Oilseed rape drilling is almost over and attentions are turning to weed control and wheat establishment, according to our Crop Watch agronomists.

Poppy, cranesbill and cleavers would need particular attention in emerging oilseed rape crops, said AICC agronomist Patrick Stephenson from Yorkshire. “Metazachlor will be a staple active with quinmerac and clomazone added according to the weed spectrum. Early-drilled rape has established well and is ready for the first graminicide.”

Further grass weed control will be linked to the degree of blackgrass or brome present, he added.

In Suffolk, flea beetle had been found in some crops, said Frontier agronomist Brian Ross. “Damage is not yet severe thanks to the seed-dressings. However, they are not repellents and some pricking will occur on cotyledons as pests try to feed. The trick is to be ready to go in with a pyrethroid spray if this pricking turns into shot-holing.”

Pre-emergence herbicide applications on oilseed rape had been delayed to early post emergence in many cases, he said. “This should include a graminicide to tackle blackgrass which is emerging rapidly alongside volunteer barley.”

Some sugar beet crops that were sprayed in mid-July were being considered for a repeat spray, he added.

Slug pressure had been low in Buckinghamshire, but ProCam agronomist Nick Brown was starting to see increased activity. “Very few of my rape crops had received a dose of slug pellets, but in the last couple of days I have seen some evidence of slug activity and have had to pellet in places.

“Mindful of the 210g/ha metaldehyde limit before the end of December, I’m using a 1.5% formulation pellet which works just as well and would allow three applications between now and the year end.”

Blackgrass emergence in stale seed-beds had been good thanks to the wet weather, he noted. “I can’t remember the last time I have been able to take out a carpet of blackgrass with glyphosate on cultivated ground coming out of wheat and going into oilseed rape.”

Oilseed rape drilling was progressing well in Shropshire and wheat drilling was scheduled this week, said AICC agronomist Bryce Rham. “Grafton going in first followed by Humber. Humber yields have been good over here and marginally better than Grafton, so we are trying it for another year.”

Humber was going in at 140 seeds/sq m, which equated to 100-110 kg/ha dependant upon thousand grain weight, he said. “But Grafton is being planted at a slightly higher rate due to its shy tillering and I doubt that this variety will ever fall over.”

Click below to read the full reports:

Crop Watch North – Patrick Stephenson
Crop Watch East – Brian Ross
Crop Watch South – Nick Brown
Crop Watch West – Bryce Rham