Direct-drilled and Autocast crops that went into early into moisture have reached the expanded cotyledon stage and are growing away well. Slug damage is minimal though vigilance and baiting are recommended. Cabbage stem flea beetle damage is at low levels.
Crops drilled recently into drier seed-beds are more variable and in some cases sowing is being held back until rain arrives. This is delaying applications of residual herbicides until the crop has reached its first true leaf.
With record wheat yields last year the most popular varieties seem to be Cordiale and Solstice, although we're still searching for the ideal variety to fulfil the south-east's Group 3 demand.
Early wheat drillings are set to start around the second week of September.
With variable blackgrass control last year and pressure beginning to show on Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron), using a robust pre-emergence treatment is becoming increasingly important.
Oilseed rape stubbles should be sprayed off with glyphosate before volunteer plants become too large, harbouring slugs and making good stubble management difficult.
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