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All Crop Watch news

Agronomists from all areas of the UK report weekly on their crop management from establishment to harvest. Keep up-to-date with their progress and the latest crop developments as the growing season progresses and key decisions on disease, pest and weed control have to be made.

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Variable spring barleys and weeds in potatoes

This week, our agronomists discuss the variability of spring barley crops, with some having patchy emergence and are struggling. And in Scotland, potato planting is nearing completion and the focus…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: BYDV strategy needs rethink and wheat T2 sprays

Barley yellow dwarf virus is becoming evident in cereals crops, resulting from the high aphid pressure being seen this spring.  Also this week, our agronomists discuss T2 fungicide options in…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Struggling beet and yellow rust in the South

Winter crops on light land and spring crops are suffering in the dry conditions. In the East, one agronomist described sugar beet as having a “torrid time” with some fields…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Protecting OSR yields and weevil damage in pulses

This week's key discussions include protecting yields in flowering OSR crops, fertiliser strategies for milling wheat and the severe pea and bean weevil attacks in the north.  See also: How…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: South lacks rain as disease bites in Scotland

Farmers across the UK are seeing huge contrasts this spring. Concerns are growing in the South and East, where some rain is needed, while in Scotland, it’s the opposite problem…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Stressed cereal crops and potato planting

Large variations in temperature, with warm days and cold nights, has slowed crop growth and care is needed not to check crops with fertiliser and fungicide applications. In the East,…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Flowering OSR sprays and septoria in wheat

This week is set to see the hottest weather of the year so far, with temperatures into the 20s for some parts of the UK. Oilseed rape is now in…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Spring drilling and T1 wheat fungicide strategies

A return to colder temperatures and unsettled weather are adding to challenges of managing forward cereals crops and staying on top of the disease pressure.  Our Crop Watch agronomists report…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Spring drilling progress as wheat T0 timing looms

Farmers Weekly‘s Crop Watch agronomists keep us up to date with spring fieldwork, after a spell of sunshine which has seen fertiliser applications and spring drilling progress well. See also: Advice…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Hopes for drier weather and wheat T0 strategies

Farmer and agronomists are hoping for a more settled spell of weather, as the continuing damp conditions are hampering fieldwork. Septoria and yellow rust are being found in wheat crops…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: T0s approach in barley and an OSR weed issue

The T0 timing is fast approaching in earlier drilled winter barleys in the South, which are showing some disease after a wet winter.  In Scotland, OSR weed control has not…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Rusts in cereals and chocolate spot in beans

In the first Crop Watch of 2026, there is plenty of disease being found in crops with yellow rust in wheat, brown rust in hybrid barley as well as high…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Cold spell to reset disease and insect pressure

Conditions have turned much wetter after storm Claudia late last week, leaving many fields too wet to travel on. Fortunately, crops have established well and are in a much better…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Frit fly damage and disease reported in cereals

The autumn weather has turned wetter in recent days, which has halted field operations in some areas.  Among the key pests and disease reported this week is frit fly damage…

ARABLE

Crop Watch: Still too warm for propyzamide in bonfire week

Aphids continue to be found in cereal crops as the mild conditions continue, while some forward crops of barley are showing signs of mildew. Bonfire night tends to be around…

CROP WATCH

Crop Watch: Bean drilling and weed control challenge

The continued mild autumn is bringing challenges such as managing excessive growth in cover crops and a rising pest and disease threat. Blackgrass is also starting to emerge in earlier-drilled…