South: Warm weather makes for rapid growth

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.