Recently by James Boswell

Variation in oilseed rape growth area indexes is massive this spring. The cold winter has taken its toll and many crops look pale and backward. All crops have now received their first nitrogen dressing, but as soil temperatures struggle to 6-7C, response to this nutrient has been slow.

Levels of phoma are very variety dependant, with DK Cabernet and Osprey looking cleaner than others. Opportunities for controlling thistles, mayweed and cleavers will soon be over when rape starts responding to the warmer weather and stem extension begins - pigeons remain the bane of oilseed rape growers lives.
 
Spring beans are a popular spring break crop in the South-East, with Fuego remaining the most popular variety. Drilling is now in full swing and a pre-emergence spray with linuron, clomazone, imazamox and pendimethalin is a popular tank mix. Seed-beds are also good.

Field conditions are still very soggy and the drains are running well. Oilseed rape has much better establishment and growth than last year, but pigeons are starting to be a problem. It's too late for Kerb (propyzamide) so you need to move to carbetamex for weed control.

A lot of crops were not sprayed for phoma - consequently the disease is rife and needs controlling. Flusilazole applied at up to 0.5-0.6l/ha should give good control. Light leaf spot isn't really a problem in this area, but it is a disease that likes the cold so it needs looking out for.

First nitrogen applications are high up the agenda once the crop starts growing and most will be putting on nitrogen and sulphur. We'll be carrying out SMN testing before making the first nitrogen application and at stem extension we will look at plant growth regulator fungicide options. Metconazole is good where there is excessive growth.

Winter Barley is well established now and looking well. Crops have had a pre-emergence spray and now need a Pyrethroid for BYDV control in a tank mix with a residual top up based on CTU ( depending on variety).

Wet weather diseases such as Rhyncosporium and net Blotch remain low but Mildew is rife on upper leaves and will need controlling with Torch Extra especially on lighter ground where rooting and drought tolerence can be adversely affected.

Wheat establishment has been fantastic and after a very dry beginning has now recovered very well. Blackgrass control as always has been a top priority, with no stale seedbed possible and very dry conditions for pre-emergent sprays, pressure was very high at crop emergence.

Wheat was drilled deep into very dry seed-beds which has resulted in very slow germination. There has been no opportunity for a stale seedbed and grassweed pressure is very high.

Most fields have had a pre-emergence herbicide for grassweed control but due to very dry and warm soils, good control has been difficult.

Now soil conditions are warm and moist so Atlantis (mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron) and adjuvant, Biopower are being recommended. Slug levels are lower than last year but still need close monitoring.

The majority of oilseed rape crops are now looking stronger at four to six true leaves. Slug attack has remained low and nitrogen has been applied to seed-beds which has helped growth. Leaf minor can still be found on older leaves of early-drilled rape, but newer leaves and later drilled crops are fine. Because of the very dry weather Phoma has been difficult to find. But pressure is starting to increase and close monitoring is advised. Flushes of difficult blackgrass will need to be addressed soon when soils become wetter and cooler. Pigeons are present in other crops but yet to be a problem in rape.

Like the wheat, barley has been slow to emerge. With fewer actives available, grassweed control in barley is extremely difficult. The most reliable approach is to use pre-emergence or early post-emergence applications. This job must take priority as contact grassweed products are very limited.

Extremely dry conditions in the south-east during the second half of August have led to oilseed rape establishment difficulties.

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.

Extremely dry conditions in the south-east during the second half of August have led to oilseed rape establishment difficulties.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.