Special Reports

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27 October 2008

Ruth East - Association of Independent Crop Consultants, Lincolnshire
(Click to contact)

The majority of oilseed rape crops look as if they are going into winter in a reasonable shape.

Fortunately I persuaded growers not to continue drilling rape late into September, and so don't have to look at too many crops with small plants because as day length decreases crop growth ceases.

Crops that looked as if they were not going to make it have been condemned.

Where metazachlor based-herbicides have been applied, they appear to have worked well.

As soon as soil temperatures drop, propyzamide or carbetamide products, tank-mixed with a fungicide, will be applied to crops that are big enough.

If applying a second graminicide remember that if a dim was used earlier then this may be followed by a fop.

Winter cereal drilling is nearing completion.

As with last year crop emergence is slow due to lack of seed vigour and soil temperatures being low. Because of these factors I have encouraged growers to keep seed numbers up.

Seed-bed quality on heavy land is causing concern. It is not conducive for pre-emergence sprays for blackgrass control.

Most herbicides will be applied peri-emergence, and with blackgrass already emerging from depth and from around clods, they will be tank-mixed with Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) for contact activity.

Once again I can see blackgrass control being very variable, and I am warning growers of this.

What is worrying is that I have received blackgrass resistance test results from last year's seed. All have proved resistant to Atlantis.

Growers were warned by Rothamsted's Dr Steve Moss that its life would be short.

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21 October 2008

With more than 55mm of rain within 10 days the drilling that was going very well hit a wet wall.

Getting a decent seed-bed on the heavier lands at the moment is proving challenging. This in turn leads to yet more vigilance with slugs in the wet cloddy seed-beds. Seed rates need to be adjusted for these conditions. However, with no lack of moisture and up to now quite warm conditions the seeds are chitting very quickly.

Mind you, despite the warnings of possibly worse blackgrass dormancy this year there is no lack of it coming through in the earlier drilled crops. Is this a carry over of last year's dormancy, which has been mooted? There have been quite a few pre-emergence applications made in the past two weeks in some areas though unless seed-bed conditions get better post-emergence applications will be the way to go.

There is quite a lot of IPU and trifluralin on farm which must go before next spring and this is a timely reminder that there is a 1500gm limit on IPU and mixes.

Winter barley is in, or nearly all in, with crops coming through very well though slugs are starting to shred emerging leaves. With soft growth any herbicides should be simple until they harden off. I have seen aphids on volunteers but up-to-date none on the new crops.

Oilseed rape that has got away is at 6-7 leaves in places but on the same farm the later drillings are still at cotyledon stage and have had no herbicide treatment because of the fear of no crop. These will need special care with all pests monitored. Phoma is now easily found and will need attending to next week in some instances.

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13 October 2008

Andrew Blazey - Prime Agriculture, Essex/ Suffolk/ Cambs
(Click to contact)

Settled, dry weather has given us an opportunity to push on with wheat drilling, although on heavy soils cultivated late, we have been faced with rock-hard cobbles on top and structure that resembles a soft cheese below.

This has made pre-emergence grassweed control impossible because of the quality of the seed-beds. Where this is the case, plan an early post-em application as soon as the tramlines can be seen. Even on rough seed-beds, blackgrass is emerging rapidly.

Most wheats after oilseed rape have received an application of slug pellets and some fantastic kills have been achieved in ideal working conditions for metaldehyde. Continue to be vigilant in these crops and test-bait later-drilled first and second wheats to assess the need for treatment.

In some cases, cropping plans are being changed where drilling second wheats is proving extremely difficult. Alternative breaks are being considered as the price of wheat tumbles. Think through any possible knock-on effects from changing rotation - remember harvest, storage and cropping issues for next year.

As we move into the second half of October, attention is moving to drilling winter beans. Some thousand-seed weights are massive this season, so check seed stocks and plan seed rate accordingly, aiming to establish 18 plants a square metre. In some cases, up to one-third more seed has been required because of the large seed size.

Plan robust pre-emergence herbicide applications because post-em options are limited.

Phoma levels in oilseed rape remain relatively low at present, but continue to monitor and treat once a threshold of 10% plants infected is reached.

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3 October 2008

Oilseed rape is anything from eight true leaves through to 'still emerging'. With such a wide range of drilling dates and growth stages, management this autumn is going to vary considerably between farms and fields.

Early phoma lesions have already been seen in the more forward crops and have been treated with a fungicide. As crops reach the two to four leaf stage, they will receive a first split of fungicide plus trace elements and foliar phosphite where downy mildew still persists.

In some cases, a second graminicide will be applied to control or suppress further grassweed and volunteer cereal emergence. But applying a second graminicide precludes any further use of fops or dims in the crop.

In these situations, the completion of grassweed control strategies will therefore rely totally on either carbetamide or propyzamide.

UAP trials and on-farm applications have shown that additional consistency of blackgrass control can be achieved by mixing carbetamide and propyzamide together at reduced rates on small weeds. Nevertheless, it's important to allow soil temperatures to fall before applying these products to maximize their persistence and control.

Where blackgrass emergence is delayed due to high dormancy, cooler soils may well coincide with small blackgrass plants thereby aiding control.

Winter wheat drilling in East Anglia has not been significantly delayed by the late harvest. Seed-beds have been variable, especially where heavier wet soils were ploughed and then dried out.

Where seed-beds have come down well and seed is well covered, pre-emergence treatments have been applied and this will continue where conditions allow.

Pre-emergence treatments are more effective than early post or peri-emergence timings. Where seed-bed quality is poor and/or applications are delayed, adding IPU or CTU to the pre-em herbicide will improve activity when spraying peri- or post-emergence.

Slug activity is especially evident in cloddy seed-beds and behind oilseed rape. Deter (clothianidin) seed treatment will help to protect the seed from grain hollowing, but, where pressure is high, an application of slug pellets will also be made.

Where possible, drilling of second and third wheats is being delayed until mid-October and seed treatments used to reduce the risk of take-all developing after high levels in 2008.

29 September 2008

Ruth East - Association of Independent Crop Consultants, Lincolnshire
(Click to contact)

Oilseed rape on light land that went into good seed-beds is well established and at three to four true leaf stage. These crops were all treated with a pre- emergence herbicide based on metazochlor, product choice being driven by weed spectrum, and they're about to receive a graminicide tank mixed with fungicide for phoma control.

Unfortunately, rape on heavy land is suffering. Establishment is poor, plants that have emerged look pale, and downy mildew can be easily found on the cotyledons.

The reason is that these crops' roots have hit cold, wet anaerobic seed-beds. Their fate will be determined once first wheat drilling has been completed. With luck they may be condemned, and we can break the rape, wheat, wheat, rape cycle, which has done so much to increase blackgrass on farms.

Rape needs to be well established in the autumn, and the most important thing it requires a good root system. It also grows on day length and, as this decreases as we head into October, it will soon stop.

Small backward crops are a headache to look after in terms of controlling weeds, mainly blackgrass, as product choice is limited and there is no crop competition. So I'm glad I advised growers not to continue drilling rape into late September.

Aphids can be easily found in volunteer cereals, so if anyone has drilled wheat or barley without Deter (clothianidin), it will be critical to apply an early aphicide once the crop is at the one and half leaf stage.

Remember that the length of time that Deter works is taken from drilling date - not from emergence. If a crop doesn't emerge for five weeks an aphicide will be required at emergence.

This year has seen the return of the plough, especially on heavy land, which needs some air into it after suffering from so much water during 15 months.

Hopefully, this is will help with blackgrass control, as drilling will be delayed to allow stale seed-beds to be created.

The only problem I can envisage will be achieving the seed-bed quality that will permit use of pre- and peri-emergence products which are so important against blackgrass.

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22 September 2008

Brian Ross - Frontier, Suffolk
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So finally the last fields of corn in my patch have been cleared after a very trying time. That said, the yields have stood up very well and generally the quality has not been as affected as I first thought it would be.

Bushel weights dropped, there were a few bad cases of sprouting and some black looking ears - but given the atrocious weather quality was better than expected.

The problem now, with wet soils, ruts and panned headlands, is achieving seed-beds for the next crops.

What cultivation plans had been considered are now having to be revised with the plough now being more in evidence.

Last week saw some wheats being drilled with many more planned to go in last weekend. Some lowish TGWs will mean a careful look at seed rates.

Oilseed rape is definitely a tale of two halves with approximately half in early and the other half probably in by this weekend. With the moisture and warmth these later drillings should be up and away quickly.

However, don't lose the plot with slugs - at the moment in some areas they are as bad if not worse than last year. There are instances of re-drilling already because of them, in spite of crops being treated quickly.

I think that this is because of the little black slugs taking plants off underground without coming to the surface to find the pellets.

Do remember to be careful near watercourses when applying pellets. Metaldehyde cannot be taken out of water so detection will have consequences for its future.

Weed control in later drillings from now on, from my perspective, will be post-em based to make sure there is a crop there.

Remove early volunteers and early blackgrass that has come up quickly in some areas despite warnings of prolonged dormancy.

I have also seen bird cherry aphids on some of the volunteers in rape, so undressed cereals crops will need watching.

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30 June 2008

Andrew Blazey - Prime Agriculture, Essex/ Suffolk/ Cambs
(Click to contact)

Adding to the slow harvest woes, slug activity has markedly increased in oilseed rape crops trying to establish. The picture has been worsened because the durability of pellets has been drastically reduced by wet weather. Keep monitoring crops through to the two true leaf stage and apply pellets as and when necessary. Remember metaldehyde stewardship guidelines.

Where volunteers are beginning to be a problem aim to take them out along with any early post-em broadleaf weed control required. If seed-beds are poor and not ideal for residual products it may pay to leave broadleaf weed control until later, especially if it is likely that Kerb (propyzamide) or Galera (clopyralid + picloram) will be required anyway.

Where rape is still to be drilled we are reaching the end of the window. So it should be considered only where establishment is likely to be good and on sites less likely to suffer from pigeons.

To push late crops on consider sowing a hybrid variety if you are yet to drill, and treat backward crops with 30kg/ha of nitrogen. But remember that now we are in September this must be recommended by a FACTS qualified person to meet NVZ rules.

If you are lucky enough to be in a position to drill first wheat aim to establish 175-200 plants/sq m from mid-September sowings and adjust seed rate according to conditions and TGW. Seed size is generally quite large this year.

Where you plan to use pre-em herbicides for blackgrass (which is nearly everywhere for me) check label requirements for drilling depth and seed-bed conditions.

8 September 2008

Will Foss - United Agri Products, East Anglia (Suffolk)
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Some fields destined for oilseed rape are still to be harvested and cropping plans are being changed due to the delays. Nevertheless there is still time to establish rape seed into comparatively warm soils - there's certainly no shortage of moisture!

The better vigour of some conventional varieties and the hybrids will be important as drilling date is pushed back.

Conditions are not ideal for till-seeding at the moment as tines are cutting slots in wet soil rather than lifting and shattering.

Where till-seeding is practised the depth of seed placement in the soil is variable with some seed very close to the surface. This tends to preclude pre-emergence herbicide use.

With crops emerging rapidly most will receive an early post-emergence herbicide at crop cotyledon stage coupled with a graminicide to control volunteer cereals and any emerged grassweeds.

Choice of graminicide will be dictated by the subsequent requirement for a fop or dim. Only two such graminicides may legally be applied to a crop and they have to be different active ingredients.

Blackgrass dormancy is predicted to be very high this season according to ADAS/HGCA monitoring. Dormancy was also high last season but this didn't seem to result in significant late emergence into the spring.

Control strategies in cereals will therefore continue to follow the basic principles using cultural control techniques to reduce populations prior to drilling.

Stale seed-beds may not result in a large blackgrass flushes - although the weed is already emerging in unharvested wheat crops. But these flushes are still worth burning off with glyphosate pre-drilling as they could contain resistant individuals.

Every effort will be made to spray wheat and barley pre-emergence as activity starts to decline where timing is delayed until peri- or early post-emergence.

Herbicides will be based on flufenacet and in most cases will be mixed with trifluralin for the last time. Where trifluralin is required remember it has to be on farm by 20 September as this is the cut-off date for distribution onto farms.

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01 September 2008

Ruth East - Association of Independent Crop Consultants, Lincolnshire
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Lincolnshire has probably fared better for dry weather than most places, and I reckon most people are about 70% through their harvest. Indeed a few have nearly finished.

Yields of wheat have been variable, but generally pretty good, with some second crops where establishment was good doing exceptionally well at up to 4.5t/acre. Those are mainly from land that didn't get waterlogged last year and people bothered to spend time getting good seed-beds. Any crops with delayed emergence haven't performed particularly well.

My real concern is that we're running into the same scenario where anything that doesn't establish well doesn't yield. I don't want to end up having to look after badly established crops. Blackgrass control can be especially difficult in oilseed rape, and in those cases it's no longer a cleaning crop.

On light and medium soils people have been able to plough and drill, and I reckon about 30% of the oilseed rape is in. But a lot of people on heavier land will be trying to establish the crop by sub-soiling, and I'm really worried that they won't be able to pack the soil down properly.

This year particularly it's important to make sure all cereal seed is tested for germination and fusarium and to use a good seed-dressing, preferably without a PGR element. But I'm amazed that many people still don't realise that seed must be below 16% moisture for treatment. If you are using a triazole-based dressing and the seed's above 16%, the chemical can get into it and adversely affect germination and vigour.

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07 July 2008

Brian Ross - Frontier, Suffolk
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Are we all going to make it to harvest without pulling all our hair out?

The lovely weather of the past couple of weeks has been ideal for first wheats, but an awful lot of take-all is appearing in second crops, not that that comes as a surprise with soil structures being ruined by last year's wet harvest.

This begs the question of whether second wheats will feature so largely this coming year. I'm hearing that winter barley seed is going fast as it is less costly to grow, particularly with N costs as they are. It does get take-all, but I haven't seen it in any crops I've been involved with.

However, if there is a bad blackgrass problem then there are limited chances to deal with it in barley, so plan fields accordingly.

First wheats still look very good with plenty of yield potential. Disease levels on the whole have been well controlled with some robust treatments having gone on this year.

I feel there will be some very meaningful fungicide results from trials this year. Septoria is creeping back in, starting from the upper leaves in some varieties, and yellow rust in Robigus can easily be found where treatment was delayed for whatever reason.

Having been round many trials in the last couple of weeks I have found the increase in disease levels very noticeable in untreated plots with some varieties nearly dead.

Rape desiccation is all but upon us with the attendant headache that's going to cause. The interest in an anti-shatter product has been very high, which is understandable given differing maturities and the sclerotinia problem.

The disease is bad in many areas despite spraying being done. Is there a need for a two-spray attack, are the timings off, or was it a one-off with the difficult season? I guess post post-mortems will be done over winter.

Sugar beet crops, apart from some headlands and lime spots, look reasonable but the weather has meant late emerging weeds are beginning to make some look untidy. However, the beet are growing fast in most cases so I don't expect any significant yield losses as a result.

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30 June 2008

Andrew Blazey - Prime Agriculture, Essex/ Suffolk/ Cambs
(Click to contact)

Recent dry windy weather means that, spray days forthcoming, we will be well into oilseed rape desiccation in the south-east by the end of this week.

Timing of glyphosate treatment has never been harder with such variable crops. As a general guide if two-thirds of the seeds are brown in 75% of the middle pods across most of the field, the crop is fit to go.

Where you are using glyphosate and home-saving seed remember to leave an untreated area to go off naturally or for pre-harvest diquat.

The decision to treat for sclerotinia looks to have been justified with low levels now showing even in treated crops.

The recent weather means it is now very easy to tell a first wheat from a second -even where take-all seed treatments were used in some cases. Hopefully some decent rain soon may do something to save the day.

Summer aphid levels in wheat have been very low and most crops are now past the time when any treatment is justified. Pulses, however, are a different kettle of fish with large numbers of black fly re-invading bean crops and monster-size pea aphids coming back too.

If second fungicides are still outstanding check the requirement for an additional aphicide.

Some sugar beet crops are still being ravaged by pigeons so control measures should not be relaxed. Take time to plan beet fungicides and treat according to planned lifting date and varietal susceptibility.

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24 June 2008

Brian Ross - Frontier, Suffolk
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It's worth checking cereal crops for grassweeds and mapping any areas where control has not been satisfactory.

Blackgrass, brome and ryegrass may not be showing above the crop where herbicide applications merely stunted them. If viable seed heads have been produced, take the chance to collect the seed and get it tested for resistance.

This forms the start of any grassweed control strategy - know your enemy.

Fields that will have high levels of grassweed seed return should be ploughed to bury seed. If you are restricted to non-inversion tillage, then create a stale seed-bed and burn off the initial flush of grassweeds before drilling the following crop.

Better conditions during seed maturation this year should lead to lower dormancy in blackgrass and, therefore, higher levels of germination early in the season.

As milling wheats reach milky ripe stage they will receive a top-up of foliar urea or a stabilised nitrogen product to boost protein levels.

Oilseed rape has been showing some sclerotinia infection in the past couple of weeks, but seemingly not at the same levels as last year. This is despite predictions of very high risk of infection this season.

Heavy rainfall during flowering may have washed petals out of the canopy rather than letting them stick to leaves and stems.

Rape crops are comparatively short again this year making direct combining easier. They will start to receive glyphosate desiccant sprays as they mature to even them and make harvesting more manageable.

Seed crops will receive either diquat or glufosinate-ammonium instead because glyphosate can be translocated into seed and affect subsequent germination.

Peas are receiving pea moth insecticide sprays and fungicide programmes should be completed in the next couple of weeks.

Pigeons have been targeting peas with devastating results, but where they have left crops alone yield potential looks good on well structured soils. Heavier and poorly structured land coupled with heavy rainfall has resulted in some crops suffering with wet feet.

Spring beans are also reaching the end of their fungicide programmes.

Most bruchid beetle treatments are now complete. Having followed the latest advice and used angled nozzles and timings based on daytime temperatures, we are hoping for good levels of control this year.

Don't forget cross-compliance and agri-environment scheme restrictions on managing hedges and grass strips.

Although the temptation is to have a pre-harvest or early post-harvest tidy-up, remember that hedge-trimming should not take place until after 31 July under cross-compliance (a few exceptions apply).

Cutting restrictions also apply to Entry Level Scheme grass margins and other habitats. Checking the rule book may save on potentially costly mistakes.

9 June 2008

Brian Ross - Frontier, Suffolk
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It's back to frustration mode with the weather again and sugar beet sprays not going on when they should. Some weeds, particularly knotgrass, are reaching frightening sizes. Some hefty mixes have been and continue to be applied to these with reasonable success.

The good news is that nearly all the beet I have look very well with some just about meeting in the rows. Do keep a watchful eye on manganese deficiency symptoms as they are showing up on rapidly growing crops on susceptible soils.

Wheats still look very good with plenty of yield potential. Although there have been some delays in T2 spraying the gaps since T1s are not excessive and disease has been controlled well so far. Clearly the weather has meant that septoria could be a problem on delayed or unsprayed crops.

Reports of more yellow rust showing in Robigus have come in the south of the region, but these are from not well timed treatments.

I know I shouldn't say this, but in spite of the heavy storms and rain growth regulators are holding with some barleys leaning on overlaps only. It is unfortunate that a lot of planned late PGRs did not get applied because of the conditions and speed of crop growth. It remains to be seen how some of the heavier crops fair later on.

I have seen a crop which appears to have some stem based blackening not due to eyespot and which probably has a fusarium connection. This has caused some plant leaf death and will need further investigation.

Rape is interesting with flowering finished and starting in the same field! It will make desiccation and harvesting decisions problematical. Anything that will keep the earlier ripened pod integrity intact should be investigated when choosing products.

Spring barley in this area has certainly benefited from the rain, shooting forward after looking a little ragged. It now looks as though it could be the crop of the year here.

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2 June 2008

Andrew Blazey - Prime Agriculture, Essex/ Suffolk/ Cambs
(Click to contact)

The end of May has brought welcome rain to many over the last 10 days with most areas locally having between 60 and 70mm.  Generally T2 sprays in wheat were finished prior to the rain and at the time of writing most wheats are in the mid to late stages of booting and T3 is imminent.  The rain was very welcome for the second wheats in particular which are suffering take all quite badly in places and will need a kind end to the season.  The rain has brought some woes though.   Where flag leaf sprays are still outstanding make sure robust rates of triazoles are used when you can get back into crops. 

The wet weather combined with the growth stage of the wheat crop has bumped up the risk of Orange Wheat Blossom Midge attack.  Sightings and trappings have been sporadic to date with historically bad sites already finding large numbers and low captures in other areas.  The first few days of June will be critical and vigilance will be required especially if we have mild still evenings.  Decisions whether to treat or not will have to be made soon as T3 approaches and we try to avoid extra passes through the crop.

Wet soils have also shown up areas of foot rot in pulse crops.  Like take all in the wheat these can often be associated with soil structure issues.  Thinking back 9 or 10 months it is easy to forget how wet soils were during harvest and autumn cultivations, and the possible damage that could have been done.  Take time over the next few weeks to assess soil structure when conditions dry up.  With ever escalating diesel prices plan where and what cultivation strategies are required.

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20 May 2008

Ruth East - Association of Independent Crop Consultants, Lincolnshire
(Click to contact)

There seems to be something in the old saying “don’t cast a clout ‘til May is out”. After last weekend’s temperatures hit the heady heights of 24 degrees, this week frosts are forecast. As yet I have not shed my vest.

Last weekend’s temperatures saw, crops jump through their growth stages, just as predicted. .With T1s having been applied approximately 10 days ago, it will be a quick turn round for applying T2.

Timing T2 accurately this year is of some concern, as there is such a variety of growth stages within a field. Some plants have flag leaf fully-emerged, while on others it can only just be found. Disease levels are relatively low thanks generally to lack of moisture.

Mildew is appearing on crops suffering from moisture stress. Due to the rapid growth, deficiencies are appearing in crops, especially sulphur. This is very evident where growers have not used a sulphur + nitrogen as their first top dressing. Due to the rain last June, July and this January, sulphur has obviously been leached out of the soil profile.

I always think that you get better utilisation of nitrogen by the crop when applied in combination with sulphur, as the first top-dressing, thus making it a better buy than just straight nitrogen. So any one who has some lack lustre crops it will be worth having a test for sulphur deficiency done before ordering next  years fertiliser.

Winter barley on heavy land has been treated with a low rate of Terpal (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid + mepiquat chloride). All winter barleys have, or are about to receive their T2 - a mixture of prothiconazole + chlorothanil. Where product is unavailable, then a mixture of epoxiconazole + boscalid + pyraclostrobin will be used.

All decent oilseed rape crops have been treated for sclerotinia with a robust fungicide programme.

Sugar beet that was drilled at beginning of April has caught up and in most cases has superseded crops that were drilled in early March, with the plant stand being far superior. Surely this speaks for itself; spring crops should be drilled into warm seedbeds and once emerged, should keep growing .Weed control in the later drilled crops has been much easy then in the early drilled crops.

Last weekend’s sun saw the first activity of pea and bean weevil activity in peas and spring beans. Peas have been treated with a mixture of manganese and pyrethroid. Spring beans are growing rapidly and the first flower buds can be found, these will receive their first fungicide plus trace element mix during the next few days

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12 May 2008

Brian Ross - Frontier, Suffolk
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Cereal crops since the Bank holiday weekend have rocketed forward in growth stages thanks to the warm nights and sunny weather. There certainly have been no problems with extended fungicide timings this year; in fact the reverse is true in many cases.

T2 sprays will be well advanced by the end of this week in this area, with the main disease being septoria. Rusts are not in evidence, much to do with lack of winter carryover and well-timed first sprays.

There was some early mildew, particularly in very early drilled wheats, but that has gone. There is some eyespot around, but the continuing dry weather will slow down progression of this coupled with the appropriate earlier control measures.

Rapid uptake of nitrogen has meant some rapidly extending crops and attention to PGR’s very important.

Winter barley seems to have gone from prostrate to ears emerging in about five minutes! This has led to many missed late applications of PGR’s and a hope that adequate early treatments will do the job. Net blotch is the only noticeable disease around here.

Sugar beet is now looking good in many fields. Thanks to the decisiveness of my local British Sugar fieldsman, the decision not to re-drill certain fields has paid dividends with the remaining plants now growing rapidly. Although lower than normal plant counts, the loss in yield is unlikely to meet the re-drilling costs etc.

Weed control so far has been a relatively easy experience (tempting fate!).

Spring barley, with the good contracts about this year, is looking to be a very profitable crop so far, with weed control well underway and good steady growth.

With a lot of late Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) having gone on this year, be aware of the following rapes and non-inversion techniques. Though it has been done and been got away with, I have seen distinct lines where it went with lower rape vigour and the later the Atlantis application the worse this is likely to be.

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6 May 2008

Andrew Blazey - Prime Agriculture, Essex/ Suffolk/ Cambs
(Click to contact)

What a spring this is turning out to be! Opportunities to get sprayers into the field have been few and far between during the latter half of April with unsettled weather dominating. Fortunately, the fair May Day weekend has given an opportunity to play catch-up.

From a management perspective, earlier T0 fungicide/ growth regulator mixes have been valuable, as crops have romped through growth stages with seldom opportunity to get on until very recently. Yellow rust in susceptible varieties appears to have dried up following T0 fungicides and a good septoria program should manage the rust from here on in.

The benefit of T0 with regard to septoria remains to be seen, but having something on the crop over the last couple of weeks has given piece of mind with T1s delayed so much, especially as recent rainfall and current warm weather also mean that it could shape up to be a septoria year. If any T1’s are still outstanding make sure doses are robust enough to get eradicant activity.

At time of writing leaf two is just popping out on many crops and we will be turning around and doing it all again as flag approaches. Plan to begin flag leaf sprays from growth stage 37 onwards, even if T1s were only recently done.

Wheats are receiving their final nitrogen top-ups, with the exception of milling crops which may have more to come later. Any high residual N levels in the soil in early March do not appear to have made it into the crop with high levels of rainfall and cold weather in early spring. Therefore crops are being topped up to standard levels.

Sclerotinia sprays in oilseed rape have followed the same pattern as T1s in wheat and have gone on as and when conditions allowed. Timing of these sprays has been very difficult given the variability of the crop and some fields have been done twice for this reason. Wet weather, followed by high temperatures, would lead you to think that disease risk is high, but who knows after last year!

The sugar beet crop continues its Jekyll and Hyde nature with early drillings still struggling and later ones growing away. In both situations weeds are growing well and mixtures will need to be robust with well timed follow up sprays in order to achieve best results.

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28 April 2008

Will Foss - United Agri Products, East Anglia (Suffolk)
(Click to contact)

T1 fungicide spraying is well underway. Warmer growing conditions in the second half of April encouraged rapid crop development following a slow start.

Septoria, encouraged by April rainfall, is the main target at present, although yellow rust has been reported in crops of Robigus. There is also quite a lot of stem base browning – mainly fusarium and occasionally eyespot. In most cases crops have received a triazole + strobilurin combination at T1 targeted at these diseases and to improve nitrogen utilization.

The risk of brown rust is ever present and on susceptible varieties the T1 fungicide has been selected so as to manage this risk. Any crops that require further growth regulation will receive a late growth regulator prior to the T2 spray.

As far as T2 fungicides are concerned, product selection will be based around triazole + strobilurin at full flag leaf emergence. In the more forward crops this should be around 15 May and if the weather continues to encourage rapid development, even the more backward crops should reach flag leaf emerged 7-10 days later.

Crops will receive their final nitrogen top dressing after the T1 sprays have been applied, with milling varieties due an additional late application of liquid N on the ear. Where sulphur deficiency is suspected tissue samples are being taken for malate:sulphate analysis.

Oilseed rape crops have also developed rapidly with most well into flowering. Some crops and part fields are still struggling and showing the legacy of heavy pigeon damage. Flowering fungicides are being applied as crops enter the petal fall stage. In many cases the interval between this application and the previous fungicide is 3-4 weeks.

As the green/ yellow bud fungicide starts to run out of steam and with apothecia germination and sclerotinia spore release underway it is vital to protect the crop before disease starts to develop. Fungicides targeted at sclerotinia will also protect against alternaria, botrytis and late phoma. Where seed weevils are present an insecticide will be included to protect against weevil and pod midge. Insecticide choice should be made carefully where mixing with triazole fungicides to minimize damage to bees.

Spring barley is now well-tillered and will be due a T1 fungicide + herbicide in the next few days if it hasn’t already been applied. In many cases this follows a previous application of graminicide for blackgrass and wild oats.

Peas are emerging rapidly and have received an insecticide for weevil as they have become active in the warmer weather. Post-emergence herbicide options are limited and will need applying to small weeds once they are all emerged in the next week or two.

The early sugar beet drillings are now growing strongly, although many have a reduced plant population. Where populations were very low (<50,000/ha) these fields were re-drilled two weeks ago. Any herbicide applications which were delayed due to stressed beet may well need a follow up treatment within seven days of the first where weeds were starting to put out true leaves. The later (mid-April) drillings have now emerged evenly and have received their first post-emergence herbicide.

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22 April 2008

Ruth East - Association of Independent Crop Consultants, Lincolnshire
(Click to contact)

The interesting feature of an agronomist job is how the seasons differ. This time last year, crops were not growing due to high day temperatures and lack of soil moisture. Rape was in flower and spray days were abundant.

This year crops are not growing due to low air and soil temperatures. Rape is struggling to flower and spray days are becoming an extinct species. Hopefully when you read this, things will have changed.

Rape is very slow coming into flower and levels of pollen beetle are low. Backward crops need to be monitored. The effects of June and July's rain on soil structure are now showing, on rape and winter cereal crops, which will be having effect on yield. Let us hope we have a dry summer so we can start some remedial therapy to soil structure. I was taught one year to wreak it, three years at least to put it right.

Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) that was applied three weeks ago appears to be working well they say it pays to be patient. Forward crops have received their first application of growth regulator and also a T0 fungicide.

Cereal crop growth is slow, and the emergence of leaf three will be delayed if cold temperatures continue, as leaf emergence is dependant on degree days

On the disease front, yellow rust can be found on untreated Robigus, but is not causing concern. Septoria tritici is abundant on the lower leaves of susceptible varieties a well timed, robust T1 will be needed to control it, because if temperatures increase the disease will take off.

Plenty of stem-based browning can be found on wheat, especially on heavy, wet, cold land. This is a combination of eyespot, and fusarium, so a fungicide with activity on these diseases will be used at T1.

Spring barley crops drilled end of February are just at three leaf stage, with very little weed growth in them. Beet drilled at the same time has emerged slowly. Due cold soil conditions, odd plants can be found to be suffering from blackleg, which will reduce plant populations, but not enough to consider re-drilling. Spring beans have emerged, but are not growing rapidly, and there is very little evidence of weevil activity, but this could all change with an increase in day temperature.

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14 April 2008

Brian Ross - Frontier, Suffolk
(Click to contact)

As always the weather is the main topic of conversation with 15 degree daytime temperatures down to -1 at night. Not a particularly helpful pattern for agronomy.

In conjunction with the manufactures, we decided to get on with Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) applications, as the crop in places was going to cover the grass and coverage would be compromised. This has led to a lot going on last week. In general the advice to apply it on its own has been adhered to, a wise decision with the new cases of suspected resistances from last year. We have nothing in the pipeline it must be used within all the recommended guidelines!

Growth stages are all over the place with some true GS 32 in the same field as GS27 which makes life interesting with growth regulator and T0 timings. Some T0's have gone on with many others programmed for this week. Very forward crops are at T1, although not that many in my area.

Disease pressure remains low, but inoculum is still there, so when we get both warm days and nights for good growth timing will be key.

Interesting to note I have not seen very many emerging wild oats so far, the only ones being large overwintered ones. Given the earlier frosts I find that surprising, but of course there is plenty of time for them to come through.

Oilseed rape is a crop I would dearly like to see the back of, with flowering plants alongside plants two inches high. The culprits oh yes, pigeons. The damage they have caused this year is phenomenal and the cost in lost crop, awful, and it is still going on. With the weather that we have had, rapid growth to try and beat them has not been there so there are going to be some very ordinary yields round here.

Sugar beet that was drilled a month ago is finally coming up with more to come. However the hail storm I have just walked through is not going to help them much. The majority of beet drilling is finally happening and I hope for a kind week next week.

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7 April 2007

Andrew Blazey - Prime Agriculture, Essex/ Suffolk/ Cambs
(Click to contact)

After three to four inches of rain in March, a welcome mild dry spell at the end of last week gave an opportunity to catch up with outstanding Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) applications and start T0 growth regulator mixes.

Early fungicide applications will be a must again this year with plenty of septoria and traces of yellow and brown rust to be found in susceptible varieties. First wheats are beginning to show signs of running out of nitrogen on thinner soils and are receiving their first main N from now onwards.

Early drilled sugar beet is struggling through in most places and is suffering from a combination of capped soils and the effects of the cold Easter weekend. Weed populations are generally quite low at present, therefore do not be too hasty with early post emergence herbicides. Give them time to recover and plan a couple of applications in close succession for later. If you have not done so, apply first N applications to crops as soon as conditions allow.

Most oilseed rape crops contain plants at a range of growth stages from early stem extension to early flower. Keep an eye on pollen beetle and spray if a threshold of 15 per plant is reached before flowering. Final nitrogen applications should be made to the crop from now onwards.

As spring pulses emerge check crops for pea and bean weevil notching and treat with an approved pyrethroid if significant damage is seen.

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1 April 2008

Will Foss - United Agri Products, East Anglia (Suffolk)
(Click to contact)

T0 fungicide + PGR applications will generally continue as planned despite the delays caused by the cold wet weather over Easter. Some very forward wheats are approaching leaf three emergence and T1 fungicide timing and we will therefore switch to a more robust T1 + PGR where the weather has prevented a T0 being applied.

Similarly grassweed spraying with either Atlantis or Pacifica (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) has also been delayed. With the priority now being fungicide + PGR in some cases the grassweed herbicides will be applied after the T0 during better growing conditions.

Soil temperatures are now back up to around 6c and provided grassweed roots aren't sitting in water and the land has drained sufficiently to travel then Atlantis/ Pacifica treatments will go ahead. Tank mixing with the T0 + PGR will be considered where time is limited and the grassweed pressure is comparatively low.

Soil mineral nitrogen levels are normal or slightly higher than normal depending on the performance and nitrogen utilisation of the previous crop. This is being taken into account and total nitrogen rates adjusted accordingly. The main nitrogen top dressing is being applied now.

Where sulphur deficiency is suspected we will tissue sample and assess levels using the malate: sulphate analysis. These crops will also be sampled again in 3-4 weeks time to check the deficiency status as the crop starts to grow rapidly.

Winter barleys will be receiving their T1 fungicide + PGR + magnesium + manganese in the next week if not already applied. In most cases it is too late to apply chlormequat so PGR will be either Canopy (prohexadione-calcium) or Moddus (trinexapac-ethyl). Final top dressing of nitrogen will be completed as soon as possible.

The most forward crops of oilseed rape are now starting to flower and if not already sprayed will receive ½ to ¾ rate metconazole (Juventus) to improve rooting, shorten the stem and provide some disease control. In crops of variable growth stage this will also help to even up the canopy making further management and ultimately harvest a bit easier.

An insecticide will be tank-mixed where necessary to control pollen beetle and early seed weevil. Where crops are starting to flower this insecticide should be Mavrik (tau-fluvalinate) (or Biscaya (thiacloprid) where pollen beetle resistance is confirmed) to reduce the risk to any bees foraging in the flowering crop. Remember that Mavrik is not compatible with boron!

Final nitrogen + sulphur applications will be made from now on to build seed yield and maintain green leaf area.

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25 March 2008

Ruth East - Association of Independent Crop Consultants, Lincolnshire
(Click to contact)

With soil temperatures being very slow to rise, and the return of winter conditions, Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) applications have been put on hold yet again.

With low soil and air temperatures crop growth is slow. Well-established oilseed rape crops are at green bud stage, and traces of light leaf spot can be found. These will be treated with a fungicide plus a manganese + magnesium + boron mix. Backward and unevenly established crops are still being defoliated by pigeons, which must be having a detrimental effect on yield as the Green Area Index is being reduced

Cereals have responded to early nitrogen applications, and have greened-up. Some early drilled crops, and some early-developing varieties are at growth stage 30, however they can remain at this growth stage for several weeks, and will only change to sexual development when the day length and light intensity changes.

Some crops look more advanced then they really are. This is when plant dissection needs to be done in order to determine correct growth stage.

Any applications of T0 fungicides and growth regulators have been put on hold until day temperatures of at least seven degrees, along with warmer nights return for a period of at least seven days. Crops need to be actively growing, and not frost or wind damaged in order for fungicides and growth regulators to be taken up by the plant and to work effectively.

Spring crops that were drilled six to four weeks ago are slowly emerging, showing how low soil temperatures are. However, this time last year we were only just drilling spring crops due to the wet February. Due to low soil temperatures, very few of my growers have been tempted out with the beet drill. Like all spring crops it needs to go in to warm seed beds, germinate quickly and get out of the ground, it does not want a stop, start growing season.

Having taken delivery of T0 and T1 fungicides, we are now in the process of sorting out T2 fungicides in order to obtain product. What seems to be driving this is farmer buying groups who seem to want members to forward-order, creating panic buying.

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17 March 2008

Brian Ross - Frontier, Suffolk
(Click to contact)

Cold frosty weather has slowed growth in cereals, particularly winter barley, which has gone quite yellow in these conditions. It has however slowed the mildew that was getting on to some newer leaves.

The first dressings of nitrogen have gone on in the last few days and it is hoped they will respond quickly. Nearly all spring barley has been drilled into some very good seedbeds and have chitted well.

I have noticed a fair amount of diligence in keeping rooks off with a lot of "cottoning" being done, ( a laborious but effective job).

Winter wheat

Early drilled wheats look very well, even without fertiliser, and won't be done for a week or two, but second wheats and late-drilled ones have had a little as they have suffered from the conditions as well as the barley.

Disease levels continue to remain low in this area, although I did find my first spot of brown rust in Alchemy last week (and I have been looking hard for it!). Nowhere near as bad as last year thankfully but complacency must not set in.

The oilseed rape story is based solely on grey feathered objects pigeons! This is the worst year I have ever seen with pigeon damage, with some rapes looking as though they are bare ground in areas. Plants are there but eaten to the ground.

The first top dressings have sparked some life into them, only to be eaten off. Tiresome though it is, these fields must be patrolled morning noon and night. However, where the rape is not plagued by them it is growing very well and beginning to run.

A fair amount of sugar beet has been drilled in the last 10 days and has gone into some good seedbeds on heavy land. Watch out for slugs when it warms and get some traps out (not slug pellets).

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10 March 2008

Andrew Blazey - Prime Agriculture, Essex/ Suffolk/ Cambs
(Click to contact)

Blackgrass is still growing rapidly and unsuitable conditions mean that there are still a lot of outstanding Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) recommendations to be done. As we approach T0 this should ideally be done on its own without tank mix partners to get the best from it on what is generally very large blackgrass. Additional products in the tank may reduce efficiency.

Some forward crops of wheat are carrying low levels of mildew that will need attention at T0 in some varieties. Rusts are proving difficult to find at present although reports of both brown and yellow rust are emerging. It would be brave move not to do a T0 fungicide after last season.

It looks like it may be a good cleaver year with high numbers present in most winter cereal fields. Where numbers are high treatment with a suitable product may be required at T0 to prevent crop competition.

The majority of consecutive cereals and backward/ thin first wheat have had some nitrogen, further top ups will not be required for a week or two.

Oilseed rape crops are beginning to show some signs of life and hopefully will get hold of early nitrogen and move on now. Remember where further broad leaf weed control is required the cut off growth stage for Galera (clopyralid + picloram)/ Shield (clopyralid) is flower buds visible above crops, check as forward crops may be past this now. Plan growth regulator treatments where required from end of the month onwards.

Spring drilling conditions have been exceptional and crops have gone in really well. Keep an eye out for rooks as they begin to emerge. Spring barley should have its first application of nitrogen as soon as the tramlines can be seen.

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4 March 2008

Will Foss, United Agri Products, East Anglia (Suffolk)

(Click to contact)

Recent cold weather has slowed crop development and lowered soil temperatures significantly.

Where Atlantis/ Pacifica (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) hasn't yet been applied to winter wheat they will be postponed until warmer conditions return and grassweeds start active growth.

Generally the autumn herbicide programmes have worked well and coupled with high seed dormancy the blackgrass population in many fields is lower than expected. Nevertheless brome, blackgrass, ryegrass and wild oats will all need tidying up once conditions are suitable.

Where mixed grassweed populations include brome they will receive full-rate Pacifica. Where blackgrass is well-tillered or Atlantis resistance has been confirmed or is suspected these fields will receive Pacifica at the blackgrass rate. In trials Pacifica has given an extra 3-5% control of blackgrass compared to Atlantis.

As T0 and early PGR timing approaches the temptation will be to mix these with the Atlantis or Pacifica. Where possible the treatments will be kept separate to avoid any potential antagonism leading to reduced grassweed control. If we are forced to tank mix then partner products will be kept to a minimum and known problem products avoided.

The other effect of the frosty weather has been to reduce active disease in wheat. Prior to the cold snap wheat crops were carrying considerable levels of active septoria, rust and mildew. Due to the acreage of wheat varieties in the ground that are susceptible to rusts and septoria there is the distinct possibility that the development of these diseases will soon get underway as weather conditions warm up.

With high wheat prices there is a lot more willingness to invest in good fungicide programmes this year to drive yield and crop returns. T0 fungicides are therefore likely to be based around a good active triazole rather than simply straight chlorothalonil. The T0 fungicide reduces pressure on the T1 timing if weather conditions deteriorate and in UAP trials has consistently given 0.4t/ha yield response averaged over the last 8 years.

As far as crop nutrition is concerned this year, soil mineral nitrogen levels in East Anglia are higher than last year. Generally September/ early October-drilled first wheats are well-tillered and don't look in need of any early nitrogen. Later drilled first wheats and some second wheats that lost vigour have already received 40-60kg/ha of nitrogen to encourage tillering and root development.

Many wheat and barley crops on light/medium soils have been receiving sulphur with the nitrogen top dressing over the last few years. Atmospheric deposition of sulphur has declined to negligible levels in most parts of East Anglia and even heavier soil types should consider the crop's requirement for sulphur. The malate:sulphate tissue test is a very accurate way of determining sulphur deficiency in crops. Ideally the test should be conducted twice during the growing season to establish whether any deficiency is transient or severe.

Oilseed rape crops are incredibly variable in size this year. Decisions regarding green bud fungicides are being considered at this stage. Smaller backward crops are unlikely to benefit from a PGR-type fungicide but will receive a good active foliar fungicide to start protecting the crop against sclerotinia and leaf/ pod diseases.

Where sclerotinia came into OSR crops last year there will have been high sclerotia return to the soil and coupled with non-inversion tillage disease risk is likely to be very high. In UAP trials the best control of sclerotinia came from the correct choice of products at green-bud and early-mid flowering timing. The important point is to apply fungicides before the disease gets into the crop.

Resistance to pyrethroids in pollen beetle is starting to become more of a problem. Monitoring across the country last year unfortunately identified Suffolk as one of the worst affected counties! Biscaya (thiacloprid) has approval for use in osr and controls resistant pollen beetle where pyrethroids are failing. In high risk situations Biscaya will be considered as the only option if it is deemed necessary to spray.

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25 February 2008

Ruth East - Association of Independent Crop Consultants, Lincolnshire
(Click to contact)

With soil temperatures dipping to below 4 degrees Celsius last week , all thoughts of applying Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) were put on hold until soil temperature get to 6 degrees and continue to rise.

When applying Atlantis at this time ensure that it is not tank mixed with any products that will affect its efficacy. Also make sure that a 14 day interval is adhered to, if a '167
">'wheat bulb fly egg hatch spray of chlorpyriphos has been applied. Fortunately due to blackgrass dormancy being high and the autumn residuals working well, the blackgrass populations are low and the blackgrass small.

Oilseed rape crops have, or are about to receive their first top dressing of nitrogen with sulphur. With soil temps below four degrees, there would have been no uptake on earlier applied nutrients. Second and late-drilled wheat's will be top dressed at the end of the month.

The results of last year's heavy rains and the effects on soil structure are evident, especially on poor draining land, and this is having an effect on root structure not only in rape crops but cereals as well.

The first signs of plant invasion by wheat bulb fly can be found. If the crop is well tillered, then there is no need for treatment. Late-drilled cops and at risk have received an egg hatch spray, earlier in the month.

Do not be lulled in to a false sense of security thinking that the cold weather has cleaned up the cereal diseases, all it has done has put a holt on the spread of infection. Remember the inoculum is still in the plant. Once temperatures increase this will encourage sporalation and spread of disease, therefore when planning fungicides programmes do not be lulled into omitting a T0 and reducing dose rates.

Spring drilling is proceeding where soil conditions allow. Most spring bean crops are in the ground and have been treated with a pre-emergence herbicide .Due to the loss of herbicides products in the legume market it is important to keep the pre-emergence product dose rate up.

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18 February 2008

Brian Ross - Frontier, Suffolk
(Click to contact)

With the ever increasing fertiliser price and higher crop prices the issue now is a balancing act between inputs and outputs to maximise profit, and in general the cereal crop is in good heart to achieve this.

Apart from the last few days the colour and look of cereals has been good with sufficient tillers and plants setting all up for a good crop. The barleys have gone yellow in the last three days due mainly to warm growing conditions followed by some sharp frosts, but this will go in the next warm spell.

Fertiliser has gone on some rapes with memories of last year uppermost in minds, though amounts have been kept fairly low because it could still get cold.

Phoma has reappeared in some crops and treatment will still be beneficial where the plants are small and lesions are apparent. Charlock control is important where not done and thin crops need to be monitored for mayweeds and thistle control where the product of choice can go on up to just before flowerbuds visible above crop.

The smaller crops could suddenly go and the timing can be easily missed.

More thought on pollen beetle control this year will be needed because of the "resistance" problem on the coasts and in the East.

Generally grassweed control with the autumn sprays has been good and where blackgrass has come back means that good control with Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) should be achieved when good growing conditions return.

Remember there are no new blackgrass products in the foreseeable future and safeguarding the future of Atlantis is paramount. There are more instances of Atlantis resistance being reported so make sure it is used in the way it is meant to be "cos we aint nothing else".

Disease levels are in the background at the moment but innoculum is about. Where soil conditions at harvest last year were bad, following crops though looking well now will need careful monitoring particularly with regard to PGR's.

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12 February 2007

Andrew Blazey Prime Agriculture, Essex/ Suffolk/ Cambs
(Click to contact)

What a difference a mild winter makes winter wheat crops have advanced from a backward state now look quite lush in some cases, as does the blackgrass!

In general autumn pre-ems and residuals have done a good job. Where faced with large blackgrass and spring Atlantis [iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron] make sure the weed is growing well both prior to, and subsequent to, application and remember several hours drying post spraying are required to get the best out of it.

Planning of spring fungicide programs and early ordering has been going ahead at a rapid pace with fears of another brown rust year and product shortages rumoured with plantings up. At this stage in the season there is significantly less brown rust in susceptible varieties than this time last year, but a lot will depend on weather in the coming weeks. A few more frosts would be nice.

Early nitrogen application in consecutive wheat should be made from the end of the month when the crop is growing readily and in a position to use it.

Pigeons remain the biggest headache in oilseed rape and a virtually impossible to keep off some crops. Galera [clopyralid + picloram] applications will be made to crops as soon as mild conditions allow and before flower buds visible above the crop, this may be a spray window of a few days in early crops!

Like wheats, rape crops should be actively growing before N applications are started in order for it to be used efficiently and prevent leaching of what is now a very costly input. If early applications are made keep rates low to prevent loss of N. If you are planning a two split program don not apply any nitrogen until the end of the month.

Finalise spring seed requirements as a guide you should be aiming to establish 65-70 plants/ m2 for peas, 30-40 plants/ m2 for beans and 250-300 plants/ m2 for barley. With pre- and post-em weed control options more limited in spring pulses this season take time to plan programs.

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26 November 2007

Will Foss - United Agri Products, Suffolk
(Click to contact)

Slugs are still causing damage to some wheat crops in eastern counties, according to Will Foss.

Earlier-drilled wheats are now well-tillered, although some are still looking a bit ragged where slugs continue to graze leaves despite regular applications of slug pellets. If new leaves are being damaged and growth is being held back then these crops will need further treatment.

The grassweed picture is extremely variable this autumn. Residual herbicides seem to be working well in most cases with low levels of blackgrass emergence. This may also be a result of higher dormancy reducing autumn emergence.

Either way, where blackgrass levels are low and/or plants are small, then a spring application of Atlantis or Pacifica (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) is planned.

Recent colder weather has reduced soil temperatures in some places to 5C and significantly reduced grassweed activity. Atlantis will be applied this side of Christmas only where blackgrass is fully emerged and at high competitive levels. In borderline conditions it will be vital to ensure coverage is maximised by using a fine quality spray applied to a dry leaf. In the majority of situations Atlantis will be delayed until warmer conditions return.

One advantage of cooler soils is that conditions are now suitable for applications of carbetamide or propyzamide to oilseed rape. Recent rainfall has also helped to moisten soils - another requirement for good activity from these products.

The addition of a contact graminicide can boost activity, especially on larger grassweeds, providing an additional 5-10% control. This can mean the difference between reducing the overall blackgrass population and allowing sufficient seed return to cause increased blackgrass problems in following years.

Where herbicides are applied in the next couple of weeks, a second phoma fungicide will be included in the tank mix where re-infection has occurred. Fungicide choice will be based on flusilazole or Prosaro (prothioconazole + tebuconazole) in most cases where disease control is the main target.

Any crops with large canopies should already have been treated with metconazole to get the best PGR activity out of the active ingredient. An insecticide treatment will be included where cabbage stem flea beetle larvae are found inside stems and petioles.

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19 November 2007

Ruth East - Association of Independent Crop Consultants, Lincolnshire

With low soil temperatures, lack of moisture, low seed vigour, and decreasing day length, crop development has almost ground to a halt. What has been obvious is the lack of vigour of cereal seed sown from this yeas harvest has been, even though the germination tests were good.

Where growers used seed from 2006 harvest, the crop got out of the ground rapidly and is actually doing something.

Lack of vegetative growth has allowed slugs to cause more grazing damage than usual. But, at least crops are not harbouring a lot of disease - this time last year; yellow, brown rust and mildew were easily found.

Oilseed rape crops have responded well to nitrogen, and crops that have a good root system will be treated with propyzamide or carbetamide, as soils are now at the required temperatures. If a graminicide is added, care must be taken to ensure that if a fop has been applied earlier, than it must be a dim that is used.

It will not be long before rape crops begin to move again, once we get to 23 December, and day length begins to pull out, rape responds even though growth is small.

Cereal crops are at differing growth stages. The pre-/ peri-emergence blackgrass sprays in winter cereals worked well. Blackgrass emergence is very slow, as predicted, the dormancy is very high.

As soil temperatures are very low, and as light intensity decreases I can see very little Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) being used this side of Christmas. Why all the panic buying?

On that note, why are we being forced to buy pre-emergence products for 2008’s pea and bean crops? I know that we have lost some pea and bean products, but the pulse acreage has not increased that dramatically, in fact, it has probably decreased.

If it’s like the autumn pre-emergence and Atlantis market, there was a lot that went on to farm and did not get used, and is now re-entering the market place due to panic buying. I bet it will not be long before we have to plan our fungicide programmes, and put our orders in, thus creating shortfalls.

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Christmas.

Other regional reports:
North
West/South west
South

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12 November 2007

Brian Ross - Frontier, Suffolk
(Click to contact)

Oilseed rape is still a headache in several fields, although the die has been cast and the decision to leave it has been made. The issue really relates to the size of the plants in the thin areas coupled with low plant numbers. Though there enough plants/m_², a magnifying glass is needed to see some of them!

What can be seen is the number of leaves there would have been if various pests had not chewed them off. I have seen some plants that would have had 7-9 leaves if left alone. Biologically they should make it through winter but it is keeping pests off that will be the problem. Phoma is in the crops and in the main have been treated.

Cereals look very well and drillings are more or less up to date with the drill right behind the beet harvester. There are some who have decided to put spring barley in and stop drilling wheat.

The recent cold snap has lessened the number of aphids I have been seeing but still need to be aware of untreated crops.

The blackgrass treatments that have been on for a while seem to be doing a good job, though I am now seeing some blackgrass coming through the very early ones. Care will obviously be needed in the decision on the use of Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) if the soil temperatures continue to drop.

There have been some instances of crop damage from treatments applied about 10 days ago as the crops, though having had a couple of frosts, don’t seem to have hardened-off as much as we first thought. Some damage is transient others not so. Take care when spraying in adverse conditions.

Sugar beet - best not to say much! The only good thing is they are being cleared quickly, so get the next crop in! There are some reasonable sugars thank goodness but I know one person who will be 1500tonnes short of his quota.

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5 November 2007

Andrew Blazey - Prime Agriculture, Essex/ Suffolk/ Cambs
(Click to contact)

Despite a couple of very wet days October passed with below average rainfall. As a result drillings are up to date all bar very late wheat after roots. For outstanding drillings, aim to establish at least 250 plants m2. Remember that establishment percentage is likely to be lower in late autumn especially after roots and on heavy soils.

Slug activity slowed up in frosts towards the end of the month, but activity has increased again with the recent return to milder conditions. Re-treat where necessary. Metaldehyde based treatments appear to be working well whilst conditions remain dry and mild.

Post-em residual herbicide applications are well under way. Remember to top-up aphid control on early-drilled wheats, even where Deter (clothianidin) seed treatment was used some crops have been in the ground six to eight weeks and will require treatment in high pressure situations.

First applications of Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) are being made where the majority of the grassweeds have reached the two leaf stage. Remember for best results apply when in settled, mild spell, to a dry leaf. Although it has a 100 litres/ha recommendation this season, keep water volumes up as high as required to achieve effective coverage and above all apply with standard flat fan nozzles for best results.

Oilseed rape crops are still in two camps; those that are growing away rapidly and the late-to-establish, which are painfully slow. Unfortunately the majority fall in to the latter on heavy land.

Phoma is at or beyond threshold in most crops and should be treated as soon as possible, if not done already. With thinner crops this season and spray days to spare, the temptation is to get Kerb (propyzamide) on as soon as possible. Soil temperatures were still well above 10C on chalky boulder clays last week, so treatment should be delayed for the time being until the onset of cooler conditions.

Winter beans have gone in well in reasonably dry conditions, where planning pre emergence herbicides the majority of treatments require the seed to be covered by at least two inches of settled soil.

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30 October 2007

Will Foss - UAP, Cambridgeshire
(Click to contact)

Wheat crops have generally gone into very good quality seedbeds and where grassweeds are anticipated these crops have been sprayed pre- or peri-emergence with residual herbicide.

Blackgrass emergence is very variable despite predictions of higher dormancy levels within the population. Cultivation method will have also influenced the variation in grassweed emergence.

There will be no substitute for monitoring grassweed emergence field-by-field.  Where high levels of grassweeds emerge in the next few weeks and competition with the crop is going to be considerable then these fields will be targeted with Atlantis + Biopower plus a residual herbicide.

This residual partner will most likely be based on pendimethalin to maximize the period of soil activity and control grassweeds emerging after application.  If the early herbicide programme is successfully controlling or holding grassweed development then a spring application of Atlantis or Pacifica will be considered to ensure the potential late germinating grassweeds are controlled.

Where Deter seed treatment hasn’t been used an aphicide is being applied to crops once emerged. This is being partnered with IPU/ DFF or IPU/ pendimethalin where blackgrass/ ryegrass/ brome are less of an issue and wild oats/ annual meadowgrass and broadleaved weeds are the main target.

Now that IPU is limited to a maximum rate of 1500g, where additional activity is required a combination of IPU/ CTU will be used to increase activity on blackgrass and wild oats. Be careful with CTU as not all cereal varieties are tolerant so check variety and product compatibility first.

Slugs continue to cause problems especially behind OSR – cereal crops are usually ‘safe’ once they start tillering – the more persistent pasta-based pellets are far more reliable now that days are shorter and heavy dews and rain cause bran-based ‘minis’ to deteriorate rapidly.

Oilseed rape growth stages are highly variable with a number of late struggling crops already pulled up and replaced with wheat. This creates problems – not least a disruption to the rotation due to the lost break crop as well as the risk of drilling a cereal after OSR herbicides have been applied and remain active within the soil.  Provided the plant population is high enough and evenly distributed even a backward crop can produce a respectable yield if carefully managed.

Both downy mildew and phoma are active in crops and on very small plants will be much more damaging. Wetter weather has also encouraged the development of phoma. Where crops haven’t yet received a fungicide they will be sprayed during the first week of November for phoma and a phosphite foliar spray will be included to improve the plants’ ability to grow away from downy mildew.

Any trace element deficiencies will also be corrected to ensure growth is not limited by a lack of adequate nutrition.

Where grassweeds are a problem remember that crops need three leaves (and at the moment soil temperatures remain too high) for the application of persistent residual herbicides carbetamide or propyzamide.

Once conditions are suitable for application later in the season the latest Voluntary Initiative Decision Trees will be followed to ensure adherence to best practice and to minimize the risk of pesticide movement to water.

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23 October 2007

With the welcome return of moisture, seed-beds on heavy land have come down like onion beds.

Germination has been rapid, with crops emerging within seven to 10 days of drilling.

Night frosts have hardened crops, allowing peri–emergence tank-mix residuals to be applied.

Early drilled crops that had not been treated with Deter (clothianidin) have received pyretheroid to control aphids, plus manganese.

The return of moisture also saw the return of slug grazing, mainly on early drilled crops and where seed-beds were loose and cloddy.

Hopefully colder weather will reduce their activity, but one must remain vigilant.

Blackgrass is emerging slowly, and from depth, even after a pre-emergence spray.

Once the weed reaches the two-leaf stage and weather conditions are correct, Atlantis plus residual will be applied to winter wheat.

Oilseed rape crops are at differing growth stages. It doesn’t appear to matter what technique was used to establish the crop, the critical factor was to retain moisture.

Due to the open autumn, backward crops have responded to nitrogen and moisture, and have now reached a respectable three-leaf stage.

As most of my late established crops are hybrid varieties, I hope the hybrid vigour will kickstart them in spring.

All early established rape crops have been treated with a graminicide, plus a phoma fungicide.

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16 October 2007

Brian Ross - Frontier, Suffolk
(Click to contact)

This has to be the worst year I have seen for slugs.

A lot of rape in this area has finally managed to come through, but despite baiting, is still being destroyed virtually overnight.

I cannot stress enough the importance of constantly monitoring the fields at risk.

The size of some crops is a worry going into winter like this, not because they won’t survive biologically, but due to the risk from pigeons and other pests.

Careful thought will be needed on the worst-looking rape crops. Will the economics of leaving them in stack up against wheat?

Rotation obviously will be affected if this happens, but the effect on gross margin will be too much to ignore.

There is also a question which weedkiller to use on such crops, as plants are at all stages and care needs to be taken where the rape is very small.

However, if a pre-em treatment has been applied and the crop is to be ripped up, take advice.

Wheat and barley are coming through quickly and also under attack by slugs, particularly after rape and in cloddy seedbeds.

Blackgrass is also on the march and the urgency in getting the grassweed control on is paramount.

Aphids are easy to find on volunteer cereals and new crops, particularly where a specific dressing has not gone on.

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8 October 2007

Andrew Blazey - Prime Agriculture, Essex/ Suffolk/ Cambs
(Click to contact)

Wheat drilling has progressed well in the last few days with a return to drier weather over the weekend.

Early-drilled crops are emerging well despite some of the highest slug levels ever seen in crops after oilseed rape. The pressure has been so high some grain hollowing has been observed even with Deter (clothianidin)-treated seed.

Where crops after oilseed rape are yet to be treated this should be done ASAP and in some earlier drilled crops a follow up treatment will be required early post emergence as the first application of pellets have all been eaten! Whilst conditions remain relatively dry and mild metaldehyde treatments should work well.

Pre-emergence grassweed sprays have been progressing well too with a return to better spraying conditions. Where flufenacet treatments are still outstanding remember there is an opportunity to apply them peri-emergence in conjunction with a partner spray such as IPU.

If crops were not treated with an insecticidal seed treatment take the opportunity to apply a pyrethroid based insecticide at the same time as aphid pressure is also very high. Where crops were treated with Deter this should give six to eight weeks protection.

Unfortunately oilseed rape crops still fall into two camps those that were early drilled and romping away and those that are still struggling although there is now a considerable number of late emerged small plants in these.

It is crunch time for these later crops and their future has to be decided whilst conditions are ok for pulling them up and planning alternative cropping. Where crops are looking doubtful consider what restrictions you have in terms of rotation, herbicides already applied and the likelihood that they will survive pigeons.

Indications are that we have had enough rainfall to trigger phoma infections and indeed the first lesions can be found in more forward crops. The most responsive conditions for the control of the disease are when it is found in late September/early October in relatively backward crops.

Therefore it is likely that in established crops two applications of fungicide will need to be applied this autumn.  The first treatment should be made when there is 10% incidence in susceptible varieties and 20% in resistant ones.

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1 October 2007

Will Foss UAP, Suffolk
(Click to contact)

Dry conditions during the first three weeks of September were not conducive to oilseed rape germination and emergence!

Rain during the last week of September has moistened most seedbeds sufficiently to allow seed to germinate. Hopefully we will start to see full crop emergence this coming week at which time any fields that haven’t yet had a herbicide treatment will be prioritized for spraying.

Where flea beetle are causing shotholing a pyrethroid insecticide will be included and any grassweeds or cereal volunteers treated with graminicide at the same time if necessary.

The more advanced fields of oilseed rape that went into good seedbeds and retained sufficient moisture, are now at 4-5 true leaves. These crops will be monitored for development of the first phoma lesions and also pest damage.

Once plants reach the 4 leaf stage they are usually past the most susceptible stage of attack from slugs. Nevertheless all crops (especially the struggling ones) will continue to be monitored for slug damage and pelleted as necessary. In wetter conditions the pasta-based slug pellets are much more persistent than bran-based ‘minis’.

Wheat and barley drilling is well underway with many fields drilled into very dry seedbeds prior to the rain. Where seedbeds are very cloddy and seeds are not well covered by good tilth the pre-emergence herbicide treatments have been delayed to prevent crop damage.

Now that moisture has softened the clods and started germination these fields will be treated very early post-emergence with the planned pre-emergence herbicide mixed with IPU + pyrethroid where necessary. Remember the maximum rate of IPU is now 1500g (reduced from 2500g).

Pyrethroid treatment will be omitted where seed has been treated with Deter (clothianidin) although a later treatment may be required once the Deter runs out of steam.

Generally seedbeds have come down very well where fields were drilled after the rain and these will be sprayed with a pre-emergence herbicide where grassweeds are a problem. The pre-emergence treatment has repeatedly been shown to give the highest levels of grassweed control compared to treatments delayed until peri/post-emergence.

Blackgrass control strategies will need to take into account the predicted high dormancy levels and therefore protracted germination this year. But consider the system of cultivation – if land has been ploughed this year the majority of the blackgrass population is likely to be previous year’s seed with low dormancy! Where blackgrass germination is expected to continue into late winter/early spring the Atlantis or Pacifica (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) treatment will be delayed accordingly.

This may require a post-emergent autumn ‘holding’ herbicide treatment to maintain activity against grassweeds and tidy up any broad-leaved weeds.  The final decision can only be made based on observations in the field.

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24 September 2007

Ruth East - Association of Independent Crop Consultants, Lincolnshire
(Click to contact)

While light land drilling progresses, with first wheat’s and winter barley going into  good seed-beds, heavy land drilling has virtually ceased due to lack of moisture and seed-beds just requiring some moisture to get them into the final state for drilling. It appears pointless to drill into dry seed-beds, where there is little chance of seed germinating.

We need at least an inch of rain to do any good, but have had about 4mm so far this morning (24 September).

A lot of oilseed rape is not even up yet, and it is those on heavy land which are struggling most. However, early drilled crops – accounting for less than 50% of the area - have reached the 3–4 leaf stage, but are also in need of a drink

Once they have had some moisture they will be treated with a graminicide, as graminicides need moisture to work well. If  there is blackgrass present then product choice will be either Laser (cycloxydim) or Aramo (tepraloxydim). However, wi