An exceptionally dry March along with some cool temperatures has limited crop growth. At least the dry conditions have allowed a large area of cereals to have been rolled where frost lift occurred.
Winter wheat crops are now at, or close to, the T0 timing. Yellow rust is evident in susceptible varieties such as Oakley so the inclusion of a triazole at T0 is a must. Crops are generally quite open due to lack of tillering so ear counts could be on the lower side of the optimum at harvest.
This is reducing the need for as much plant growth regulator at the T0 timing, but extra spend may be necessary to combat spring emerging weeds such as charlock, knotgrass and bindweed due to lack of crop competition.
We had 6mm of rain last week and another 7mm two weeks before that. This has helped green up crops, particularly the winter barley which was beginning to look very yellow.
Nitrogen has been applied to winter barley and oilseed rape, which should start to grow rapidly now that temperatures are rising.
Winter wheat crops are carrying a lot of septoria on the lower leaves and Claire and Solstice have mildew present. As the T0 fungicide timing approaches at GS30, consider applying a triazole fungicide with a broad-spectrum activity.
Winter barley crops are at GS28 -30 and in about 10 days time should be approaching GS31 when the T1 fungicide will need to be applied. A fungicide such as Jaunt, which is based on prothioconazole + fluoxastrobin + trifloxystrobin would be a good choice.
March really did go out like a lion with some very strong winds. But there is still a distinct lack of rainfall, particularly across the eastern side of the country, and I have only recorded 3mm for the whole month.
On a visit to Lancashire last week, when the wind was at its peak, I saw soil being blown around in great dust clouds, no doubt a huge worry for growers of vulnerable vegetable crops.
However, soil conditions have been ideal for potato planting, which has continued in all areas. Indeed, some of my clients are close to finishing. The early spring has come with some issues particularly regarding seed supply, with some growers still waiting for deliveries.
I often have discussions with my clients about getting seed in early
(pre-Christmas) and managing it so that they can get the best out of it,
but the problem always comes back to having suitable storage,
especially CIPC free storage.
The significant rainfall forecast last week did not happen. Only 5mm arrived and crops are still struggling to pick up recently-applied nitrogen. Where urea was used, I am becoming increasingly concerned that a significant proportion may have volatilised.
Due to the tender nature of crops, we are continuing with applications of trace elements. I have seen manganese and magnesium deficiencies where I have not seen them before, and have treated accordingly.
Over the next few days, barley crops will be receiving a T1 fungicide application as they approach GS30. Most treatments will be prothioconazole/strobilurin-based. On some of the high potential crops, programmes will be based on the new SDHI chemistry. Product choice will depend on the disease rating of the variety.
Some wheat crops on fertile, sheltered sites are developing rapidly, with leaf three just starting to emerge on the main tillers. However, many crops have been held back by the cold nights and dry conditions and development has been slow.
Given that I have not found yellow rust, we have been able to follow a conventional GS30-31 timing for T0 fungicides. Hopefully this will mean the interval between T0 and T1 is three weeks or fewer.
The T1 will be targeted at 75% emergence of leaf three, but the weather and workload will ultimately dictate when it is applied.
In some fields there has been a spring germination of blackgrass, which is now at the one-to-two leaf stage. Where Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) has already been applied there is nothing we can do, which is rather frustrating.
