerotinia: control sprays main focus.

Winter Barley.

South. Crops now generally at ears emerged to start of flowering – T2 fungicide spraying now underway or been completed in last 7 days.
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 range from awn to ear emergence. Disease levels remain low.

Sugar Beet

Fields of sugar beet drilled in March into good seedbeds are now growing very well indeed with good establishment and look set to cover the rows earlier than usual. Weed control is just about complete on these fields, some tidying up for volunteer potatoes and thistles. We will continue to inspect fields until early June however in case the recent good soaking brings a fresh flush of tall growing weeds such as volunteer oilseed rape, in particular or fat hen.

On the heavier soils we may well see some new beet struggling through in areas as seed which had been lying dry gets some moisture. On these soils cleavers have appeared in high numbers this year, we have already made two Debut applications but the sulphonylurea had been slow to work in the cool, dry conditions and I am beginning to wish I had delayed the second application. The plan is to apply more Debut once the weeds begin to show some growth after the rain and in the warmer conditions we are promised.

There has been some hail damage – not too serious we will leave these fields a few days before applying any herbicide. Also wind damage on late drilled beet on light peat without a cover crop and some frost damage on low fen areas. This has resulted in a little re-drilling.

Beet leaf miner eggs as reported last week are easy to find, I have heard of one case of damage from the leaf miners once they have hatched and tunneled into leaves. On the whole I believe the seed dressings are controlling this pest. Winged green aphids have been reported in the crop again the seed dressings should hold this pest at bay for a bit longer yet.