Latest report

29 June 2009

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
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Harvest is rapidly approaching and winter barleys on light land that escaped the showers are turning quickly. Heavier soil types that had plenty of rain are faring better.

Some of the indifferent wheat crops now look superb and are full of potential.

Whilst disease levels are generally lower than last year's, problems are beginning to show.

I have a field of Oakley that had a small spray miss at T1 resulting in total defoliation by yellow rust. Another customer did the same at T2 on Solstice and now the upper canopy is defoliated.

This new race seems very aggressive and we all need to think long and hard about next year's variety choices; ideally, restricting susceptible varieties to an area that can be sprayed in one day.

The main problem with this approach is that few varieties are now in the low-risk category and seed supply of them may be a real issue.

Agronomy-wise it's fairly quiet at the moment, but I had to spray most of my winter and spring beans last week for black bean aphids, some crops also having huge numbers of pea aphids in them.

A few aphids can also be found on wheat ears and it's possible that this week's hot and humid weather could cause an explosion in numbers.

It will very shortly be time to desiccate winter oilseed rape. The biggest challenge this year, given the uneven crops, will be to get the timing right. Some fields may require splitting to avoid red seed in the sample.

Last year I used a lot of Pod-Stik applied with glyphosate. This worked very well, with most users raving over its performance. It will probably be an even more valuable tool this year.

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15 June 2009

James Boswell - H L Hutchinson, Kent
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Many winter wheat crops look promising after recent showery weather. Until the rain arrived some were looking stressed with flag leaves starting to curl.

Most have had a full fungicide programme applied in good conditions which has kept septoria levels down on the lower leaves and produced clean flag leaves.

Orange blossom midge numbers were monitored, but thresholds were reached in only a small number of cases for treatment with Dursban (chlorpyrifos).

Mildew has remained at low levels but can readily be found in Claire.

Yellow rust has arisen only in untreated areas or where timings have been stretched, particularly in Robigus. Brown rust has been absent, but the risk will increase if the weather becomes hot and dry.

Most winter barleys received good two-spray fungicide treatments and disease has been kept under control.

A bigger problem has been growth regulation, and with the recent thundery windy conditions we're already seeing pancake flat crops which is of huge economic concern.

The small proportion of oilseed rape crops unaffected by pigeons, rabbits or slugs have finished flowering and podded well.

While many very poor crops were re-drilled with a spring crop, a few were left that were borderline; these have recovered to some degree and are still flowering.

Spring beans look very good, although downy mildew levels have been high and needed controlling with Folio ((chlorothalonil + metalaxyl-M).

Flowering is coming to an end and crops are podding nicely.

As many are grown for human consumption bruchid beetle control has been a high priority, many crops receiving Hallmark Zeon (lambda-cyhalothrin) during flowering.

Spring barley has been popular and disease has been well controlled

Linseed has also been popular, but with fewer products available controlling weeds has been difficult, and dry conditions at application have made mayweed control variable.

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8 June 2009

Swaran Bachoo - Agrovista, Hants/ Wilts
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Rain on Saturday and Sunday was a welcome relief; we had 15-20mm. Until then the weather had been terrific for people on holiday, but not so good for those growing crops.

We'd had temperatures of 24C plus, and with no more than 16mm of rain in the previous three weeks and constant wind, soils had badly cracked and dried out.

Winter wheats are at full ear-emergence to mid-flowering (GS59-65). Most have had a T3 fungicide and the rest will be treated this week.

The T3 application should be considered an extension of the flag leaf spray and is a critical part of the fungicide programme in disease-prone varieties.

A T3 fungicide is also useful in controlling fusarium ear blight and so mycotoxins. Tests for these are now being aggressively carried out by millers, and loads of wheat were rejected last year. Alas control of fusarium is rather high and difficult to achieve.

Winter barleys are at the milky ripe to cheesy ripe stage and too late to spray with fungicide.

Spring barleys are at the full ear emergence and will be treated with T2 fungicide this week.

Some oilseed rape crops in close rotation that flowered over a prolonged period have been sprayed with a second sclerotinia fungicide.

Considering how dry it has been, it's remarkable how good crops look overall and the recent rain should help them attain their potential.

Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron ) has given poorer than usual grassweed control this year, probably due to the cold weather in February and March and the dry spell in April.

It's now time to carry out field mapping of areas where control has been poor, with perhaps resistance the cause, and to get the weed seed tested. Remember to collect samples only when the seed is mature, which is usually when it falls off the head on shaking.

Spring wheat A C Barrie looks particularly good on the better soils and could yield well, but I fear it's struggling on Wiltshire's thin chalky land.

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1 June 2009

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
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All but the most backward winter rape crops are either at the end or close to the end of flowering, and unless we have an aphid invasion the next time field gates are opened will be to desiccate.

The spring crop is a different matter and varies from Ritz, which is mostly bad or a crop failure, to the very good. There are large numbers of pollen beetles in most crops and, given that spring rape is less able to compensate than winter rape, these are being treated with insecticide.

Spring barleys look well, although some are very short. The most forward are just at awns emerging and will receive a second fungicide based on prothioconazole this week.

Winter beans are a mixed bag, with some late-emerging moisture-stressed crops of Wizard still only 12in tall and flowering. Earlier-drilled crops on moisture-retentive clays are 3ft tall and look well. All have received one fungicide so far and a follow up will be applied three to four weeks after the first. If the weather stays dry, more emphasis needs to be on bean rust control with the second spray.

Winter wheats are at ear emergence and thoughts must turn to ear-wash sprays and orange blossom midge control.

This season is completely different to last. If it stays dry for the next week to 10 days the fusarium risk should be much lower and the emphasis of the ear wash should be as much about topping up the flag leaf spray as on fusarium control.

All quality wheats will still receive an ear wash; the decision on feed wheats will hinge around variety, yield potential and levels of moisture stress. At the moment orange blossom midge levels seem low and I haven't yet found a crop which requires treatment. Long may this continue.

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27 May 2009

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire
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Most Favourite Recommendation of the Year Award goes to the ear-wash on winter wheat, which, hopefully, puts the crop to bed and means the end of the silly season is in sight.

Mine will be a 60-75% triazole dose plus 50% strobilurin. Some will be late-flag/early-ear combined and some of my later wheats will have had only two applications of pretty chunky doses of fungicides.

It's interesting to see what effect the early, robust applications had on mildew without the addition of specific mildewicides; those that didn't get their first fungicides until late certainly have considerably higher levels of mildew.

I suppose we have to start thinking about the dreaded orange wheat blossom midge (yawn) soon, but I doubt many of my crops will be treated.

Winter barleys are now all put to bed and are looking pretty good. One of my crops of Boost has had no herbicides since its autumn post-em, has only had two fungicide treatments and is as clean as a whistle. What happens from now on is in the lap of the gods.

Crop with the Most Amazing Powers of Recovery Award goes to winter oilseed rape, which has astounded even my dampened optimism. How many acres were ripped up unnecessarily?

Least Favourite Crop of the Season Award goes to red spring wheat, which seems to suffer from every problem available and turns a horrible shade of yellow the minute a herbicide gets anywhere near it. Unless it yields particularly well or is worth a fortune, I shan't be recommending anybody grows it next year.

Spring beans and linseed look excellent. We've just had a drop of rain and the temperatures have risen, so everything feels good at the moment. Let's hope it continues that way.

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19May 2009

James Boswell - H L Hutchinson, Kent
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Early-drilled winter wheat is now at boot swollen. Mildew is confined to wheat stems and remains low risk. Yellow rust could be found earlier on Robigus where fungicide timings were extended, but is now back under control.

Brown rust hasn't been seen so far this season, but a change to warmer weather could see it become a high risk. Septoria tritici is the main concern at this T2 timing, with levels in the south reportedly the highest in the country.

The cold winter, early spring and robust growth regulation programmes have led to shorter-than-normal plants, resulting in disease pressure increasing by direct disease transfer rather than rain splash.

Winter barley, fully in ear, looks extremely promising. Rhynchosporium and net blotch have been well controlled by robust two-spray fungicide programmes. Mildew levels remain low.

Forward oilseed rape has finished flowering, had two sclerotinia sprays and podded well. Backward and pigeon-damaged crops have never recovered and remain thin, uneven and spindly. They have been flowering at various times and a well-timed sclerotinia spray has been impossible.

Spring beans have suffered from dry weather and persistent weevil notching. Downy mildew is a problem earlier than normal this season and does need addressing. Pre-emergence weed control has been good, but may need a follow up treatment with Basagran (bentazone).

Spring barley went into moisture and looks encouraging.

There has been more linseed planted this spring and it germinated well, but polygonums are a problem and will need treating.

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11 May 2009

Swaran Bachoo - Agrovista, Hants/ Wilts
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The recent warm weather and some rain has enabled the crops to make rapid growth.

Those that were seven days behind earlier in the season are now at the same growth stage as they were last year.

Winter barley is at GS 49, awns just visible, and will be sprayed, weather permitting, this week with Jaunt (prothioconazole + trifloxystrobin + fluoxastrobin) + chlorothalonil.

Please note that the latest timing for the use of chlorothalonil at the T2 is GS 51(before first spikelet visible).

Winter wheats have leaf 2 emerged and will be sprayed when the flags emerge in about 10 days' time. This year there are much reduced tiller numbers and plant numbers are also low. This means that lower leaves will make a greater contribution. Also leaf 3 on the secondary tillers would not have received fungicide at the T1 timing, applied two weeks ago.

So it's imperative that a robust rate of a good fungicide, such as Ennobe (epoxiconazole + prochloraz), is considered for longer kick-back activity.

Nitrogen fertiliser programmes should now be completed if they haven't already been.

Red wheat A C Barrie is growing at a rate of knots, typically like a spring wheat. Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) has, unfortunately, slightly scorched this variety, perhaps because of its rapid growth pattern. The variety will require two good growth regulators and an application of manganese.

Oilseed rape has been sprayed against sclerotinia about a week ago and a second fungicide may be required if there is a prolonged flowering. Note that it is against the rules to mix an insecticide with a triazole fungicide during flowering.

Most pea crops are at the tendril locking stage and have escaped pea and bean weevil attack. Residual herbicides have not worked well this year because of the dry weather and may need an overspray. Ensure there is an adequate layer of wax on the leaves before applying a herbicide.

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5 May 2009

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
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Recent rain has at least perked most crops up, but some areas remain very dry and we still need a good inch more.

Most winter rape has started to flower and these crops have had a fungicide against sclerotinia. The question now is will a follow up be required? Given the problems encountered in the past two years and the unevenness of flowering, I'm sure most crops will benefit from a second spray three weeks after the first was applied. Dose and product choice will be varied according to the persistency required.

Spring barleys vary enormously, with the furthest forward at GS30 while some are still at three leaves. Forward crops are about to receive a fungicide based on a third rate of a prothioconazole plus strob mix timed at late tillering, the aim being to follow up four weeks later at flag leaf or awns-emerging stage.

Spring beans are struggling on heavy soils, with some plants emerged while some seed sits in dry clods yet to germinate. These crops are suffering from bad pea and bean weevil damage and need treating now. The aim should be to do this in sunny conditions when the weevils are active. Weed control from pre-emergence treatments is variable, which is not surprising given the dry weather.

Winter wheats have mostly received their T1 treatments. Disease pressure, especially from septoria, is relatively low at the moment. T2 is still some way off, probably for the bulk of the crop from 20 May onwards. Again aim to keep the gap between fungicides to about four weeks.

Winter barleys have recently received a late growth regulator where needed, and will shortly have a fungicide at awns-emerging based again on a third rate prothioconazole plus strob mix.

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28 April 2009

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire
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As predicted, once crops woke up they raced through their development. First awns were showing on some winter barley crops by the third week of April and well-established Soissons – yes, we still grow loads in the south of England – had its flag leaf showing at the same time.

Fortunately, we are not chasing disease, but what was planned as a late T0 has actually gone on at traditional T1 timing, so I'm glad I've kept triazole rates relatively robust.

Spring crops have gone in superbly and generally speaking are developing very evenly. Spring barley is showing a few growing pains and in the worst cases this can be rectified with trace elements. But usually I just leave them to it and they grow out of it on their own. Pre-emergence herbicides on peas and beans seem to have worked very well. Pea and bean weevil attacks have been sporadic, with some very bad and some not at all, so good inspection and prompt treatment is necessary.

Oilseed rape has dragged itself into flower,. but I can't think of many fields that are wall-to-wall even. Early high pollen beetle numbers seem to have dispersed themselves without too much damage, but I did see a crop that had a number of pods missing due to a late, isolated frost. All crops will be getting a mid-flowering fungicide, probably tebuconazole + MBC.

Maize is going in as I write and might have had a good drink by the time this goes to press. Any of my growers who used Cadou Star last year have asked to use it again, as it worked so well. So that makes my job easy. I hope there will only be another three or four weeks of rushing around like the proverbial coloured-behind fly and things will start to ease off.

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20 April 2009

James Boswell - H L Hutchinson, Kent
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Up to an inch of rain over the weekend was desperately needed. Most wheats look quite promising though there's some mildew creeping into the bottom.

The most forward crops are at T1 and it will be important to get the PGR right. They've already had 1 litre/ha of chlormequat and 0.1 litres/ha of Moddus (trinexapac-ethyl) and they'll get the same again along with fungicide - generally chlorothalonil with a good three-quarter dose of triazole, plus Flexity (metrafenone) if there's mildew present.

Most grassweed control has been completed and Atlantis and Pacifica (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) seem to have worked well. We don't have too many resistance problems.

Winter barleys look better this year than normal. They're not that awful yellow you often see - they seem more like wheat. Most are approaching GS32 and a lot of people have already applied fungicide. But it will be important to keep an eye open for rhynchosporium and net blotch after the wet weekend.

I reckon about 15% of the winter rape has been pulled up. Most people have replaced it with spring barley, sown about three weeks ago, which is now at the two-leaf stage and looks fantastic. It shows there was still moisture underneath.

Others have gone with linseed, sown about a week ago, which is just coming through. They'll need to watch out for flea beetle and be prepared to spray a pyrethroid where attacks are severe.

Nitrogen dressings to second wheats are mostly completed, but some people with forward strong first crops are waiting until they've applied their second PGR.

Some oilseed rape looks fantastic, but most suffered pigeon damage. Some Biscaya (thiacloprid) has been applied against pollen beetle. It's more expensive, but we do have resistance down here.

The most forward crops have already been treated against sclerotinia, and will probably need spraying again in a couple of weeks, especially if they are in high-risk areas. I think two-spray sclerotinia programmes could become the norm.

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14 April 2009

Swaran Bachoo - Agrovista, Hants/ Wilts
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In the middle of last week we had about 8mm of very welcome rain. The ground is now damp, and with the air temperature averaging 12C crops are growing rapidly.

Grassweed control is now complete and Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) applied three weeks ago is working well.

Early drilled wheats are at GS29 and have been treated with a T0 fungicide plus a reduced rate PGR. Where required, a dose of trace elements has been included.

Traces of Septoria tritici are visible on new growth in Humber, Oakley and Solstice. All three varieties were severely affected by septoria in late June last year and I can clearly remember that towards the end of the month there was sudden senescence in most of the leaves.

Treat septoria-susceptible varieties with respect and spray these at the T0 timing or, if this isn't appropriate, use a robust rate of a good fungicide such as Ennobe (epoxiconazole + prochloraz) or Proline (prothioconazole) at the T1 timing at GS 32.

Winter barley varieties Cassata and Pearl are infected with net blotch and rhynchosporium and will be treated this week at the T1 timing with Jaunt (prothioconazole + trifloxystrobin + fluoxystrobin).

Winter barleys have had all their planned nitrogen and winter wheats will receive their main dressing at GS31 in about 10 days' time.

Spring barleys are between GS12 and 14 and until recent rain were struggling - even the weeds weren't germinating! There are some patchy fields around where not all the seed has germinated.

Oilseed rape crops are at yellow bud stage with some pollen beetles present. Early drilled crops which weren't infested by pigeons and had a GAI of 1 in March and approaching 2 in early April have been treated with a PGR fungicide to help with canopy arrangement and prevent sclerotinia. Temperatures above 10C and recent rainfall will encourage infection.

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6 April 2009

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
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No two years are ever the same and this season is throwing up a few surprises.

Bad light leaf spot in oilseed rape that has received two phoma sprays is certainly a surprise. Problems seem most prevalent in the more forward crops, which are receiving a robust fungicide preferably including prothioconazole.

With early crops at the yellow bud to first flowers opening stage, this is a slight compromise, which will confuse the main sclerotinia spray timing.

Some early control of sclerotinia can be expected from a spray at yellow bud, but beware of leaving the main spray too far into flowering.

Watch out - pollen beetles are about in large numbers. While they're not a problem in forward crops coming into flower, use a threshold of five per plant for backward or thin crops.

Early wheat crops are at GS30 and have been treated with chlorotoluron and growth regulator. I have used little triazole at T0 this year.

Most wheats are still a week off GS30 and, with continuing dry weather, it is hard to see the justification for a T0 aimed at septoria control, given that the gap to T1 will be relatively short. If it stays dry yellow rust could be more of a problem.

Winter barleys will be ready for a T1 by the end of this week and that should major around prothioconazole plus strobilurin and growth regulator. Remember this is the most important timing on barley and so where the main fungicide investment should be.

The recent dry weather has allowed rapid progress with spring drilling. Early-sown spring barley is tillering, although much of the crop is sitting in bone dry soils. We really do need significant rain so these crops can get away.

A month ago I never thought I'd be contemplating a rain dance by early April.

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30 March 2009

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire
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After what seems to have been an interminably long winter things finally seem to be waking up.

Crops are going through a sort of adolescent phase where anything forward has really got moving, but anything backward is still asleep. This has the effect of making the difference between the two look even greater. But I have confidence that, provided there is a plant, the two will soon even up. Anyone with teenage offspring will know exactly what I mean.

For early-drilled winter crops that established well, the winter has been brilliant. Growth stages are about right for the time of year and disease levels are low. Autumn grassweed control has, on the whole, been very effective and few problems have re-emerged yet. Even for later-drilled crops we have not been chasing weeds, so there is something to say for a proper winter.

Some winter rape crops are just about ready for a stem extension fungicide and some, but not many, will need growth regulation. Some have had their growth regulated and disease controlled by pigeons/rabbits/partridges and some have been ripped up and replaced with something else. Generally speaking anything sown this spring has gone in superbly and has lifted spirits accordingly.

Normally, when winter wheat is late to move away in the spring it has a tendency to race through its growth stages to come into ear at the standard late May/early June timing. Consequently, I can't see many crops receiving a T0 plus three fungicides this year.

My early wheats will probably have an early T1 at GS31/32, with a T2 at GS37 and a follow up at flag leaf/ear. Later or badly grazed wheats may well only receive two fungicides and little growth regulation. But, as often before, I could be eating my words.

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23 March 2009

James Boswell - H L Hutchinson, Kent
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Better recent weather has led to many outstanding grassweed spraying jobs being completed, with Atlantis or Pacifica (both iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) being needed in the most difficult situations.

Early first wheats are at GS30 and T0 is now being recommended, an appropriate triazole/chlorothanonil mix proving popular. Disease levels are variable. Very few rust pustules can be found and mildew infections are low, but Septoria tritici levels are high.

Wheat development seems slower this year, possibly 7-10 days late. There is also a huge difference in crop stands where fields are 300-400ft above sea level after the very cold winter. After two weeks of dry weather slug activity is minimal, but rabbits remain a massive problem that still needs addressing.

Pigeons continue to graze oilseed rape heavily causing serious problems. Where the pests have been controlled a minority of strong rape crops have started to extend and grow on quickly.

Many crops were sprayed in the autumn for phoma and treatments have worked well, as levels are now low. But, with so many uneven crops, special attention needs to be paid to pollen beetle control, as the worst damage is seen in warmer, sunny conditions with the crop at tight green bud.

Spring beans have been very popular and seed-beds good. Many have been rolled and sprayed pre-emergence with herbicide. The need for these residuals to work well is more important than ever, as there is such a limited armoury of post-emergent contact products approved.

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16 March 2009

Swaran Bachoo - Agrovista, Hants/ Wilts
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Most spring barley drilling is complete and seed drilled 10 days ago is shot and should come through during next week.

All winter wheats and barleys have been treated with 37kg/ha of nitrogen plus 45kg/ha of SO3, and second wheats have had the same sulphur and 75-80kg/ha of N. Late September and early October drilled wheats are at GS24.

Oilseed rape crops will soon be at the stem extension stage and have already been treated with 40kg/ha of nitrogen and 75kg/ha of SO3. During the next few days the bulk of the planned remaining N should be applied to backward crops as there is only about 25kg/ha in the soil - only half the amount found last year. Remember the crop can take up to 3kg/ha of N a day during stem extension.

Well established rape crops can wait for their main dressing until the end of March.

Malting winter barleys should get all their N by the end of March to ensure malting quality.

There is little evidence of light leaf spot present in oilseed rape but phoma symptoms can easily found on the old leaves.

Most varieties of wheat have septoria lesions on the old senescing leaves, and fresh net blotch lesions are evident on winter barley varieties Cassata and Pearl.

The dreaded slugs are still doing damage in late-drilled fields of wheat, albeit in small patches but will need treating. Remember the guidelines for using slug pellets and take all possible precautions to avoid these getting into waterways.

With soil temperatures increasing and above 6C it's time to consider application of Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) for blackgrass control in wheat. But take care to avoid spraying during frosty weather to avoid crop damage and avoid tank-mixing chlorothalonil.

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9 March 2009

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
(Click to contact)

Most decisions on which rape crops are worth saving have now been made. Thin and backward ones will need a completely different approach to nitrogen management than forward crops.

Consider using growth stimulants like Route or Quark to encourage more prolific rooting. In contrast to recent years these crops will need most if not all their nitrogen applied early on to aid rapid canopy expansion and encourage small plants to branch rather than bolt.

If significant fresh phoma lesions are found on backward crops treatment is still worthwhile. It's still on the cool side for Galera (clopyralid and picloram) to work well, but remember the cut off application point is flower buds visible.

There are some thin and backward barleys around and it's important to remember that barley is less able to compensate for sub-optimal tiller numbers than wheat. So a higher nitrogen dose earlier on to encourage further tillering is worthwhile in these thin crops this year.

Forward wheats are few and far between, the average growth stage being GS21. Temperatures are just about high enough to apply Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) and Pacifica (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron), but on waterlogged soils aim to wait until active growth is seen. Try, if possible, to avoid mixing them either with a growth regulator or chlorothalonil. T0 is still some way off in most crops.

Spring barley drilling is in full swing, with most crops receiving a pre-emergence spray of Stomp (pendimethalin) and Defy (prosulfocarb) at 2 litres/ha plus 3-4 litres/ha, respectively, in blackgrass situations or straight Defy at 2-3 litres/ha in annual meadow grass situations.

Defy (on a SOLA) applied straight is very crop-safe, but be beware of shallow drillings with the Stomp mix.

Late winter beans are just emerging as the spring crop is drilled. Two new herbicide options exist pre-emergence on spring beans. Defy (on a SOLA) and Afalon (linuron) are both welcome additions to a previously limited and expensive armoury.

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24 February 2009

James Boswell - H L Hutchinson, Kent
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Continuous cold wet weather and low soil temperatures left oilseed rapes crops damaged by pigeons looking very poor and backward.

Two weeks of warmer weather has allowed nitrogen/sulphur fertiliser applications to be made which will help promote growth.

Autumn fungicides to control phoma have been successful and levels of the disease remain low.

It's now too late to apply propyzamide to rape but this can be replaced with carbetamide up to the end of February.

Levels of charlock vary, with some hit hard by frosts. Other stronger plants will need controlling with bifenox (SOLA needed).

Any cleavers, mayweeds and thistles can still be sprayed before crop canopy prevents penetration, or green buds start to show. This job must take priority because time is running out as soil conditions begin to improve.

Forward-first wheats are approaching growth stage 30. Mildew levels are low and rust pustules difficult to detect, but Septoria tritici is rife. A T0 spray will need to be applied, weather permitting, in the next seven to 14 days, based around a strong septoria fungicide.

Autumn-applied residuals have worked well, but where blackgrass is the main problem an Atlantis application is now needed as soil temperatures begin to rise.

Where thin patches have appeared in fields, keep looking out for slug activity as temperatures increase.

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1 December 2008

Swaran Bachoo - Agrovista, Hants/ Wilts
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At last, after nearly two and a half months, we have had three glorious days of sunshine. And with most of last week being pretty dry, some ground work, including drilling, is planned for the week starting 16 February.

A large acreage of planned spring barley and winter wheat will be drilled in the next 10 days, weather permitting. There is some urgency to get wheat drilled before the end of the month.

Make sure adequate seed numbers - at least 350/sq m - are used, since wheat drilled this late will not produce more than three to four tillers per plant.

Wheat drilled in mid-October has 1000-1200 tillers/sq m. But if sown a month later (and hit by frost), it has dead and decaying tillers with only 700 healthy ones. Bearing in mind that 500-600 tillers (600 on lighter soils) are needed to achieve a respectable crop, good management techniques will be required to maintain crop potential.

There seems to be little disease present on either early drilled or late drilled wheats - hardly surprising considering the recent Arctic weather we've had. However wheat being drilled now will certainly need an early fungicide against mildew.

Winter barleys are looking extremely good and well rooted, albeit a little blue having suffered from the cold.

Early September-drilled crops of winter rape have eight to 10 leaves per plant and are well established. But some fields are being heavily grazed by pigeons despite various distractions including scarecrows and lead.

October-drilled crops have only four leaves and are poorly rooted. Over the next few days 32-37 kg/ha of nitrogen will be applied to these later ones in an effort to get them moving once they have started to grow and the temperature is above 6C.

s the weather warms check for any new lesions of phoma and light leaf spot and treat accordingly.

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10 February 2009

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
(Click to contact)

I've just returned from a skiing holiday in the French Alps and the view from the window this morning is quite similar – acres and acres of white snow-covered ground, albeit somewhat flatter and rather less inviting.

So what will the season's prospects and problems be?

Rape crops are a mixed bag. Some have been completely pigeon ravaged while others seem to have escaped unscathed, so far.

Late-sown crops after ploughing seem to have improved over winter, while crops min-tilled and especially direct drilled have stood still or gone back. Careful assessment in the next two weeks or so will be needed to decide which are worth saving.

Plant populations as low as 10/sq m can give an acceptable crop but at this level plants need to well established, evenly distributed, healthy and with good root structure. Weed burden and the cost and likelihood of control in open crops also need considering before a final decision is made.

Wheat and barley are also very mixed and, according to colleagues in the west and north, the areas sown are well down in the case of wheat probably below domestic consumption level. It would be a brave man who sold much of his crop forward now.

Hardly any Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) has gone on yet and most applications, unless we have a dramatic improvement in conditions, will now need to wait for warmer conditions (soil temperatures above 6C and active growth), which may not be till March.

Early nitrogen, once growth has started, especially on backward thin crops and, potentially, growth regulators to suppress apical dominance and encourage tillering will be needed on quite a large area this year.

Most decisions on spring cropping have now been made. Let's hope the weather allows these crops to be established in reasonable time and in good conditions.

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4 February 2009

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire
(Click to contact)

What has really surprised and somewhat disappointed me recently is what little effect nearly four weeks without rain post-Christmas has had on our waterlogged land.

I suppose the heavy frosts kept all the moisture in the top 8in and the heavy rain since the thaw - 250mm in 10 days - has put it back to where it was before Christmas.

It's been quite a few years since I've seen wheats actually go black due to very low temperatures. The cold stopped the slugs in their tracks and made any application of contact graminicides pointless.

There has recently been a spell of recovery and backward wheats and barleys are beginning to show some new growth. These will get nitrogen help at the end of this month, but I'm holding off with any Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) sprays until there are definite signs of crop and weed growth. Fortunately, there has been little emergence of blackgrass in the later-drilled crops.

Winter oilseed rape has suffered severely in the cold, wet weather. Even the few forward crops around have had some of the worst pigeon (plus partridge/rabbit) damage ever.

The later-drilled crops, of which there are many, have faired even worse, with whole fields looking brown and bare. I've always been hugely optimistic in winter rape's ability to recover, but this year even my optimism may be stretched to the limit.

I reckon decision time will be late March, but don't ask me what we're going to replace any with.

There's a lot of talk about growing (red) spring wheat at the moment. When I mention my concerns about gout fly in May I get a few blank looks. Watch this space...

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1 December 2008

James Boswell - H L Hutchinson, Kent
(Click to contact)

Most early-drilled wheat crops look promising – tillering has been good and residual herbicides have been effective.

Colder and wet recent conditions have seen soil temperatures drop and later drillings will be slow to develop.

Disease pressure is low, with little visual tissue symptoms to be concerned about.

Slugs are still active during milder evenings and need monitoring, but the largest problem by far is rabbits. Many types of control have been implemented, but grazing damage is still leading to serious yield losses.

Good spraying conditions have been few and far between over the past four weeks. If no spraying has taken place, there's still a need for an aphicide application if conditions allow.

Rainfall last month was 91mm compared with 50mm last November, soil conditions are restricting travel.

With oilseed rape drillings down by 20%, crops are varied, ranging from complete ground cover to grazed cotyledons.

This grazing is due to a high numbers of pigeons, slugs, rabbits and cabbage stem flea beetle. All are of real concern and crops in this condition need careful attention if they are to survive the winter months.

Difficult grassweeds need spraying, as soil temperatures are now fine for Kerb (propyzamide) or Crawler (carbetamide) to work well. Thistle and cleaver control may need to wait for the spring, as these products are less effective against these weeds in the cold.

Winter beans are emerging and pre-emergence sprays are working well, but grassweed control is now the priority. Carbetamex plus a graminicide should be used where resistance is a concern.

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24 November 2008

On the plus side, 90% of all the planned cereal drilling is complete. Where drilling is still to be done, careful attention should be paid to seed numbers, taking into account factors such as seed-bed condition, lateness of sowing and the prospect of slug activity. Remember, too, that going into December, the establishment rate for wheat and barley may be no higher than 50-60%.

Soil temperature is now less than 5C, so crops are growing very slowly.

Both wheat and barley are at GS1.2 and oats are at GS1.1.

Some fields of barley now look distinctly yellow in the wet patches.

Little or no spraying has been possible for two weeks and I’m glad we managed to get nearly all the planned pre-emergence spraying done before the really bad weather. None of the post-emergence sprays has been possible, either for meadow grass or the follow-ups for blackgrass. Luckily, grassweed growth has also slowed.

Steer clear of complicated herbicide mixes to avoid crop scorch from frost, especially as the plants have wet feet. I feel there will be more than the normal number of fields sprayed in the spring with a contact type of grass and broadleaved weed herbicide.

Oilseed rape crops look even and have a good number of plants going into the winter. Plants are between the four- and eight-leaf stage, with 10-15cm of root depth.

Phoma leaf spot is reappearing in fields sprayed more than four weeks ago, and these fields will need to be re-sprayed if the weather permits. Before spraying, be sure to check for light leaf spot too.

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17 November 2008

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
(Click to contact)

The weather has deteriorated again and further drilling is now unlikely on all but the lightest land. We are well beyond the optimum time to drill and the combination of high fertiliser prices and low crop prices have forced some growers to conclude that fallow might be the best way to minimise losses next year.

Some late-drilled oilseed rape crops continue to struggle, and I have already condemned several where growth was poor, the plant population low and slug activity high.

Experience has taught me that it's better to take an early decision rather than spend more money hoping for a miracle. Forward crops (and there are some) had a phoma spray three to four weeks ago and will need a follow up soon, which will tie in with any Kerb (propyzamide) or Crawler (carbetamide) applications.

Wheat crops continue to emerge slowly, four weeks between drilling and emergence being quite common on heavy clays.

Seed vigour seems low and in many cases crops just don't want to grow away. Thinning by slugs is severe in places and grazing activity continues, so vigilance and further applications of pellets may still be needed. Given the wet conditions these should be pasta-based.

Pre-emergence treatments have worked well and blackgrass populations are generally low - any plants present are small. Given the expected long germination period, and poor soil conditions most Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) applications are likely to be made in early spring.

Most winter bean crops have yet to be drilled or ploughed under. Weed control in beans after the loss of simazine is now a real headache. If you need to cover resistant grassweeds and a wide range of broadleaved weeds the cost is potentially prohibitive.

This year has proved challenging, leaving many farmers on the point of despair. Let's hope the New Year brings some improvements and at least the hope of better times.

For more agronomy advice from around the regions see Crop Watch North, East, South West

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11 November 2008

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire
(Click to contact)

Most winter crops are now drilled with the exception of a few beans and the odd crop of wheat.

As I write I am listening to torrential rain falling on to already saturated fields and it's now looking possible that some of these crops won't go in at all. Quite gloomy considering some of the beans were destined to go into fields that were originally planned for winter rape.

Most planned pre-emergence sprays went on OK and quite a few post-emergence tickets have also been done. But I'm holding back on recommendations for the moment until it looks as though there will be a chance to get them done.

Spraying IPU and CTU on to waterlogged soil is not a good idea, as, first, it won't work and, second, it'll end up in the river. As a rule, if the ground squelches when you walk across it then it's too wet to spray.

Phoma has come in very aggressively over the past couple of weeks, especially on Castille. It's also noticeably worse in fields next to wheat following rape. I've long since ignored varietal ratings for OSR diseases and planned autumn fungicide strategies based on what I find in the field and intensity of rape growing in a particular area.

All of my rape has either had or is about to get a (non-growth-regulating) phoma spray, mostly based around difenoconazole or flusilazole. Recommendations are just going in for follow-up residual grassweed sprays, carbetamide being the most common active.

I have a couple of cases of pendimethalin damage this year where in places wheat has not been drilled deep enough. It's quite distinctive swollen shoots just above ground level, some looking like mini spring onions. I think most of it will recover OK, but it's quite an eye-opener.

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James Boswell - H L Hutchinson, Kent
(Click to contact)

With most wheat crops now drilled, slug activity, especially after rape, remains a serious problem. Keep monitoring later drillings.

It's now time to assess how earlier pre-emergence herbicides have worked and to plan for timings and mixing partners for the Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) application, whether it is pre- or post-Christmas.

Where Deter (clothianidin) seed treatments have been used for aphid control, consideration should now be given to a top up of insecticide.

There are some good looking forward oilseed rape crops, but also some rather variable with a range of growth stages.

Backward crops will need a fungicide treatment, as there is still a plenty of phoma pressure.

Soil temperatures are falling to the point when we can start considering applications of propyzamide/carbetamide.

Treatments when soils are below 10C are more effective and persistent.

If a further graminicide is to be applied, remember that you may not use the same product twice.

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Good drilling progress has been made this last week with all first wheats and most of the second crops in the ground. All the barley and oats are also drilled.

The bad news is that all fields, including those in oilseed rape, are being severely hammered by slugs especially where seed-beds are cloddy or where no consolidation was possible with a roller.

Some fields have had four applications of pellets and the slugs still keep marching on. Deter (clothianidin) treated fields have fared no better than those without, and I wonder if this useful chemical is losing its edge.

Where drilling has not been possible, seed rates going into November will need to be increased to over 350/sq m. Take into account the previous crop and the seed-bed condition before deciding on the seed number. Late drilled crops have poor establishment rates, which could be as low as 75%.

Wheat and barley is reaching the two to three leaf stage and all blackgrass prone fields with decent seed-beds have been treated with a flufenacet-based pre-emergence herbicide.

Fields with rough seed-beds will be treated post-emergence very soon since a large number of blackgrass plants are fast emerging in untreated cereals and oilseed rape. Whether this is because the soil is damp and warm or this is the blackgrass that did not germinate last year because of high dormancy, I'm not certain. Spray untreated fields before the weed has more than two leaves.

Most oilseed rape fields are showing more than 10% phoma infection and have been sprayed with flusilazole-based fungicide plus trace elements. In blackgrass infested fields a graminicide has been included.

Encouraged by the rain, phoma has come early this year and is a particular threat to the smaller plants. Monitor crops carefully as a second fungicide with growth regulating and phoma activity may be required if the plants have more than six leaves. If the plants are smaller apply a straight phoma fungicide in three to four weeks time.

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21 October 2008

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
(Click to contact)

Oilseed rape crops are showing the largest range of growth stages I can ever remember. My largest crops are over proud and at welly boot height. While at the other end of the spectrum plenty of crops are still at the expanded cotyledon stage.

Early forward crops are showing signs of phoma and have been treated recently. Late sowings need vigilance, phoma will come in and will need treating as soon as it is seen since the period between leaf spotting and stem infection on small plants is very much shorter. Don't neglect slug inspections on these late crops, if wet weather returns we could well see an increase in activity.

Winter linseed is emerging well and unlike rape appears not to be the slugs favourite snack. I hope this crop will offer a profitable and reliable autumn sown break crop alternative to oilseed rape. We certainly need one.

Cereal drilling is proceeding slowly, some seed-beds especially on heavier soils, are very cloddy to say the least. This will compromise pre-emergence herbicide use and, where used, blackgrass control levels are likely to be lower than normal.

Poor seed-beds are also dramatically increasing the risk from slugs and some wheat crops drilled into dry cloddy conditions following rape are currently showing worryingly high levels of grain hollowing. Slug pellets need to be applied in these conditions immediately after drilling and rolling (where possible) and if it's very cloddy with little tilth to surround the seed also consider admixing some pellets with the seed as well as a surface application.

Don't be lulled into a false sense of security if you have applied Deter (clothianidin) to the seed. Last year I found high levels of hollowing in some places despite the use of Deter.

Finally, after a turbulent month oil prices have crashed to half their peak and natural gas is following in its wake. Given that grain prices both spot and forward are also well down this should translate shortly into far more realistic fertiliser prices. If not serious questions need asking.

13 October 2008

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire
(Click to contact)

Probably about 50% of my planned oilseed rape area finally went in and the latest drilled is just coming through.

It doesn't look too bad and it's certainly a better colour than the stuff that went into the very wet seed-beds just after harvest.

I held off herbicide treatments on those earlier crops for two reasons.

I wanted to be sure there would be enough crop to spray anyway, and the last thing I wanted was to knock a struggling crop with herbicide.

Those earlier sowings have all been sprayed and are beginning to pick up. But spraying post-emergence does compromise weed control at times, so I've warned a few people there might be the odd poppy around next year. Red fields in June are always a tourist attraction.

If phoma comes in this year, the risk of canker will be high, so most of my crops will get a non-growth regulating spray over the next month.

Wheat sowing has taken place steadily, mostly into very good seed-beds.

Where pre-emergence sprays were planned, I'm still encouraging farmers to follow the drill with their sprayers, provided the seed is at the correct depth.

Early post-emergence isoproturon or chlorotoluron mixed with Crystal (flufenacet + pendimethalin) can be effective for taking out blackgrass and ryegrass up to one leaf, but it can knock the crop and can be particularly vicious on barley.

Even though glyphosate prices have tripled in 18 months, it's still a worthwhile investment.

Here is a simple analogy. Working and drilling ground without using glyphosate is like painting a steel door without using a primer. It might look OK for a while, but the problems will come through later.

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6 October 2008

James Boswell - H L Hutchinson, Kent
(Click to contact)

Wheat drillings are well underway with only late first wheat after potatoes or maize and second wheats to sow.

Nearly all second wheats are dressed with Latitude (silthiofam) - if available, as this has become the standard after reasonable yields last year compared to poor results from non-Latitude dressed seed.

Seed rates have increased slightly this year, as a concern over too thin crops was very evident last year.

Slug damage remains lower than anticipated. This may be due to cooler day temperatures and cold nights. But crops still need constant monitoring, as any signs of damage will merit treatment.

Oilseed rape drilling has been very drawn out, with forward crops at three to four true leaves. These are mostly on lighter land and phoma can now be found and will need controlling with an appropriate fungicide.

Later drilled crops on heavy soils are more concerning, as growth is slow and downy mildew can be found on cotyledons.

Slug damage has been variable, but rabbit grazing has worryingly already started.

Cabbage stem flea beetle shotholing can be found and is being controlled with a pyrethroid spray tank mixed with a graminicide for grassweed control.

Winter barley is well underway and many crops have been sprayed with a pre-emergence product for controlling grassweeds with Liberator (diflufenican and flufenacet) being a popular choice this season.

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29 September 2008

Swaran Bachoo - Agrovista, Hants/ Wilts
(Click to contact)

Harvest was over with us nearly two weeks ago and about 70% of the planned oilseed rape acreage is now in the ground.

The most forward crops are at the two true leaf stage. Of the later drillings some are yet to emerge and some are at the cotyledon leaf stage.

Unfortunately for these later sowings recent weather meant the top surface of the soil has turned dry, slowing seed germination and crop emergence.

Some of the early drilled crops which went in to cloddy seed-beds were hit hard by slugs and have needed treatments. Luckily we have managed to save all the fields by applying pellets on time.

Fields with volunteer cereal problems have all been sprayed with a graminicide. Remember to use the correct graminicide for the appropriate target weed since it is permissible to use each graminicide only once on the crop during the crop season.

Winter wheat drilling started last week into reasonably good seed-beds, although some fields are ploughing up wet and are difficult to manage. It is imperative to get good seed-beds for the pre-emergent residuals to work well.

Also note that shallow drilled crops may suffer damage from pre-ems especially after heavy rain - some herbicides require a minimum of 32mm of settled soil on the seed to avoid crop damage.

With the limited availability of IPU this season, you may be tempted to use chlorotoluron as an alternative. If so be aware that this product is variety sensitive and may not be used on all of them.

Some varieties have low bushel weights this year and so it's critical to drill by seeds per square metre, correcting for soil conditions, weather, and the particular variety to get the right number of plants established.

For early October drilled wheats 280-285 seeds/sq m may be appropriate this year.

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22 September 2008

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
(Click to contact)

With the weather set fair until the end of the month, harvest will eventually be completed, but at a huge cost. What effect sodden field conditions have on next year's plantings remains to be seen.

Oilseed rape will be hit badly. Many early drillings have failed, some due to slugs but given that most crops sown behind subsoilers look well the main culprit for the failures must surely be waterlogging.

My fear now is that it will stay dry and crops planted into recently cultivated soil but not into fine seed-beds may fail to chit due to lack of moisture at seed depth.

I plan to leave any pre-emergence treatments until at least the fully expanded cotyledon stage so an assessment of plant stand and viability can be made. Slug pelleting should be a matter of course.

Little wheat or barley has yet been sown, farmers concentrating their efforts on combining and catching up with cultivations. Soil structure has suffered and corrective cultivations will be tricky with lower soil layers still very wet. For that reason the plough is back in favour this season.

In the rush to plant next year's crops don't cut corners. Some stubbles and earlier cultivated ground are showing a good chit of blackgrass which needs controlling. Where slug populations following rape are very high, a pre-drilling dose of pellets three to four before sowing is beneficial.

Now that we have lost trifluralin and isoproturon and more instances of resistance to Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) are being found, even more emphasis needs placing on an effective and robust pre-emergence treatment.

Creating good seed-beds will be difficult but the aim must be to apply treatments to good relatively clod-free seed-beds within four days of drilling if blackgrass control levels are not to slip. At least we won't have too much early drilling this year.

15 September 2008

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire
(Click to contact)

"What's the latest I can sow winter rape?" has been the most repeated question of the past few days.

The answer is that you can sow it as late as you like, but the later you do so the more attention you'll have to give it over winter.

The latest I've known it drilled successfully is 25 September and I've known it re-drilled in October but on both occasions it was on kind ground where pigeons could be easily controlled. If it hasn't yet gone in on claggy, wet clay I would say forget it.

On lighter land you might get away with it. All the following become much more significant on late sown rape:

• Broadleaved weeds because crop competition will be much reduced
• Phoma - it can kill plants at cotyledon stage
• Slugs - 100% crop loss in 24hrs is not unheard of
• Partridges (don't you just love 'em?)
• Pigeons will be more damaging later on
• On the positive side three years ago I had some rape drilled in mid September in bone dry conditions on Sandwich Marsh that we wrote off but were amazed to see emerging perfectly in drilled rows in November.

We managed to control the weeds and it came to harvest about a week later than the rest with a respectable yield - well worth saving.

So rape is very forgiving provided you can actually get it established.

Slug populations are extremely high and preventative measures will be necessary in most circumstances this year, especially after winter rape. There is no substitute for moving the ground to upset slugs. Pelleting is far more effective when used in conjunction with cultural methods.

Next time I write I'd like to be able to moan about it being too dry for pre-emergence herbicides to work.

8 September 2008

James Boswell - H L Hutchinson, Kent
(Click to contact)

Wheat harvesting is almost complete and yields have been good. High levels of grain moisture have been a problem with up to 22%, but mainly in the high teens.

Oilseed rape yields were average, mainly because of thin crops resulting from pest attacks and disease. Drilling of next season's crops has been very protracted due to continued unsettled weather.

Slug activity has been increasing and some drilled fields have already disappeared because of slug damage and will need re-drilling. Monitoring the pests' activity is a must, with damp conditions set to continue.

With plenty of moisture now in the soil, drilling rape through September into good soil conditions should be OK, as the plants will be quick to establish.

Volunteer cereals and other grassweeds have germinated quickly and will need controlling with a graminicide before they become too competitive.

Remember that only one application of each graminicide active ingredient per crop is permitted, so appropriate products and doses need considering.

1 September 2008

Swaran Bachoo - Agrovista, Hants/ Wilts
(Click to contact)

How different can two harvests be?

By 10 August last year most of the harvest was in the barn, and wheat was fetching £180/t. This year it is hovering around £117/t with only about 15% gathered.

On the plus side winter and spring barley output and quality have been excellent, yielding just over 8t/ha and 7.5t/ha, respectively.

What has been disappointing is the variability of the oilseed rape fields. The best yields have been about 4.7t/ha, but some have been as poor as 2t/ha. I believe that is due to differences in soil moisture at drilling, slug damage and the voracity of pigeons.

Some harvest progress has been recently but we need another ten days of good weather, preferably with that elusive thing called sunshine to see the back of this year's harvest.

A little oilseed rape was drilled last week, but the rest will get drilled over the next 14 days.

Down this way we usually reckon to drill rape at the beginning of the third week of August, but I believe that as long as it is in the ground by 10 September it should be fine.

The ground is still warm and there is ample moisture in the soil. The problem usually occurs when the temperature has dropped and there are night frosts.

At this stage rape plants stop growing, are vulnerable to frost damage and will almost certainly fall prey to the slugs of which there are plenty this year.

Use slightly higher seed rates and take care not compact wet soils because oilseed rape is a poor rooting crop and hates compacted soils.

Where possible lightly cultivate the soil to help chit weed seeds and spray off with Roundup (glyphosate).

This is particularly important where blackgrass or sterile broom is a problem. Where meadow broom is troublesome, leave the soil undisturbed for at least a fortnight to let the seed chit before spraying it.

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8 July 2008

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
(Click to contact)

Oilseed rape crops look well and have transformed from the poor state many started the year in. However sclerotinia levels, despite generally well timed sprays, are higher in many crops than I had anticipated.

Most of these infections are quite high in the canopy which indicates late infection after the fungicide had run out of steam. Worryingly some crops that received two applications still appear to be infected.

Spring barleys look to have tremendous potential but in thick patches Tipple is showing its weakness against ryncho. On the other hand Quench, with similar treatments, is spotless confirming its rating of 8 against Tipple's 4. Let's hope the maltsters and brewers give it the thumbs up.

Winter barley looks well but varieties are showing their relative competitiveness against grassweeds. I have one field of Sequel with some Retriever in the middle. The Sequel at 110cm tall is very clean visually and beneath the canopy. But the Retriever at 88cm is filthy with brome, blackgrass and volunteer wheat all showing.

Given the very limited herbicide armoury next year, crop competitiveness needs to become a much more important consideration.

Wheats have huge potential, though take-all levels in second wheats are very high sometimes despite the use of Latitude (silthiofam).

Atlantis and Pacifica (both iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium + mesosulfuron-methyl) treatments have been hit and miss on blackgrass and especially brome. Some of this is no doubt due to increased resistance.

A lack of any new chemistry against blackgrass and resistance fears ought to persuade us to avoid second wheats where possible and not put Atlantis under even more pressure.

Septoria levels on some crops on the flag leaf are worryingly high. This shows the need for good timing robust programmes and not being lulled into a false sense of security when the crop looks clean. Oakley unfortunately seems quite badly affected, and I have had reports of lodging in two crops despite very robust growth regulator programmes.

30 June 2008

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire
(Click to contact)

As this is my last piece for this crop year I've been looking through what I wrote this time last year, and I'm glad to say it couldn't have been more different.

Crops in general look very well, with the odd bit having gone down in fertiliser overlaps. There are some fairly untidy patches of grassweeds, mainly sterile brome, meadow brome that seems to have come from nowhere and ryegrass that has recovered from Atlantis (idosulfuron-methyl-sodium + mesosulfuron-methyl) sprays. That said, most crops look quite promising.

Any winter wheats that didn't get a robust T0 fungicide or had elongated intervals between sprays are beginning to show up. A lot of my wheats had effectively a four-spray regime this year and I don't think it was money wasted.

Winter rape is just ready for desiccation with glyphosate. There are some crops showing a small amount of sclerotinia on higher stems which would imply that it came in late, probably when mid-flowering sprays had run out of steam.

I'm beginning to wonder if sclerotinia risk has more to do with winter temperatures than the weather during flowering.

The only crop that does appear to be suffering is maize which I put down simply to the colder weather we have been having. I've never known the wind come from the north for quite so long as it has done this year. Hopefully we'll have a warm enough July and August to put it right.

The blight risk to potatoes has dropped away considerably and the weather has allowed spray regimes to go on as planned - another major difference from 2007. Let's hope it continues.

Here's hoping for a dry harvest. With fuel costs where they are at the moment we really don't want to fire up the driers unless we really need to.

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24 June 2008

James Boswell - H L Hutchinson, Kent
(Click to contact)

After a very wet end of May, with up to a fifth of our annual rainfall in 14 days, crops now look very promising.

Levels of disease have remained very high, and in any field areas unsprayed complete defoliation has taken place - in Consort by septoria and in Robigus by yellow rust. This proves how severe the pressure has been.

All the main fungicide treatments have been applied in good conditions at near optimum timing, with triazole rates remaining high and many crops also receiving a strobilurin - in contrast to last year.

Disease pressure is also high in winter and spring beans and many crops have needed two-spray fungicide programmes.

Black bean aphid have re-infected plants and will need controlling with pirimicarb. The few peas grown this season look particularly well and still standing.

In winter barley the wet weather diseases, rhynchosporium and net blotch, have been well controlled by a well-timed two spray programme, and forward crops are now starting to turn.

Forward oilseed rape crops are approaching desiccation time starting at the end of June.

Yield, as always, remains very difficult to predict. But if the theory of a drought-free June and thin open crops yielding well is true, this must be the season to prove it.

Lots of the better crops are listing without being flat and we hope there are no terrible hail storms as decimated yields last year.

17 June 2008

Swaran Bachoo - Agrovista, Hants/ Wilts
(Click to contact)

After the deluge of late May light soils are starting to dry out again. The rain has done a tremendous amount of good and there seems to be a large winter wheat crop out there.

Equally both winter barley and spring barley look to be heavy crops with the exception of except some fields of Cassata winter barley which are showing blind grain sites - probably due to the April frosts or rain at flowering during May.

All winter wheats have had their T3 treatment and are between full anthesis to watery ripe stage with Einstein and Cordiale leading the way. Some are showing strange speckling and mottling symptoms, probably because of the very fast growth during late April and May. I hope this is not a precursor of tan spot.

Some milling crops in the local "hot spots" have been sprayed against orange blossom midge.

Winter barley is showing signs of net blotch on leaves three and four as well as heavy pollen scorch - but it is far too late to tackle the net blotch for any economic response.

Most winter rape crops have long finished flowering and have decent sized pods with translucent to white coloured seeds.

It is difficult to asses the true potential of this crop because of the unevenness of the plant density. What is sure is that most fields will benefit from desiccation this year but it will be a challenge to get the timing accurate.

Peas are making a rapid progress with early varieties flowering. Recent rain has increased the risk of mycosphaerella so these crops have been sprayed with fungicide plus pirimicarb insecticide to combat large numbers of aphids.

Most maize crops have received a post-emergence herbicide and the forward ones are at the eight-leaf stage. Where it is intensively grown consider the merits of spraying early next month against eyespot which can cause devastating yield losses.

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9 June 2008

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
(Click to contact)

Some of my Crop Watch colleagues last week welcomed the recent rains. I have some growers on heavy land with game cover crops and forage maize rotting in waterlogged ground after receiving a second deluge in ten days, up to 5in in places, who may not agree with their sentiments.

On a more positive note most crops look well. Winter wheats have huge potential and should have just received an ear wash. Flag leaf spray delays caused by the recent weather concern me - time will tell how much disease breaks out on the top two leaves as a result. As usual orange blossom midge has received much attention recently but very few crops justified treatment.

Spring barley has just had its second fungicide and looks exceptional. Many crops are far too thick especially those grown after an application of sewage sludge. I can't remember the last time I had to use so much growth regulator on spring barley.

Winter beans are also on the thick side but podding so far seems good. They have just received their second fungicide treatment, and after last year's experiences may get a third if the weather stays wet.

Fertiliser prices are a joke at the moment. Crude oil has gone up 60% or so in the last year but ammonium nitrate is up 120%. Sounds to me like a little bit of profiteering is going on in the absence of much competition from imported product.

Phosphate I can understand, but potash seems a case of why can't we have a slice of the cake as well?

Nitrogen rates are under scrutiny with some commentators suggesting reductions of up to 50kg/ha based on current prices. Care should be exercised over reductions as large as this. Amongst other things they assume that optimum rates have been used in the past. On modern varieties a reduction of 25kg/ha is probably a more sensible approach.

As far as P and K are concerned targeting these very expensive inputs will be the key to maintaining margins and controlling costs. Up to date soil tests used carefully to take holidays where possible could well save huge amounts of money this year. After all at these prices applying P and K at an index three would be a very expensive luxury indeed.

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2 June 2008

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire
(Click to contact)

National chlorpyrifos week has arrived early this year. The hype started four weeks ago, first midge seen third week of May, and the hysteria set in during the last three days of May. Of all the potential hazards to hit a crop of wheat I have never known anything demand so many column inches and mental energy as orange wheat blossom midge. That’s my rant over.

Although not as early as last year, wheats have come into ear earlier than usual this year. The difference this year, however, is that it is not because they have gone into survival mode. In fact I would say that wheat crops at the moment look as promising as I’ve ever seen them for this time of year. I will get my come-uppance if they’re all knackered by OWBM.

Winter barley and winter rape are all put to bed. The rapes turned from yellow to green overnight because of the north-easterly winds and some mid-flowering sprays missed the ideal sclerotinia timing. Even so, they should give some protection from alternaria.

I’m getting almost daily warnings of Smiths periods so blight risk in potatoes is currently very high. The trouble is there are very opposing views on the value of systemic fungicides given last year’s increase in pathogens resistant to phenylamides. Answers on a postcard please to……..

Compared with last year, so far agronomy wise this year has been a doddle. The main focus of attention this year has been product supply and now what to do about next year’s fertiliser. But then we can’t have it too easy, can we?

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27 May 2008

James Boswell - H L Hutchinson, Kent
(Click to contact)

Winter Wheat

First wheats continue to look very promising but second wheats and any on poor acidic soils look poor and thin.

After a weekend of high winds and three inches of heavy rain, some early drilled wheats have lodged. Septoria tritici continues to be the main disease, although low levels of mildew are beginning to show on stems and bottom leaves. A robust T2 has been applied within the last 7-10 days, which had been delayed due to wind.

With wet soil conditions and certain wheat varieties approaching the vulnerable growth stage, traps need to be set for orange wheat blossom midge to see if they reach threshold.

A triazole/strobilurin-based T3 is planned for middle/end of next week

Oilseed rape

Oilseed rape has continued to flower longer than was expected due to uneven crops. Mealy aphids were becoming a potential problem, but the cooler wetter weekend has reduced this but may lead to an increase in alternaria. Very few crops are sprayed specifically for this although it can be a very damaging disease.

Barley

As predicted in last month’s report, barley did race through its growth stages and those who missed the opportunity for extra growth regulation will rue this as barley starts to lodge.

Spring crops

Pea aphid is now appearing and needs controlling with an appropriate insecticide.
Winter beans are not as tall as usual but disease levels still remain high. Spring linseed has grown away well and levels of flax beetle have been low. Later sown maize in warm moist soils is growing away well.

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20 May 2008

Swaran Bachoo - Agrovista, Hants/ Wilts
(Click to contact)

Winter oilseed rape crops are at the mid-flower stage and the majority of these have now been treated against sclerotinia with Filan (boscalid). Most crops have a deceptive appearance of an even crop, but I am afraid that the original thin patches from poor establishment or the infamous pigeon onslaught are still there and this will result in lower yields than last year.

On the plus side, the harvest prices look healthy and should make up for the slightly lower yields.

Winter wheat crops are at the 50% flag-emerged to full flag-emerged stage. All crops have five clean leaves and are showing the benefit of the earlier T0 spray and the timing of the T1 spray which targeted leaf three.

The preferred fungicide choice this time will be based on a robust three-quarter rate triazole, such as epoxiconazole, in mixture with a strobilurin, such as pyraclostrobin at about half-rate. Do not be tempted to delay the application of this fungicide timing, even if the last fungicide was applied only recently. Remember that the flag leaf and the ear together will deliver 70% of the final yield.

Indeed with the higher cereal prices this year there will be a good case for a T3 fungicide at ear emergence stage, not only to supplement the flag leaf spray and protect the yield, but also to reduce the incidence of the mycotoxins.

Winter barleys are at the full ear emergence and look an absolute picture. Every thing being equal I believe the will yield very well.

Spring barley crops are growing at rapid pace and are now starting to cover the ground. There is some urgency to get the herbicide programmes completed, as little spraying was possible last week. The crops are clean at the moment, but it would be prudent to include a fungicide based on prothioconazole with the herbicide.

It would be a good idea over the next few weeks to start mapping those areas of fields where grassweeds have appeared and investigate the reasons for this. Sterile brome has appeared in fields this year where it has not been a problem for many years.

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12 May 2008

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
(Click to contact)

Well the weather has finally warmed up, but it’s gone from Alaska to Alicante almost faster than you could travel from one to the other! As a result, crops held back by the cold are now growing at a prodigious rate and racing through there growth stages. This is throwing up a number of nutrient disorders with magnesium deficiency spotted in several places this week.

Oilseed rape crops mostly look well and are progressing rapidly through flowering. Sclerotinia sprays went on at the turn of the month and will give about three weeks protection. With the current high temperatures flowering could well be over in a fairly short period, even crops may therefore not require a second spray. Uneven crops are a different story and will almost certainly need a follow up application in high-risk areas.

Spring barley, which looked so sick this spring, has now really taken-off, some crops putting on huge numbers of tillers. Most have recently been treated with a prothioconazole/ strobilurin mix. Crop growth will need monitoring carefully in the next week so that decisions on the need for growth regulation can be made.

Winter barley crops have now got ears emerged and have received their final fungicide treatment again base round prothioconazole and strob mixes.

Forward winter wheat crops are at flag leaf emerging stage, some of these having only recently received their T1 spray. Despite the fact that in many cases this will have covered leaf two, don’t be tempted into delaying the flag leaf spray beyond full flag leaf emergence, even if the interval is as short as two weeks.

Remember the flag leaf is responsible for about 50% of yield. Rates should be kept at about three-quarter rate of either prothioconazole or epoxiconazole with about 30-40% strob added, pyraclostrobin having the edge in most cases.

Finally lets all cross our fingers and hope that when put to the vote in Europe this month the absurd and loony idea of assessing pesticides by hazard rather than risk is firmly rejected.

The prospect of loosing up to 80% of actives to a bit of ill-conceived, politically correct, environmentalist-appeasing stupidity does not really bear thinking about. Everything is hazardous, taken to the extreme the water we use to dilute pesticides with before spraying should be banned due to the drowning hazard it presents!

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6 May 2008

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire
(Click to contact)

Most wheat crops have had a T1 fungicide and the most forward wheats have the flag leaf just appearing on the main stem.

The threat from septoria remains very high, with plenty sitting about in the bottom of the crop and rainsplash events happening with monotonous regularity. Low temperatures however, have slowed the disease’s progress through the crop enough to keep on top of it.

For the second year running I am regretting the few second wheats I am involved with, especially if min-tilled. Last year it was the bone-dry April, this year it is the cold temperatures that have stopped them taking up nitrogen and leaving them looking starry and hungry. When you consider the price of nitrogen, the extra growing costs and inevitable difficulties in grassweed control in second wheats, spring barley looks a very attractive alternative on all but the heaviest ground.

I have never seen slug activity as high in spring crops as I have this year. Numerous spring barley crops have needed slug pellets. For the first time ever this year I have seen spring bean plants taken out completely by slugs. Applications on potato ridges have resulted in absolute carnage to the slug populations.

Winter rape has mostly had its mid–flowering fungicide. With regular rainfall through the whole of April and early May, in theory the sclerotinia risk is high, although last year’s experience tells me theoretical risk and final disease incidence don’t necessarily tally.

This is the second year I have not recommended one crop to have an insecticide post-Christmas. One day I’ll stick my neck out so far I’ll get my head chopped off.

Recommendations have gone in to put winter barley to bed. What a lovely feeling!

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28 April 2008

James Boswell - H L Hutchinson, Kent
(Click to contact)

Winter barley
Crops are now starting to look better; more green than yellow. Disease levels appear average and with a T1 and growth regulator applied, most barley is looking promising.

If any extra PGR is needed, remember the cut off is before awns visible and as the crop races through growth stages during early-May it is important make an assessment now as this always catches a few out.

Winter wheat
Early-drilled wheat is at growth stage 31-32, with most having received a T0 2-3 weeks ago. It is now having its T1 spray; the main disease being Septoria tritici, and high levels of stem based disease. An appropriate fungicide dose of triazole plus chlorothalonil seems the norm.

Mildew levels are low, but active rust pustules can be found in Robigus where no T0 was applied, which is a major concern.

Winter oilseed rape
This crop has been the bane of growers lives this spring. Pigeons continue to be causing damage and many crops have no main flowering head on the plant - how this will affect yield is unknown, but with a cold, wet April the crop has not yet compensated.

On more advanced oilseed rape, most crops are reaching full flower but in these recent showery conditions, sclerotinia spraying has been delayed and petals have fallen and stuck to the main stem, which will dramatically increase the likelihood of disease.

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21 April 2008

Swaran Bachoo - Agrovista, Hants/ Wilts
(Click to contact)

The last two weeks have been like walking back into winter. Overnight frosts and the cold easterly winds have slowed the crops right down.

The majority of the winter wheat crops are at growth stage 31, except for Duxford, which is approaching GS 32.This looks to be an extremely good variety but should not be drilled before the middle of October.

There is heavy infection of septoria on the older leaves of most varieties of wheat. Luckily we have had opportunity to apply all the planned T0 fungicides and the first split of the pgr, so these wheats now have adequate protection until the T1 fungicides are applied, when the target will be leaf three. Do not be in a hurry to apply the T1 fungicide before emergence of leaf three or the gap between the T1 and T2 will be two wide.

All the Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) based grassweed control is complete. Where this has not been possible then priority should be given to this activity. The first split of the main nitrogen dressing has now been applied.

Winter barley is at GS 31 and has had its T1 fungicide treatment based on prothioconazole with strobilurin for rhynchosporium and net blotch. Both Pearl and surprisingly Casatta have 10% of the leaf infected with net blotch the latter has seen fresh lesions appear over the last ten days. Unlike wheat, the T1 fungicide in barley is more important than the T2 timing and so requires a doze rate appropriate to the level of disease.

The management of the winter oilseed rape this year is the most challenging that I have experienced over many years. It all started last autumn with poor germination because of the dry weather and ever since there have been three to four growth stages of plants in the same field, and since February the pigeons have been feasting on the rape incessantly.

Left alone the smaller plants would have more or less caught up and grown away, but the continuous cold weather has meant that the crop has been unable to grow away from the pigeons. Week commencing 21 April is expected to be warmer and hopefully the crop will make some rapid growth, but I fear that in some fields un-repairable damage has been done and there could some mediocre yields.

The most forward plants are at the yellow bud to early flowering stage and in some fields accentuated by the cold weather the plants are showing severe '258&publicationId=408">'magnesium deficiency symptoms.

15 April 2008

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
(Click to contact)

Spring barley crops are finally growing away from the prolonged cold conditions, the more forward having just started to tiller. Defy (prosulfocarb) applied pre-emergence seems to be doing a good job with little grass or broadleaved weed activity at present.

Oilseed rape crops are still a very mixed bag. Those established in good soil conditions look well, but those crops mauled into wet soil conditions on heavy land with little or no cultivation look pretty dire, and show the extent of the damage to soil structure caused by last summer's weather.

Pollen beetles are well below threshold and now the first flowers are open in forward crops the risk is over, backward crops still need monitoring for a while yet

Last year's spectacular failure of the sclerotinia predictive system shows that we still have a lot to learn regarding this disease. All my crops will therefore be sprayed with a fungicide at first petal fall this year, product choice revolving around Filan (boscalid) or Amistar (azoxystrobin).

Winter barleys look well and are generally clean. T1 sprays will be going on to these from about the 17 April onwards and will be based on prothiconazole /strobilurin mixes, plus a growth regulator. Broadleaved weeds are virtually absent, which should simplify tank mixes.

Most wheat crops range from growth stage 30-31. Septoria is the predominant disease at the moment. The more forward crops are probably going to hit the T1 timing from about the 21 April onwards, but as always the important factor is leaf emergence, with final leaf three being the target. Careful plant dissection is needed to check this and once confirmed, epoxyconazole or prothioconazole-based sprays at around half rate plus chlorothalonil will be used.

Blackgrass control with Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) this spring has proved tricky, fortunately I did quite a lot in the last week of January in mild conditions and these have all worked exceptionally well. Some of the later applications have gone onto large blackgrass in the recent cold conditions and I fear these will not be as successful, only time will tell!

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7 April 2008

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire

(Click to contact)

The most forward Einstein is already at growth stage 32 and has had a T0 fungicide and a decent dose of growth regulator. Most other wheats have either just had, or are about to get theirs now and the backward wheats will probably get an early T1 with a single PGR later on in the month.

Winter barley will be getting a T1 fungicide over the next few days and most winter oilseed rape has had a stem extension fungicide, although there are still plenty of crops (or patches within crops) where the pigeons have had a field day. I don't think I've ever seen such damage come in quite so late in rape before. Rabbits too have come in late and there are lots of badly grazed areas in wheat and barley.

Reports of pollen beetle have started to trickle in for winter oilseed rape, but I've not seen anything worth spraying yet and the recent cold snap should help keep them at bay. The threat of pyrethroid resistance is still an important issue, and I'm taking it quite seriously and avoiding spraying unless absolutely necessary. The backward pigeon grazed crops could be an example.

Some spring beans are just poking through and some have yet to be drilled. There is a lot of ground still too wet to get anywhere near I saw a tractor on the Surrey Weald stuck up to its mudguards last weekend trying to get some fertiliser on.

Waking up last Sunday to six inches of snow was quite interesting. It was all gone by tea-time and I don't think it's done any lasting damage.

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25 March 2008

Swaran Bachoo - Agrovista, Hants/ Wilts
(Click to contact)

After last week's weather it seems that the winter is not quite over yet. One of my customers told me last week that this is "Blackthorn winter" weather. We had March in February and are having February weather now in March.

Most crops looked extremely well last week but now the cold northerly blast will have set the crops back and might even check some of the disease that is easily spotted in most cereal crops.

However, note that it has been a mild winter by comparison, with temperatures about two degrees above the seasonal average. So the recent cold weather will do nothing to the septoria that can be easily spotted on the old dead leaves of the wheat plants or the pustules of brown rust that are visible on Alchemy and Zebedee. At best the disease will be set back by a few days.

Winter barley, which is between growth stage 24-29, is starting to show signs of rhynchosporium. Fields on light sandy soils are now starting to show typical symptoms of manganese deficiency.

There has been little opportunity to apply Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) to winter wheat for the control of blackgrass because of the weather, so any outstanding treatments should be completed as a matter of urgency.

Winter wheat crops are close to GS 29 and are approaching the T0 timing. It may be appropriate to mix Atlantis with the fungicide where blackgrass is a problem. However note that chlorothalonil mixtures with Atlantis are to be avoided, as it will give reduced blackgrass control.

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17 March 2008

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire
(Click to contact)

Having just been away for a fortnight, it's nice to come back to find crops have not raced away as I'd feared they might. Early Einstein and '27412&langid=96">'Solstice are at growth stage 31, with Claire not far behind.

Later-drilled and second wheats have taken up their earlier nitrogen and now look a reasonable colour. Most early wheats have only just had nitrogen and will soon get their first chlormequat split. Very lush crops will have two doses pre-GS32 and probably some Moddus (trinexapac-ethyl) with their T1 fungicide possibly even following up with '4682&pageno=1&origin=prodsearch">'Terpal (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid + mepiquat chloride) later on.

Claire looks pretty manky in places where mildew-attacked leaf is dying back. but I'm not worrying about it the T0's will include a mildewicide, probably '17565&pageno=1&origin=prodsearch">'Flexity (metrafenone) because I value its contribution to eyespot control.

Most of my wheats will have a T0 this year, as they have done for quite a few years. I am a firm believer in its use as a management tool to buy a bit of time if the weather becomes difficult at traditional T1 timing. Although brown rust levels are no worse than normal in this area for this time of year, last season showed the value of an early triazole to stay on top of it.

Winter oilseed rape has responded to nitrogen and most crops have buds visible, if not extending. Where Fox (bifenox) hasn't gone on, it's now too late. December applications of carbetamide have done a fantastic job, even where a contact graminicide was not included (don't ask!).

Stem extension fungicide recommendations are going in now, but I have many crops where growth regulation will not be a problem.

I've told people not to sow spring beans unless they know they can turn round and spray them. We are so reliant on pre-em herbicides, because post-em treatments (such as they are) are notoriously unreliable and expensive.

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10 March 2008

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
(Click to contact)

The weather last month was mostly dry but quite windy with sharp frosts. As a result most spring barley is now drilled but remaining Atlantis/ Pacifica (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) applications on wheat are waiting for better conditions. Applications made in late January at the end of the mild spell have worked exceptionally well.

Forward oilseed rape crops are now into stem extension and many have a Green Area Index (GAI) above one, these will shortly receive an application of metconazole for growth regulation and canopy management.

After last year's sclerotinia problems, most crops will fall into the high risk category this year, so a mid-flower spray will be a "no brainer". It therefore makes sense to apply the growth regulation spray, if needed, at early- to mid- rather than late-stem extension so a sensible gap exists between the two applications.

The earliest drilled wheat crops are now approaching growth stage 30, barley crops lag some way behind this. These crops will soon require a T0 spray which will be based on Bravo (chlorothalonil) with a small dose of rust-active triazole (cyproconazole or tebuconazole at 25% dose) added on the rusty varieties.

Remember not too exceed the four week rule and time the T0 spray accordingly. Leaf three, the correct T1 time, will emerge around the 14-21 April so the T0 spray doesn't want to go on until the week starting 17 March at the earliest!

If outstanding Atlantis applications can be made before this to avoid complex mixes including growth regulators the opportunity should be taken since antagonism and reduced levels of blackgrass control have been seen in the past with some products.

Current crop prices have moved the goal posts regarding fungicide use on most crops this year. Spend in the past has been constrained by poor returns and doses have been pegged back. This year the return on investment will be double what it normally is.

Rates should go up accordingly to maximise this return and an increased spend of 25% would be prudent.

Finally with a large crop in the ground globally and lots of speculators in the market I cant help thinking £155-£160 for November feed wheat looks a good price!

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4 March 2008

James Boswell - H L Hutchinson, Kent
(Click to contact)

Oilseed rape

Phoma levels have at last declined many crops needed spraying twice in the autumn.

On the forward crops green bud is now showing and many fields have received treatments during the warmer periods of the last 4-6 weeks for broad leaved weeds, especially charlock, poppies, cleavers and mayweed.

Applications of propyzamide plus graminicide have given excellent levels of blackgrass control during the colder snaps. Nitrogen plus sulphur applications have taken place and rape crops continue to look promising.

Winter wheat

Early-drilled September wheat is now at growth stage 30. '167
">'Gout fly larvae can easily be found in wheat tillers, but as they only affect a single tiller, they have caused limited damage.

Disease levels are variable. Septoria tritici is particularly high in Consort and Einstein, mildew is present in almost all varieties on lower leaves, while levels of over-wintered brown rust pustules appear lower than last year. A T0 spray will soon be applied and must be triazole plus chlorothalonil-based and special attention is needed to match actives and dose rates against disease pressures.

Blackgrass continues to grow strongly and not all autumn-applied contact products have been successful and tests for resistance are planned. Please remember if you're spraying is delayed, Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) can not be mixed with Moddus (trinexapac-ethyl) or Canopy (mepiquat + prohexadione calcium).

Winter barley

Still looks various shades of yellow, with early nitrogen now being applied. Levels of rhynchosporium and net blotch remain low, along with rusts and mildew.T1 sprays are at least 5-7 days away.

Pests

Early- to mid-winter pigeon grazing was at low levels, but during the early February cold snaps, flocks grew to huge numbers and have continued to be a big problem as rape starts to stem extend.

With very few spring crops being drilled, pigeon pressure remains high. Worse still have been rabbits, in some areas many growers comment on highest in-field numbers they have seen.

All aspects of control are being adopted and even the expense of rabbit fencing is now an easier financial decision to contemplate.

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25 February 2008

Swaran Bachoo - Agrovista, Hants/ Wilts
(Click to contact)

There is a great variation in the canopy size of crops this year. The early drilled crops of cereals that hit moisture have many tillers and will need good management with growth regulators, albeit, they have good root system.

Some late-drilled fields and especially the second wheats are looking thin and backward.

Nitrogen fertiliser with sulphur is being applied to all cereals. First wheats and barleys will get 50kg/ha and second wheats will receive 75-90kg /ha Nitrogen depending on the Soil Mineral Nitrogen (SMN) levels. Similarly oilseed rape will get 60kg of Nitrogen and 75kg SO3 as enclosed buds are now visible on most crops.

Some backward crops of oilseed rape are showing signs of new phoma lesions and could justify an application of a fungicide such as fusilazole.

Most wheat crops are looking fairly clean with only trace levels of Septoria tritici. Alchemy and Cordiale are showing low levels of brown rust similar to last year and will need watching, considering the problems we had with this disease in some parts of the country.

Some Pearl and Maris otter varieties of barley are showing signs of rhynchosporium probably due to the very wet January, but the recent frosts will have checked it.

Spring barley drilling has started and weather permitting should be complete in the next 10 days. Make sure that the soil conditions are right to drill as spring barley is not a forgiving crop and muddling it in will surely lead to a poor yield. For malting barleys half the nitrogen and sulphur fertiliser should be applied at drilling and the remaining at the two leaf stage.

Check all winter crops for remnants of any weeds left over by the residuals and remember if using an sulfonylurea product then be careful to check the restrictions on sequences. A large number of cleavers are present in some fields. Blackgrass has started to grow and will be treated when weather conditions improve.

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18 February 2008

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire
(Click to contact)

I went into the Christmas lull relatively reassured that whatever happened afterwards it was unlikely that we would be faced with the same problems that we had this time last year.

Even the most forward wheats would not be too forward, and the kind autumn meant drilling had gone on quite late so many wheats were not even much more than 1-2 leaves. The trouble is that we have had an unbelievably mild (and wet) January and these forward crops are now looking uncomfortably strong.

Based on the (possibly naïve) assumption that we can't possibly have the same weather patterns as we had last spring I'll certainly be holding off any nitrogen on these crops until mid - March at the earliest.

We've just had a couple of decent frosts and it would be nice to think that they might do the same job as a PGR. On the plus side the later wheats have had a chance to catch up and now look quite respectable.

Any Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) that didn't get sprayed last autumn (and most crops that needed it got it in good time anyway) will now wait until things start moving properly next month. Spring applications of IPU and CTU can do a very good job on meadow grass but be aware spring crop damage is far more likely to affect yield than autumn damage.

Winter oilseed rape is certainly different from last year. I have no crops that are too forward for early nitrogen and as I write most are having their sulphur/nitrogen dose now.

A lot of Fox (bifenox) and Crawler (carbetamide) recommendations have gone on over the last few weeks and the recent cooler weather will hopefully ensure that they do a decent job.

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12 February 2008

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
(Click to contact)

Well here we go another season has started. Allegedly we have had a winter I must have blinked and missed it!

Oilseed rape crops seem to fall into two camps, those that have had the unwelcome attentions of pigeons all winter and those that have escaped unscathed. I am pleasantly surprised to see that most of the small crops I was worried about last autumn have made it through the winter and now look quite promising.

Phoma on crops treated last October/ November is now making a return and will be treated shortly. The current high prices make it easy to justify a late second treatment.

Cereal crops generally look well, many carrying more tillers than ideal. Late-drilled wheat crops on heavy or slow draining land don't look so clever. The heavy rains and water logging experienced before emergence have had a dramatic effect on establishment.

Some of these will, with careful management, turn into useful crops, but the odd crop will require re-drilling. Manganese deficiency is starting to appear in the normal "early warning" places and will be treated as required.

Blackgrass levels are generally lower than expected, the much heralded protracted germination has not materialised. This could be due to exceptional pre-emergence herbicide control. I do wonder however if the viability and vigour of blackgrass seed shed last year has been affected by the wet weather and fusarium present at grain fill in the same way as cereal seed was. I would be interested to know if anyone has done any work on this.

Atlantis and Pacifica [iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron] follow-up sprays where needed have already been recommended and are going on as and when the weather conditions are right.

Light soils are drying nicely and I expect by the time you read this that my first spring barley crops will have been drilled. We now have another herbicide option for this crop in the form of Defy [prosulfocarb] pre-emergence on a SOLA. 2l/ha would give very good control of annual meadowgrass and 4l/ha + Stomp [pendimethalin] would be a good starter in blackgrass situations.

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27 November 2007

James Boswell - H L Hutchinson, Kent (Click to contact)

Oilseed rape

Phoma is infecting small backward crops and needs to be treated with a fungicide. Forward crops are becoming re-infected and also need treating.

With soil temperatures dropping to 5-6C, now is a good time to use Kerb (propyzamide) or Crawler (carbetamide) to control difficult grassweeds. Please remember that if a graminicide has already been used and a further graminicide is needed, you can't use the same product twice.

Rabbit and now pigeon damage continue to affect those backward, open crops.

Winter wheat

Wheat continues to grow away very well without being too forward. Pustules of disease can be found, but levels are lower than this time last year.

With good spraying conditions this autumn there has been a wide variation in timings, with flexible herbicides being applied pre-, peri- and post-emergence for grassweed control. The pre-emergence applications seem to have given the best control.

For early blackgrass control, Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) that has been applied within the last three weeks seems to be working well.

Winter barley

Winter barley is looking more forward than the wheat, but fortunately disease levels are average for this time of year.

Winter beans

These are emerging slowly and most have been sprayed pre-emergence with propyzamide mixed with clomazone to improve cleaver control.

Other regional reports:
East 
North
West/South west

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19 November 2007

Swaran Bachoo - Agrovista, Hants/ Wilts
(Click to contact)

Higher than average air and soil temperatures over the last two weeks have resulted in the earlier-drilled crops establishing themselves well and the later-drilled crops have put on extra leaves.

Quite a lot of oilseed rape crops are very uneven this year. This is the result of lack of rain after drilling, but importantly, in many instances poor soil structure due to the wet harvest is responsible. It will be useful to make note of these areas and sub soil before next years crops are established.

Wheat crops drilled in the third week of September are at the two tiller growth stage 22, while the mid-October-drilled crops are at the two leaf GS12. Some early-drilled crops of Alchemy are showing signs of mildew and brown rust, however recent frosts will have helped to check their progress. Winter barley crops are at the four leaf stage.

A variable number of phoma leaf spot lesions are visible in most crops of oilseed rape, across all varieties. Rain this weekend will encourage the development of phoma, so monitor these crops carefully and once the 10% - 20% threshold level has been reached be prepared to spray. I suggest spray the smaller plants up to the four-leaf stage at the 10% infection level. Most crops are now out of danger from Downy mildew as they are beyond the cotyledon leaf stage.

The pre-emergence blackgrass treatments seem to have worked well this year, but blackgrass growth is slow and later than last year. The largest blackgrass is at the three-leaf stage and ready to spray with Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron), but remember to add a good residual partner in order to take care of the high blackgrass dormancy.

This year it is permissible to use a lower water volume of 100 litres per hectare with Atlantis, but I would advise the use of 200 litres/ ha if the crops are dense. Also consider using the Hawk nozzle if possible to improve the chemical deposition on the leaf.

Other regional reports:
East 
North
West/South west

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12 November 2007

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
(Click to contact)

A month ago many of us were concerned about backward rape crops and their ability to survive the winter. In most cases my rape crops should now be okay and have grown well recently, especially those treated to a small dose of nitrogen!

Most crops have received a fungicide against phoma. Kerb (propyzamide) or Crawler (carbetamide) where needed will be applied once soil temps have dropped another couple of degrees. Crawler plus a graminicide would be the preferred choice if blackgrass is coming from any depth.

Wheat crops following rape are a mixed bag. The benefits of fine well consolidated seedbeds with even distribution and incorporation of crop residues are now evident. On poor seedbeds, with trash problems, slugs have been a nightmare, multiple applications being the norm, with the occasional crop requiring redrilling.

Seed vigour seems an issue this year. This is very evident on one farm which received two different seed lots of the same variety, one is growing away well the other standing still! Oat seed seems even worse, I have heard of one seed lot performing so badly that it has been retested and was found to have a germination rate below 50%!

Pre-emergence sprays applied to good seedbeds have worked very well, the majority of crops carrying only a low level of blackgrass. On very cloddy seedbeds where there is potential to release more seed I am waiting until spring to apply Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron), or using a cheap holding spray for the time being.

The remainder I aim to get on shortly before temps drop too low for effective control. With increasing levels of resistance and a more limited armoury of actives next year avoid using Atlantis where possible.

Most winter bean crops are now in. Pre-emergence herbicide options, now simazine has gone, are limited. Defy (prosulfocarb) + Stomp (pendimethalin) (both SOLAS ) seems on paper to offer the widest broadleaved and grassweed spectrum. Time will tell how well this works in practice!

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5 November 2007

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire
(Click to contact)

Having had one of the most challenging springs and difficult summers for many years we are now coming to the end of an extremely generous autumn. In the southeast we have had the odd spell of rain followed by good sunshine and usually a helpful drying wind.

The result of this is that most winter drilling down here has gone in in ideal conditions, and even the earlier struggling rape has managed to keep itself going, backward though it is.

In winter wheat on heavier soils we have seen a bit of slug damage, but as we were expecting a lot worse, most growers had plenty of pellets ready to rectify the situation. Also prophylactic treatments after winter rape have been very worthwhile with reports of “carnage” being witnessed shortly after pellets have been applied.

The open autumn has meant all programmed pre–emergence treatments have gone on as planned and most have been followed up with a post-emergence spray. I have to say that either due to very effective pre-em applications or increased dormancy (about which I’m actually very sceptical – there’s plenty of blackgrass coming through with the crop where a good pre-em hasn’t been used) many follow-ups have not had the planned Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) and have ended up with just trifluralin + (where necessary) a drop of CMPP +/- pyrethroid.

Crops that had no pre-em planned have largely been recommended their autumn herbicide. It’s lovely to think that many crops will be put to bed for the winter before the middle of November! (The Tabloid-predicted Siberian winter will prevent any late in-flights of aphids).

All winter rape has had a phoma spray. Larger crops are well into threshold and as there are many small plants about the risk of leaving them is too high. Over the next month when soil temperatures drop I will be putting in carbetamide and propyzamide recommendations on fields where grassweeds are a known problem.

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30 October 2007

James Boswell H L Hutchinson, Kent
(Click to contact)

Winter barley
Barley is looking well and looks clean and disease levels remain low. Grassweed levels are increasing and blackgrass and ryegrass and will need controlling very soon, with a contact herbicide. Some forward barley is at growth stage 15.

Oilseed rape
Oilseed rape variation is becoming more pronounced. Forward crops are now at boot height and will need extra canopy management. These fields have had at least one phoma spray and if the wet, mild weather returns and disease pressure rises they will need a follow-up phoma spray.

Poorly established, thin crops continue to need close monitoring. Downy mildew, cabbage stem flea beetle, slugs, pigeons and more noticeably rabbit damage has got to be addressed as some plants are only at 1-2 true leaves.

With soil temperatures at 12C its still too warm for propyzamide/ carbetamide and a mild week is also forecast.

Winter wheat
Drilling has gone well over the last 10 days and is now all-but complete. Many crops emerged quickly and lots were sprayed at peri-emergence with a residual herbicide to boost grassweed control and a pyrethroid for BYDV was added.

As far as BYDV is concerned, a follow-up or second split application may well be needed if the weather forecast for mild conditions is correct.

Slugs continue to be a major problem and warm, mild nights will only increase the risk. Many have had a seed dressing to reduce slug activity, but with such high pressure a sharp eye is still needed.

During the late summer early autumn there has been an increase in rabbit fencing and pest control, soil sampling, liming and P and K holidays have been closely addressed.

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22 October 2007

Swaran Bachoo - Agrovista, Hants/Wilts
(Click to contact)

Nearly 95% of the crops have now been drilled. The soil is still warm and after the recent rain all crops are growing rapidly.

Earliest-drilled wheat crops are at the four-leaf stage and barleys have two leaves.

Oilseed rape is giving some concern, with some fields containing plants with six leaves and others only at the cotyledon stage, these being infected with downy mildew.

Hopefuly the weather will stay mild for some time otherwise these small plants will perish. This time last year oilseed rape crop was wall to wall and most plants had 8 to 10 leaves.

All crops are being affected by very high slug activity, which is the worst I have seen. The most seriously affected fields are those that were ploughed with cloddy seed beds and those with wheat following oilseed rape.

Some fields have already been treated 3 times. I advise applying the full recommended  rate of a good quality slug pellet at the earliest opportunity.

Large numbers of winged aphids have been seen on newly emerged wheat and barley, hardly surprising given the mild weather. Seed treated with Deter (clothianidin) will have about eight weeks’ protection against BYDV-spreading aphids.

Others will need early attention with a pyrethroid insecticide. It may be possible to tank-mix a herbicide, but beware complex hot mixes on tender crops, especially during frosty weather.

Some blackgrass has come through the pre-emergence sprays because of the earlier dry weather, and is already at the two-leaf leaf stage. This will need treatment soon.

Oilseed rape plants are now showing phoma leaf spot lesions and need urgent action where 10-20% of the leaves are affected.

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16 October 2007

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
(Click to contact)

Oilseed rape crops range from fully expanded cotyledons to 4-6 leaves,sometimes in the same field.

Provided the mild conditions prevail, late and backward crops stand every chance of making it through the winter.

But in the coming weeks extra vigilance will be needed over slug and pigeon control.

Some small crops are showing high levels of downy mildew on the cotyledons but hopefully once the first true leaf appears they will grow away from this. Phoma has yet to put in an appearance.

Cereal drilling is progressing well. Early seedbeds on heavy ground proved rather cloddy to say the least. In some instances slugs have hollowed out grain despite best efforts at control.

Populations after rape are at record levels and some fields are already receiving a third application of pellets. In some cases Deter (clothianidin) seem to have had little effect in reducing hollowing.

Is it a case of slugs not reading the product manual, an over-optimistic claim or record slug numbers?

Some redrilling is likely, provided seed is still available. Given the high levels of fusarium this year, I ould not advise using untreated grain out of the barn.

Some crops have high levels of aphids and need treating soon. At current temperatures crops without an insecticidal seed dressing will be at risk of BYDV about 2-3 weeks after emergence.

Most of my wheat crops have received a pre-emergence spray. Crops with high blackgrass levels will be treated shortly with an IPU/Hawk(clodinafop-propargyl + trifluralin) mix to take some of the pressure off Atlantis later on.

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9 October 2007

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire
(Click to contact)

Wheat drilling is now well under way and by the time this goes to press many people will have finished. We had some welcome rain last weekend that softened up the clods and have resulted in some near perfect seedbeds.

 Slug activity is still quite high and I’m glad most farms stocked up with pellets in readiness for the rain triggering the slugs into action. The limit on IPU rates has meant an increase in the use of pre–emergence sprays and fingers crossed they should work very well given the seedbeds and the moisture.

Oilseed rape has pretty well fully emerged, with some slug losses here and there, but not much has required re-drilling. It always amazes me how resilient winter rape is, and provided it is not actually eaten by slugs or (usually) partridges, how it manages to struggle through in the end.

At the time of writing I haven’t seen any phoma in any crops yet, but if it does come in, with small plants, control will be all the more important, and getting in early with flusilazole, difenoconazole or prothioconazole is the message I want to get across. Having been slightly sceptical of autumn growth regulation in the past I see even less reason to use those types of fungicides this year on small, backward rape plants.

I still have some crops waiting to be combined. Lupins and millet have refused to go off and even with desiccation; some are unlikely to be combined for a week or so. Let’s hope the Indian summer stays with us at least until they’re in the shed.

Forage maize has largely been cut, some dying off early because of eyespot.The grain maize, having been planted much later, seems to have escaped the worst of it.

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1 October 2007

James Boswell H L Hutchinson, Kent
(Click to contact)

Oilseed rape drilling is down by about 20%, with crops variable by field rather than in-field. Early crops that found moisture have 6-7 true leaves and look very good.

A graminicide for grassweeds, insecticide for cabbage stem flea beetle and clopyralid for thistles has already been applied. Phoma can now be found and will need controlling as soon as possible.

Unfortunately not all oilseed rape has established well. Some went into dry seed beds three weeks ago and has only germinated over the last seven days as rain arrived. These crops are still at high-risk from slugs if it remains damp and flea beetle if the weather is dry and bright.

Keep checking regularly for slug activity, setting traps, and looking for any shredding on grassweeds.

Wheat drilling may be up by 25% this season. Drilling started from the first week of September into drying seed beds. Seed rates varied from 140-260seeds per m2. The first rains arrived seven days ago and seedbeds have since improved.

Last week saw pre-emergence herbicides applied. There has been a huge increase in pre-emergence herbicide demand for grassweed control this season and product flexibility (pre- and peri-emergence) is important as crops now being drilled into moist seedbeds will emerge within 5-7 days.

Remember to keep monitoring for slugs in wheat. On heavier land drilling and rolling can be an opportunity to culturally reduce grain hollowing and subterranean slug damage.

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24 September 2007

Swaran Bachoo - Agrovista, Hants/ Wilts
(Click to contact)

Creating seed-beds on heavier soils is turning out to be a nightmare this year due to the wet soils underneath. Where the seed-beds are cobbly then expect a poor germination and establishment of the crop. This in turn is going to result in low competition to the grass weeds and indeed the residual herbicides themselves will perform less effectively.

Couple this with the high dormancy of  blackgrass this season and the result is a testing scenario for grassweed control. So to help out, use stale seed-beds for as long as possible and also use slightly higher seed rates to produce a strong competitive crop.

Where the seed-beds have been fine the oilseed rape crops have emerged quickly and evenly and are now at the one true leaf stage. Volunteer cereals are coming through fast and will need spraying quickly in order to help the parched crop establish.

In most cases it will be necessary to spray the crop again to control the second flush of volunteer cereals and the blackgrass, but remember that the new rules prohibit the use of the same graminicide molecule twice in the same crop unless it is against a different target.

This time last year there was phoma present in rape crops and some had already been sprayed with a fungicide, but this year with the dry weather the risk at present is low. I have noticed turnip sawfly larvae in fields of volunteer oilseed rape.This is some two weeks earlier than last year.

As I write it has started to rain, and with the forecast for further rain later this week, slugs could be a problem and be prepared to apply some slug pellets.

Wheat drilling started last week and where blackgrass is expected to be a problem a robust rate of a pre-emergent herbicide has been applied.

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17 September 2007

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
(Click to contact)

Well, our year of extremes continues. Some heavy and low lying fields are so wet at depth that the last fields have only just been cleared, but the dry weather of the last three weeks means cultivated ground is very dry and knobbly.

Oilseed rape varies from crops established early, in good soil conditions on lighter soil types which look well, to seed lying in dry cobbles waiting for rain to have any chance of germinating!

Slugs remain an ever-present threat and constant vigilance is required. Most of my crops have had an insurance dressing of a metaldehyde-based pellet straight after drilling. Some direct drilled or autocast crops required two or more applications, with very evident thinning if these were delayed. Most have had a pre-emergence spray but in really dry cobbly seedbeds I have elected to wait and see what emerges!

Stale seedbeds are proving tricky to achieve. Early cultivated ground has produced a good chit of blackgrass, but soils moved recently in the dry spell are unlikely to produce much of a chit at all.

This coupled with the increase in Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) resistance and the high dormancy of blackgrass seed this year is going to test pre emergence sprays to the limit. Robust pre-ems with good persistence should therefore be the norm.

Delaying drilling, until we have a chit, would help the situation but with heavy soils close to field capacity below cultivation depth it would be a very brave man indeed who waited this autumn!

Due to very high slug numbers following rape I had intended to pre bait, in a damp spell, with a cheap pellet 4-5 days pre drilling. This is looking increasingly unlikely now. The next best defence will be to drill at least 35mm deep, consolidate well and apply a dose of pellets immediately post drilling on problem fields to reduce the population before the crop emerges.

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11 September 2007

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire
(Click to contact)

Having been away for a fortnight it’s nice to come back and find that most of the combining is now over with the exception of a few spring beans, linseed and lupins.

Wheat yields this year are down by anything between 10-25%; most simply never made up from yield lost during the April/ May drought. However, high prices and good premiums for quality have helped keep spirits up.

Oilseed rape has been drilled into seedbeds of varying quality. Heavy soils are still like pudding underneath, and where clods have been brought up some are baking out leading to some fields struggling to germinate due to lack of moisture!

I have recommended most fields have a protective layer of slug pellets of some sort as slug numbers are exceptionally high. On min-tilled situations volunteers are already at a stage where they will need taking out and most of mine will be combined with an early post – emergence broad leaved weed herbicide e.g. Novall or Katamaran (metazachlor + quinmerac). We are already seeing activity (on volunteer rape) from Turnip sawfly caterpillars, so a pyrethroid will also be included.

Where it is wet underneath, particularly on soils with high clay content, I am questioning the value of subsoiling too early if the result is only going to be like cutting through cheese. In the past, I’ve seen top cultivations done first, followed by a well – adjusted flat –lift type subsoiler two or three weeks later work very well.

Early moved rape and pea stubbles have had an excellent chit of volunteers and grassweeds, providing an excellent opportunity to clean up with glyphosate. The importance of this strategy cannot be overstated. With a rate limit on IPU, potential loss of trifluralin and growing reliance on (and therefore resistance to) sulfonylureas this has become an essential part of autumn cultivation programmes.

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4 September 2007

James Boswell H L Hutchinson, Kent
(Click to contact)

Winter wheat

With wheat harvest results now available yields have been variable. Yellow rust proved easier to control than the persistent brown rust. '1915&sec_id=353">'Robigus has yielded better than expected even in crops with high levels of disease.

'1916&sec_id=353">'Cordiale, Consort, Gladiator and Einstein have all yielded well where a full three to four spray fungicide programme was used. Most growers are keeping the same varieties and blaming a very difficult season rather than their variety choice.

Oilseed rape

Again very variable yields due to sclerotinia and localised severe hail damage that decimated crops. Undamaged areas averaged 3.4- 4t/ha. Castille is still the most popular variety.

Drilling oilseed rape is well underway and seed-beds are looking fine although now starting to dry out on top. Many growers will apply a pre-emergence spray, with five main active ingredients - metazachlor, quinmerac, dimethenamid-p, trifluralin and clomazone – to choose from. Each has specific herbicide strengths.

It is important to know which weeds to expect with differing establishment methods. Thistles continue to germinate on undisturbed Autocast fields and will be controlled in late autumn with a clopyralid-based product.

Oilseed rape drillings will be down this year by up to 20% with a big increase in second and continuous wheats. Poor second wheat yields due to take-all need to be addressed by considering a more specific seed dressing.

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28 August 2007

The harvest is nearly over with all of the oilseed rape, winter wheat and winter barley nearly done and only some spring barley to be harvested.

Yields have been marginally lower than last year, but considering the dry April we had this year and coupled with a very wet May and June, the harvest has been very pleasing.

Winter wheats have yielded a touch under 4t/ acre, winter barleys 3.25 t/acre, oilseed rape at1.75t/acre, and spring barley at 2.8t/acre. We did not have the brown rust pressure that the rest of the country had - either we were just plain lucky or we chose the correct fungicide molecules and got the application timing just right! The only disappointment has been winter oats, which were light as a feather.

Thoughts are now focussed to the next season. Fields, which are due for oilseed rape, have been sprayed with glyphosate and will be drilled this week. The majority of fields will be sprayed pre-emergent of the crop with a mix of trifluralin + metazachlor or trifluralin and then followed with metazachlor post-emergence.

Carefully calculate the seed rate depending on the variety and whether the variety is conventional or a hybrid to avoid an over thick canopy in the spring .For conventionals use about 75 seeds/ m2 and hybrids use about 60 seeds/m2 .It has been forecast that the slugs could be a problem this year so do not forget to factor this in and also take in to account the seedbed conditions.

With the damp and cool summer this year the grass weed dormancy is likely to be high, so try to adopt stale seedbeds and spray these off with glyphosate in order to reduce the burden on the ever-shrinking armoury of grass weed herbicides.

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9 July 2007

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
(Click to contact)

What a year of extremes. No rainfall at all in April, six inches in May, then up to eight inches in June! So have we learned anything from this year?

Oilseed rape desiccation has hopefully all been done by now. The crop is showing quite high levels of alternaria and botrytis in places, which, coupled with the obvious sclerotinia and the need for two phoma sprays last autumn, means the optimum number of fungicides on rape this year was five!

Winter wheat crops, in my area at least, seem to be standing remarkably well considering the weather. Disease-wise brown rust pressure has diminished, but inevitably septoria, fusarium and the ear complex are coming to the fore. Again this year the more robust and better-timed the fungicide policy, the cleaner the crop looks.

Spring barley crops also look well. With the dry April and then lots of rain in May and June it concerns me how many will make malting. It might be the year for a high nitrogen malting contract!

Chocolate spot levels in winter beans are high and the thicker crops are obviously the worst! They are well podded now and further action is unlikely to show a return.

Thoughts are turning to next years cropping. Second wheats, on purely economic grounds, look good and inevitably farmers will be tempted to grow an increased area. Such a move will put more pressure on Atlantis (mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium) and drive resistance further.

I had one horror (now confirmed as target site resistance) last year on continuous wheat sprayed the last week in October in perfect conditions on small blackgrass, and the level of control was only 5%! This clearly shows the need for a carefully balanced rotation!

So I am now one year older and wiser and look forward to next season and reporting on the challenges it presents! Good luck to you all with harvest.

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3 July 2007

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire
(Click to contact)

Over the last two weeks we have had 350mm rain (14 inches). And I understand we’ve been the lucky ones; my sympathies go to our colleagues up north.

Most oilseed rape crops are well past the ideal timing for desiccation, but most will be sprayed anyway as broad – leaved weeds are growing through. Powdery mildew is rife (but only on the bits of stem that haven’t already been killed by sclerotinia!)

Fungicides are now running out on the wheats, with septoria creeping in. Not much we can do about it now so I’ve stopped looking.

Some winter barleys have greened up again with side tillers producing an ear; some farmers are horrified, others are thrilled.

Spring barley has thickened up to the point (after the safe Terpal (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid + mepiquat chloride) timing) where they have started to fall over, helped by the latest wind and rain.

Winter oats that came into ear at about ankle – height (and therefore missed a growth regulator) are now coming up to my chest but appear to have withstood the weather. Varietal resistance to crown rust has been very noticeable this year with Dalguise being the poorest and Kinross the best among the varieties I’m involved with.

Spring beans are looking good but chocolate spot started to creep in where the last fungicide was put on any more than weeks before; with plenty of flowers still around I considered it worth going back through if an opportunity arose.

On top of everything else this has turned into one of the worst blight years in potatoes many growers can remember. It’s difficult to maintain a 4 day spraying program if it doesn’t stop raining for 2 weeks!

If I were to retire now I might join Tony and become a peace negotiator in the Middle East. It’d probably be a lot less challenging…

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26 June 2007

James Boswell H L Hutchinson, Kent
(Click to contact)

Oilseed rape
Most crops are starting to change colour and desiccation will start as soon as there is a break in the weather on the most forward crops.

With 4-5 inches of rain this month most crops are fortunately still standing or listing. Sclerotinia can be seen in places and especially where the petal fall spray was omitted due to dry weather. There are also very high levels of mildew on leaves, which may lead to a reduction in yield.

Beans
Chocolate spot is very active, although chlorothalonil + approved triazole sprays are working well. Bruchid beetle insecticides have been applied, but damage from this pest remains very difficult to assess until after harvest.

Winter wheat
Yellow rust levels seem to have decreased, while brown rust remains very active. Septoria and mildew levels remain low, but ear fusarium levels remain high. The majority of growers have applied an ear spray which should prove to be a profitable decision.

2008 variety choice will be a major decision for many, but with disease levels being extremely high and spraying conditions impossible at times, it is important to bear this in mind when making a final decision.

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19 June 2007

Swaran Bachoo - Agrovista, Hants/ Wilts
(Click to contact)

Winter wheat crops have continued to recover after the mini drought in April, and as I said in my earlier column they are full of promise, with exception of some second wheat crops on thin sandy soils where some take all is now obvious.

With the cereal prices rising beyond belief and the wheat price rising to £112/tonne for late October early November there is the prospect for some healthy gross margins.

Where the right chemistry has been chosen and the timing has been good the crops are clean of disease and in many instances have five clean leaves. In this difficult disease year the use of good quality adjuvant such as Transcend have clearly shown there value.

Spring barley crops have improved tremendously but the only downside is that there are far too many secondary tillers because of the earlier lack of rain. Whilst these will help with the yield I fear that there could be high screenings and some low specific weights. This will mean that good quality malting barley could be at a premium.

Labels permitting it would be advisable to apply a second fungicide where the first fungicide was applied more than three weeks ago.

Winter oilseed rape crops have started to turn shade yellow but the seed within is still green and there is a lot of grain filling still to happen. Some turnip saw fly damage has been noticed where pods have been stripped open. On farms where this has been noticed there could be further attacks this autumn in the new crop.

It is time to map areas where blackgrass control has not been satisfactory and investigate for possible reasons. If resistance is suspected then blackgrass seed samples should be taken for testing but make sure that the seed is mature before taking the sample. When the seed is mature it usually falls off on shaking the seed head.

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11 June 2007

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
(Click to contact)

T3 or no T3 is the question most people will have answered by now. Most T2 sprays were late and many went onto booted crops or the emerging ear. Despite this I have, with the exception of bullet-proof varieties for brown rust, applied a T3 to all my wheat crops.

Given the level of inoculum and the speed at which brown rust with a latent period of only four days can spread, it was, as they say, a “no brainer”. Alchemy in all areas and Robigus north of Milton Keynes are both carrying high levels of this disease and where the canopy is thick, robust flag leaf sprays hardly seem to have slowed its advance up the plant at all. Those of you not applying a T3 must therefore be very brave indeed!

Spring barley crops have just had their second fungicide and although rather short, have thickened-up nicely and look to have reasonable potential.

I have had to treat some winter bean crops for black bean aphids, together with their second fungicide recently, so check crops carefully.

What has gone wrong this year regarding sclerotinia control? With dry soils inhibiting germination of sclerotia, and the survival of apothecia, ascospore release should have been low.

With no rainfall at all during flowering to assist petal stick the decision not to apply a mid flowering fungicide also seemed “a no brainer” at the time. Why then are levels of sclerotinia in crops the highest for a number of years?

Where late stem extension sprays where applied the situation is better, indicating that it came in right at the start of flowering. Obviously the much-trusted predictive system has let us down this year. Lets hope an explanation of why is forthcoming, otherwise a prophylactic mid-flowering spray is soon going to have to become the norm.

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4 June 2007

We are coming to the end of what has been one of the most challenging seasons I have ever known. Unprecedented situations have made decision making very difficult and many recommendations have had to be disregarded as crops raced through their growth stages.

Winter wheats have now at least got a bit of colour to them and some crops look quite good from the side of the road but many are very thin when you walk through them. We must expect some yield loss this year.

Disease-wise they’re all pretty clean, with a bit of yellow rust in some Robigus and brown rust in other varieties, but considering fungicide inputs are generally down by the equivalent of one application this year, I can’t believe how clean some of these wheats look.

I thought winter oilseed rape was going to be the crop of the year until varying levels of sclerotinia, ranging from the odd plant to horrendous levels, began to surface. It doesn’t seem to matter whether they had a mid-flowering fungicide or not and the real mystery is that not one of my winter rape crops had a drop of rain from the beginning to well after the end of flowering.

It seems like we’re going to have to re-write the rule book for sclerotinia, as this year was considered by many (myself included) to be one of the lowest risk sclerotinia years ever.

Winter barleys are beginning to turn and wheat is well into grain fill. With flowering finished well before the balmy evenings began '167'blossom midge risk should be minimal this year. Lets hope that’s not a prediction that comes back to bite me on the backside.

All the indications are for an early harvest down this part of the world. Good. Roll on next season.

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29 May 2007

James Boswell - HL Hutchinson, Kent
(Click to contact)

After 40-45mm of rain last weekend, thankfully most crops are still standing - although one or two under trees or on overlaps are ‘listing’.

Disease pressure is switching from rust, back to septoria, so, with the T3 timing fast approaching, a high rate of triazole (2/3 to full rate), with good activity against fusarium will be essential. Be careful when applying products after flowering, as some have early cut-off dates.

Forward wheat is mostly at flowering, so '167'Orange Wheat Blossom Midge isn’t really a problem – I haven’t seen any and the wet, windy conditions won’t be conducive to the pest.

Mildew hasn’t been much of a problem yet. Bits of virus are showing up, but not as bad as expected.

Oilseed rape looks exceptionally well, although spray timings for thistles were missed, so there are a lot of thistles appearing above short crops. These could cause problems during combining, so may need treating with pre-harvest glyphosate.

Slug numbers are increasing following the wet weather and a lot are grazing the flag leaf. Keep an eye on these, as control may be needed this autumn.

Late-drilled spring crops are still very uneven, but are starting to even-up. Some linseed is likely to start flowering next week, while other crops have only recently emerged. This will make weed control much more difficult, and you must watch growth stages carefully.

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21 May 2007

Swaran Bachoo - Agrovista, Hants/ Wilts
(Click to contact)

This season is continuing to be a very testing year. Wheat crops raced through from growth stage 33 to 39 in a matter of days. An eight week dry spell of weather with the prospect of a low disease year has now turned in to a high disease season with the arrival of 30mm of rain.

Yellow rust has got into Robigus and Hereward, and brown rust is obvious in Claire and Alchemy. Last time I saw yellow rust in this part of the country was as long ago as 18 years ago in cv Slejpner.

Most wheat crops are at growth stage 45 to 49 and have been sprayed with a robust three quarter rate triazole + strobilurin fungicide during last week, albeit in less than ideal conditions.

A high rate of triazole such as epoxiconazole with good curative activity is a must this year in order to keep the septoria out. The strobilurin will help protect against the rusts. If the wet weather continues then there could be a good case for a T3 fungicide for quality and to supplement the flag leaf sprays.

Wheat plants are now picking up the abundance of available nitrogen and seem to be full of promise.

Now that we have had sufficient rain '167'orange blossom midge pupation will start soon. Monitor the wheat crops at dusk on still evenings when the midge will be making flights. On farms where there has been a history of midge problem then use two pheremone traps per field. 20 midges per trap over 2-3 nights is the required threshold.

Winter barleys are at full ear emergence with some at early flowering and have already received a T2 fungicide. Winter barley crops are very variable. Some look to be extremely promising while others on thin and less fertile land seem to have given up the ghost because of the dry weather.

Oil seed rape crops have finished flowering and the oldest pods have translucent seeds, growth stage 6.1. The plants are clean of disease, have a good canopy structure and every thing being equal the crop should do well.

Crown rust has come through the first fungicide in winter oats and will urgently need a fungicide treatment. The oat crop is short this year and there is little chance of crop lodging.

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15 May 2007

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
(Click to contact)

Normally we would only just be deciding on a flag leaf strategy on wheat but this year most T2 recommendations have been made.

Septoria levels pre rain where low and the plan was to trim T2 triazole doses from ¾ rate to nearer ½ rate, with a view to topping up and protecting the ear later on. The main target was brown rust which has been a constant problem this year.

The focus will now have to change and if we are delayed much beyond 15 May on forward crops dose rates will be increased to offer more kickback against latent septoria infections caused by the recent rains.

Given the extra kickback required and the continuing brown rust threat, epoxyconazole should be the triazole of choice in most situations with ½ rate strobilurin added for its physiological effects and to boost brown rust control.

Thoughts will soon turn to '167'Orange Blossom midge control. Last year by careful use of pheromone traps, coupled with a low risk year I only treated three fields for midge! Given the environmental profile of chlorpyriphos and the relative ineffectiveness of the current alternatives I hope the same situation arises again this year!

Winter beans have started flowering and have just had a fungicide to protect against chocolate spot and bean rust which is unusual this early on, normally bean rust only appears in June but it is already present in many crops.

Most of my spring barley crops look remarkably well given the dry conditions and they certainly show the value of retaining moisture in the seedbed and drilling into it.

Black grass control in the dry conditions has predictably been very difficult, and now has mostly got too big to get effective control! T1 applications have begun based on prothioconazole plus strob at 25% dose of each.

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8 May 2007

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire
(Click to contact)

When I reported in early March (see below) that I had wheat crops with leaf three emerging I had people telling me things like “That’s impossible, day length is not long enough” etc. That same Einstein broke into ear on 28 April, closely followed by Solstice and Claire.

Most September and early October-drilled wheat is now well into booting and everything will have its ears out by mid-May. Septoria levels are as low as I’ve ever seen them but I’ve kept triazole levels up to keep on top of any brown rust.

Most have had an earlier T0 and have just had a T1 which doubles up as a flag leaf spray. Unless something changes dramatically, most wheats will only have one more fungicide and if it stays dry only a cheap one at that.

I don’t see '167'blossom midge as a risk at all at the moment – it’s too cold and windy at night and we haven’t had any rain to stimulate adult midge emergence.

We had 4mm rain this morning – the first measurable rain for nearly eight weeks. Many of these crops have not been suffering from lack of moisture as much as they have been suffering from lack of nitrogen.

Early-drilled wheats on light soils have suffered most, especially those that have had urea. Early fears that they would fall over have now been replaced by fears that they have lost too many tillers.

Now that they are coming into ear no matter what the weather does it is difficult to see how they can compensate for what they have lost so on those crops that are visibly suffering I have cut final nitrogen rates back by up to 30 kg/ha.

Winter barley also came into ear very quickly and has had a low dose of fungicide to put it to bed. Spring crops have struggled in places but are now mostly all through, but the dry conditions have meant that pre–emergence herbicides on peas and beans are not working as well as we’d hoped.

On some maize crops I haven’t even bothered with a pre–em herbicide. If I’ve known that I’m going to be back anyway with a post-emergence, I can’t see the point in spending £15 on a residual which probably isn’t going to work.

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1 May 2007

James Boswell H L Hutchinson, Kent
(Click to contact)

Oilseed rape
Oilseed rape continues its long flowering period, with no appreciable rain in Kent over the last 5-6 weeks. Some growers have decided not to spray the traditional pre-petal fall spray, as the risk of sclerotinia has reduced.

Seed weevil can still be found in areas and continues to be a problem that needs treating.

Winter barley
Crops have suffered quite badly in the prolonged drought on the lighter soils. rhynchosporium and net blotch levels have been low along with mildew. Brown rust continues to be a disease causing most concern and with crops now out in awn, it should be made a priority for treatment with a triazole.

Winter wheat
Some stronger wheats on fertile soils, or those that received early nitrogen applications look surprisingly well and seem to be coping with the dry weather relatively effectively.

Lots of forward crops have flag leaf now fully emerged, Einstein and Solstice being very forward. Septoria tritici risk has obviously declined along with mildew, but rusts continue to be very active. Brown rust pustules can be found in many crops and will be the main disease concern at T2 which will begin next week.

Strobilurins should be added to the triazole to improve rust control and help reduce crop stress.

Other crops
Serious pea and bean weevil damage continues and needs immediate attention. Residuals are proving less effective than normal.
Linseed Flax beetle is also very active.

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23 April 2007

Swaran Bachoo - Agrovista, Hants/ Wilts
(Click to contact)

The dry weather has caught me on the hop. Whereas the majority of the winter wheat crops received T2 sprays around 5 May last year, this spring the flag leaf has appeared some two weeks early.

Winter wheat is also marching through the growth stages and the leaf three appeared on 15 April - one week ahead of last year. One field of mid-September drilled Solstice grown near Amesbury in Wiltshire already had the flag leaf 50% emerged.

If this pattern of mild winters and warm springs is here to stay, then we shall have to review the early drilling dates and consider growing the slow developing varieties later into the autumn months, and I should take time to brush up on the little agronomy knowledge that I have of growing oranges and olives.

The majority of winter wheat crops reached growth stage 32 last week with 80% to 90% of the leaf three emerged. These crops were sprayed with Ceandu (epoxiconazole + metrafenone) against septoria and mildew.

There is little eyespot present, but where 10% of the tillers are infected then these crops, along with second wheats, were sprayed with Tracker (boscalid + epoxiconazole). There is also some physiological greening value from this product.

Although the disease levels are at trace level, do not underestimate the risk of septoria and I advise an application of a good T1 fungicide at the correct time to ensure that there is a maximum of four weeks gap between T1 and T2 (flag leaf) fungicide.

Watch out for brown rust on the risk-prone varieties such as Alchemy, Cordiale, Claire, Solstice, Soissons and Zebedee.

Most oilseed rape crops are at mid-flowering stage with some racemes showing 20 pods on them. Astrid is the exception, which is only at the early flowering stage.

I have seen more vertical stem splitting in the rape crop this year then ever before. I believe this has been caused by the very warm days leading to a fast growth during the day followed by the exceptionally cold nights.

Linseed crops drilled into good seedbeds are now coming through the ground, but are being savagely grazed by the flax flea beetle. Spray with a pyrethroid as soon damage is seen.

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16 April 2007

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
(Click to contact)

Oilseed rape is now well into flowering, some crops have simply put up one main stem and branching is quite sparse, hopefully these will fill in when, and if, the remaining nitrogen gets into the plant!

Sclerotinia risk is low at the moment and if the current weather continues, few crops will justify a mid-flowering spray. Most crops had a mid-stem extension spray of metconazole and if this went on at yellow bud, it will give some protection anyway.

Seed weevil populations and any developing mealy aphid colonies need monitoring. Weevil thresholds should be strictly adhered to because any pyrethroid insecticide treatment for weevils will, since they are still in the crop, drive pollen beetle resistance even further.

Spring barley crops are mostly establishing well, except where drilling was into dry soil. Graminicide applications for either blackgrass or wild oats will be very interesting this year!

There is probably still some more to emerge when it rains and treatment in these dry conditions is likely to result in poor control. Wild oat problems can be left a while but blackgrass is likely to get too big soon for effective treatment. Timing will have to be precise and if it doesn’t rain very soon will be a compromise.

Wheats this year seem to have the widest spread of growth stages I can remember for any given drilling date. Some heavy land crops that were waterlogged early on are really struggling with poor rooting systems to pick up applied nitrogen and appear very backward.

T1 treatments have started, based around epoxyconazole or prothioconazole, all with chlorothalonil included. Dose varies according to disease pressure, drilling date and variety. Care is needed assessing which leaf is emerging and the aim should be to ensure leaf 3 is 60% out before spraying.

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10 April 2007

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire
(Click to contact)

Despite the waterlogged ground resulting from the rain in February and the cold dry March, many crops are still further ahead than normal. Most oilseed rape crops are in full flower and I have seen some Einstein in sheltered fields with leaf two emerging.

Most wheats are well into growth stage 31 and are receiving a T0 fungicide and PGR, with quite a few also having had a previous chlormequat dose 2-3 weeks back.

Nitrogen uptake has been slow, but now the daytime temperatures have risen (even though the nights are still very cold) crops are eventually changing colour. Deep nitrogen tests indicate that the February rain has depleted nitrogen levels to the lowest we’ve seen for a few years.

Oilseed rape suffered most from the wet weather. It went from very lush before Christmas to stunted, blue plants on all but the best draining soils. It then bolted in response to the increased day length and added nitrogen only to be blasted by a freezing north easterly wind.

I have seen masses of plants with vertical splits in the stems about 5–10 cm long which I can only put down to the weather.

I have never seen winter rape before in full flower where you can see every drill row. These observations may have no affect at all on final yield but they are still things I’d rather not see.

I have taken the threat of pyrethroid resistant pollen beetle very seriously and as such I have made the decision not to spray at all; as it worked out the rapid flowering of the rape crop diluted any thresholds anyway.

Everything has now had some nitrogen. I shall be finishing off the rape over the next 10 days or so (although I would like to have somebody experiment with late foliar nitrogen) and the wheats will be getting their main doses before the end of April.

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3 April 2007

James Boswell - H L Hutchinson, Kent
(Click to contact)

Oilseed rape
There are some good-looking, even crops and early-drilled forward rape is at early flower.

Many crops are uneven, mainly due to serious pigeon and rabbit grazing. Where this is the case, close monitoring is needed, as high numbers of pollen beetle are starting to be found.

If numbers reach threshold, treatment will be needed and pyrethroids have been the norm but resistance is a big concern in the south. Tests have been carried out to confirm this and early results have found resistance in Kent. A new active thiacloprid may be used, but this is a much more expensive option.

Barley
Crops are now starting to change colour from yellow to green as temperatures rise. The first growth regulators and fungicides have been applied, but rapid growth and weak-strawed varieties need a follow up PGR. Awns will soon appear so watch growth stages closely!

Winter wheat
Most crops are very strong and delayed nitrogen and '167'gout fly have helped reduce tiller numbers. Septoria tritici is rife and yellow rust in untreated Robigus could be found at the end of March.

A T0 has been applied on strong crops, but Einstein in particular seems to steam through the growth stages, so please check growth stages when applying chlormequat, as some wheat is already past growth stage 32.

Please take special care with record keeping, as this needs to be completed professionally.

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27 March 2007

Swaran Bachoo - Agrovista, Hants/ Wilts
(Click to contact)

The early-drilled crops of winter wheat are at growth stage 30 and the majority of the others will be at this stage by the end of the week.

Because of last week’s cold weather, the disease levels have not increased. Septoria, mildew, and brown rust, in Alchemy can easily be found.

The first of the T0 fungicides, probably a reduced rate triazole with chlorthalonil plus the first split of chlormequat, will be applied this weekend. The remaining wheat crops, with the exemption of those drilled in late November and December, will be treated next week.

The winter barley crops have trace levels of net blotch and rhynchosporium and will not need treatment until the middle of April unless disease levels increase dramatically.

Spring barley drilling is complete, albeit a few days late. With the price tag of around £110/t, the prospects for the crop look good and it will be worth managing it to its full yield potential.

All the Atlantis (mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium) treatments for blackgrass control have been completed. Be careful to use only the approved sequences of other sulfonylurea-containing chemicals for the control of the broad-leaved weeds after Atlantis. This is important for the choice of the following crops grown and the specific cultivations required before drilling these crops.

The guidelines issued by the '2064'Pesticides Safety Directorate for the use of reduced water volumes is welcome but still complex .It is necessary to take count of the whole of the product label in conjunction with the conditions prescribed in the Green code book.

Oilseed rape crops are at the green bud to yellow bud stage and will soon need growth regulatory fungicides at early flowering where the crops are too thick and need canopy manipulation. The aim should be to produce a canopy size of between green leaf area 3 and 4. Metconazole will be the best product to use at this stage.

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20 March 2007

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
(Click to contact)

After a false start last week when spring was definitely in the air, we now seem to have returned to winter.

Forward oilseed rape crops are growing away well and will have a fungicide applied shortly. If growth regulation and canopy management are priorities, the product of choice should be metconazole rather than tebuconazole since it is a more effective growth regulator and increases the root mass too.

Rates will vary from half rate up to three quarter rate depending on the canopy size, apply after a period of 7-10 days active growth. Crops will also benefit from a trace element mix during stem extension, Lioness in particular needs a dose of magnesium, since it is very susceptible.

With the exception of a few very forward and dirty barley crops, most will wait until T1 for there first fungicide application.

Forward wheat is very dirty, with growth stages ranging from late tillering to first node. In some crops, most of the lower leaves are dead and covered with septoria lesions.

T0 fungicides, mostly based around chlorothalonil, with a growth regulator split, are starting to be applied, but avoid spraying in the current cold snap when crops are not growing.

Forward Robigus crops are carrying high levels of septoria and some yellow rust and would probably benefit from a Bravo (chlorothalonil)/ low dose triazole mix at T0.

Finally, some wheat crops appear very forward this year, but it is worth remembering that reproductive stages are driven as much by day length as any other factor. It is quite normal for these early crops to produce extra leaves and for the lowest node to turn out to be false.

Even in these early crops, emergence of leaf three is unlikely before about the 10 April. It is therefore better to leave dissection to determine leaf emergence until we are into April to avoid confusion.

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13 March 2007

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire
(Click to contact)

Last year I came back from holiday on the 17 March to find crops had gone back significantly to mid-tillering.

This year, to my absolute horror, I came back from my annual break on 2 March to find most September-drilled wheat well into extension, with some plants having leaf three emerging! The big question is, what do I do about it?

The extraordinarily mild winter has, as well as producing very forward crops, continued to mineralise nitrogen that has been taken up by the actively growing crops. So we have wheat crops some six weeks ahead of their normal development but still with anything up to 7 or 8 healthy tillers.

Delaying nitrogen fertiliser is an obvious course of action, but I think robust, split growth regulator programs can be easily justified.

To that end I have warned many growers with very lush crops that an extra pass may be necessary because we have crops that are ready for PGR but where a T0 fungicide would be too early. So we’ll put a T0 in with a second PGR split end March / early April.

Oilseed rape crops vary from sad and blue to nearly flowering. On heavy ground one pass in the autumn with a subsoiler last autumn may well have proven to be the most cost effective input for the crop.

With relentless rain over the last two months many late broadleaf weed herbicides will now have to be abandoned and where we are relying on carbetamide for difficult grassweeds the opportunity has not arisen to get it applied before the cut–off date of end Feb.

Some spring barley was drilled in the relatively settled spell in February and on lighter ground has emerged and is looking well. On heavier ground, however, I have seen quite a few seeds rotting as the heavy rain since has pounded the ground relentlessly. At least we are still early enough to re-drill if necessary.

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6 March 2007

James Boswell H L Hutchinson, Kent
(Click to contact)

Oilseed rape
Crops are now at early green bud stage. High levels of thistles and mayweed need treating as soon as possible, but check growth stage before applying herbicides.

Disease wise, crops look relatively clean. With varying Green Area Indexes in rape, apply nitrogen as necessary.

Barley
Barley is now at growth stage 25-29, with lots of rhynchosporium, net blotch and mildew. It will need treating at growth stage 31 with cyprodinil + picoxystrobin, plus a growth regulator.

Wheat
Winter wheat crops are reaching growth stage 30 and early drilled crops with high disease levels need treating with a T0 spray now.

There are high levels of Septoria tritici, brown rust and eyespot showing and a triazole chlorothalonil mix will be an appropriate treatment. A specific mildewicide (metrafenone or proquinazid) will be needed on high-risk varieties, with the highest levels being found in Claire and Solstice.

It is important to remember that the T0 application is a holding operation until the T1 in early to mid-April, where a higher, more persistent dose may be necessary. Alchemy, although the least responsive variety to fungicides, can still give a yield response of up to 1.5 tonnes per ha.

Tests have shown that soil residual nitrogen levels are up to 45% lower than in 2006. If you have late drilled or second wheats with a low GAI, these crops should be prioritised for treatment.

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27 February 2007

Swaran Bachoo - Agrovista, Hants/ Wilts
(Click to contact)

All cereal crops are well ahead of where they were this time last year. The growing points on the main tillers are 0.25–0.5cm above the stem base. Mid-September drilled wheat is at growth stage 25+ and late-September drilled barley is also at GS 25+.

The mild weather has resulted in high levels of soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) and most cereal plants have a large number of tillers. Some mid-September drilled crops of wheat and barley have up to 1200 tillers/m² and this from 235 seeds/m²! Therefore spring nitrogen applications will need to take account of SMN.

Most crops of wheat have high levels of septoria and mildew and Alchemy is even showing some brown rust. There is no need to panic at the moment - we may even experience some winter before spring - but if ever there was a case for a T0 fungicide then it is this year.

The T0 timing will not only remove the early inoculum, but also buy some time in case the T1 fungicide is delayed. I would suggest a mixture of chlorothalonil and a triazole.

Grass and broad leaf herbicides have worked well, but where Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) for the control of blackgrass is required then this is necessary to be completed as a matter of urgency - weather permitting. Blackgrass is not as large, as it was this time last year.

Winter oilseed rape crops again are very thick with green area index (GAI) ranging between 1.5-2.0.These crops will have supped up to 100kg of nitrogen and will not need any more until perhaps mid-March. Apply nitrogen only to backward crops of GAI of 0.5 or less. There is some re infection of the crop with phoma.

The dry weather early in the month allowed spring wheat drilling to be completed and some spring barley is also in the ground, however the soil is now saturated and there will be no further drilling for a few days.

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20 February 2007

Nick Brown - Chemega (ProCam Group), Berks/Bucks/Oxon
(Click to contact)

Well we finally had some weather last week that could be called winter! The unusually mild and wet conditions experienced in December and January have resulted in some poor blackgrass control in rape where Carbetamex (carbetamide) or Kerb (propyzamide) have been used.

On wheat autumn applied Atlantis (mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium), except for the odd field where resistance is suspected, seems to have worked well and by the end of this week barring another cold spell conditions should be warm enough to apply any outstanding treatments.

Wheat crops seem to have come through the winter well, there are some backward crops that are struggling in wet cold soils but the majority are large, some approaching growth stage 30.

These crops have already taken up quite a lot of nitrogen and if severe lodging pressure is to be avoided will need starving for some time yet. Most will have no requirement for nitrogen until April.

Disease levels in these thick forward crops are high with high levels of septoria on lower leaves. In light of the reduced efficacy of triazoles on this disease, more crops than ever will benefit from a T0 dose of chlorthalonil this season. The timing of this is likely to be around the third to fourth week of March.

Oilseed rape varies enormously from very large crops that are green and growing away to thin backward crops that are purple after the cold weather. Again nitrogen application timing will have to take into account canopy size if over thick crops are to be avoided.

Finally, I have found some grass leys and permanent pastures with thinning patches, the culprit being leatherjackets. Some of these will require treatment, considering how high the populations of crane fly where in September/ October this is to be expected. If production from grass is important ensure you inspect fields carefully!

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15 February 2007

Tod Hunnisett - Chichester Crop Consultancy, Hampshire
(Click to contact)

The main feature of this winter has been the mild weather that has left many crops with excessive growth, especially winter rape. We have had a spell of colder, more settled weather recently which has slowed things up a bit, but we seem to have gone back to the foul windy, mild and wet conditions that have dominated most of the last three months.

During the settled weather there was the opportunity to catch up on some herbicide spraying on crops that had missed it last autumn and some follow – up sprays on blackgrass. I considered it warm enough to go ahead with any outstanding Atlantis (mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium) recommendations and it was also a good chance to get Carbetamex (carbetamide) on any rape crops that needed it.

Some people managed to get some spring barley drilled in good conditions. Listening to the howling wind outside and noting the 30mm rain in my gauge (four days worth) I’m wondering, with hindsight, if it was such a good idea after all.

With crops as forward as they are, especially rape, the last thing people need to do is panic about nitrogen fertiliser. Only the most backward crops will need any early N and many crops will wait at least another month. Using a growth regulator fungicide for canopy management is going to be a key feature of my early spring recommendations. Something very noticeable this year is the importance of a well-structured subsoil for OSR rooting. The only backward crops I’ve got are those on heavy clay where there is a 30cm difference in growth between the subsoiled tramlines and the non-subsoiled land work (despite my advice to the contrary).

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View previous Crop Watch reports for the South:
Autumn/winter 2006
Spring/summer 2006
Autumn/winter 2005
Spring/summer 2005