Gout fly eggs and aphids were the main potential problems detected by Agrovista agronomist Neil Buchanan in Richard Solari's early wheat sowings in Shropshire yesterday.
"We've been round all the wheats, and the early drillings just have their third leaf out," said Mr Buchanan. "There's also a huge flush of broad-leaved weeds after potatoes."
With limited time to deal with the hatching gout fly larvae at Heath House Farm, Beckbury before they caused damage his hope was that the sprayer would be out, forecast frost permitting, before the end of the week.
"We won't be doing anything pre-emergence," he said. "The plan is to use flufenacet and DFF, with a sniff of Lexus because cranesbill is a problem, plus Hallmark."
Potato harvest is complete with yields, as expected, less than Mr Solari had hoped. "We're still about 15% down."
But all first wheats and the winter barley have been drilled.
"And we're half-way through a block of 100 acres of Gerald oats."
The area was originally intended to be in oilseed rape.
"We've never grown oats here before, but I'm now pretty allergic to oilseed rape. So I'll let you know in nine months' time whether it was the right decision."
The postal strike hasn't helped in his quest for a new farm manager. "I've been telephone interviewing a few people."
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