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.
