The kind conditions have seen a start to maize drilling in Northern Ireland and in the South West, with rain bringing welcome moisture for the pre-emergence herbicides.

However, the rain is also making decision-making more complicated, with the rising risk of septoria and flushes of broad-leaved weeds to possibly contend with in the coming weeks.

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North

Stephen Bell – Fane Valley (Northern Ireland)

The continued spell of dry settled weather has been welcomed by all.

The ground is in great condition allowing for spring drilling and the timely management of winter cereals as they approach the key yield-building growth stages.

Winter barley crops have tillered well, with two-row varieties at growth stage 31/32.

The focus is now on maintaining green leaf area and reducing crop stress to keep ramularia at bay for as long as possible. 

T1s targeting of mainly rhynchosporium and mildew have been applied along with foliar nutrition and plant growth regulators – especially important in hybrid varieties with lower lodging scores. 

Hybrid six-row varieties are well ahead of two-row varieties and will need final growth regulation imminently before awns emerge.

There is considerable variation in wheat development across the country.

September-drilled crops are at/approaching T1, while final leaf three is just starting to become visible in later drilled crops after maize and potatoes.

Following a mild winter, active septoria is present and recent April showers will increase risk, splashing spores up through the crop onto yield-building leaves.

Attention should now focus on planning for a well-timed T1 application targeting the fully emerged final leaf three, built around products with strong protective and eradication properties.

Yellow rust

Walking through the untreated plots at our trials farm, yellow rust is present in the usual suspects such as Graham and in varieties where it would not be expected.

Vigilant crop walking is key with T1/T1.5 plans amended to include tebuconazole for knockback as required.

Oats are starting to look healthier again having recovered from the effects of large swings in day and night temperature.

Most crops have been sprayed to eradicate mildew, which has been prevalent this season.

Spring cereal drilling is almost complete, with many spring barley crops at the two- to three-leaf stage, the ideal timing for a growth regulator, manganese/zinc and phosphite to optimise tillering.

It is good to have spring beans drilled much earlier than last year with most crops now emerging.

Residual herbicide was applied pre-emergence during drier conditions. Time will tell how effective it has been.

A start has been made at planting maize, fodder beet and potatoes, where recent rain will provide welcome soil moisture for residual herbicide activity.

Let’s hope May brings warmer soils and crops keep momentum continuing to build yield on the good foundations created to date.

East

Harriet Bateman – Prime Agriculture/AICC (Norfolk, Cambs and Lincs)

April showers bring May flowers, and the forward outlook for most crops is looking more positive than it did a few days ago.

The winter cereals have greened up, the spring crops are nicely through the ground, and most potato growers have finished planting.

Easter saw most farms enjoying a well-earned break after having time to catch up on critical jobs.

The next key job on earlier-drilled winter wheat is the upcoming T1 fungicide spray.

It’s important to check for leaf three emergence, as it varies considerably between drilling date and variety.

It’s advisable to wait until leaf three is fully out on the main tiller, as targeting this leaf is essential for effective protection.

Some forward crops are progressing quickly and will require a top-up of plant growth regulators.

Additional broad-leaved weed control may also be carried out at this timing, but be patient and allow weeds to emerge after rainfall.

Be mindful of herbicide cut-off dates, especially those relating to hormone-based products.

The T2 fungicide and plant growth regulator timing is approaching on winter barley.

As with wheat, it’s important to assess the crop carefully and adjust the growth regulator accordingly.

Herbicide treatments for cleavers and broad-leaved weeds may also be applied at this time.

Please note the latest cut-off timing for the use of fluroxypyr and check product labels for guidance.

Sugar beet

Sugar beet growth stages are currently very variable.

On lighter land, crops are already beyond the two true leaf stage, and the first herbicide has either been applied or is due imminently.

However, on heavier land, some seeds are only just chitting while others have emerged and started budding.

It’s important to monitor the stage of the crop closely and adjust herbicide rates and active ingredients accordingly.

Grazing by pigeons and skylarks has been noted, and slug activity should be monitored, particularly on heavy soils.

Top-up nitrogen applications are also due soon, but it’s best to wait until the crop reaches at least the two true leaf stage to minimise the risk of scorch.

The mid-flowering fungicide timing on oilseed rape is approaching.

It’s also a good time to assess the need for insecticide applications – check thresholds for seed weevil activity.

Be mindful that certain azole and insecticide mixes are not approved for use on flowering crops, so always check product labels before applying.

Spring cereals should be checked for both grassweeds and broad-leaved weeds, though options for controlling grassweeds in spring oats are limited. 

Patience may be required for contact herbicides – wait for weeds to emerge following rainfall.

It may also be best to separate herbicide and T1 fungicide applications to avoid stress from heavy tank mixes.

Post-emergence herbicide options are also limited in peas and beans, but bentazone can be used before the seven-leaf pair stage for broad-leaved weed control.

To maximise the efficacy of bentazone, attention to detail is key: use high water volumes and spray in humid conditions when weeds are actively growing.

West

Ben Allard – Pearce Seeds (Dorset, Wilts and Somerset)

Since my last Crop Watch article, we’ve had some good spells of rainfall in the West.

The rain came just in the nick of time, as winter and spring cereals on the brash and sandy soils were beginning to show signs of stress from the lack of moisture.

Winter wheats are looking really good, with attention now turning to T1 applications, which will be due over the coming weeks depending on crop progression.

One clear observation we’ve made in the West is that, due to the cold mornings, often with ground frost and the dry spell, wheats haven’t been racing ahead like in previous years.

This is especially true for more exposed fields, which have been slower to move through their growth stages.

As a result, predicting T1 timings has become more difficult.

Septoria remains the main disease concern for my growers.

While the dry periods helped keep disease pressure low at the start of the season, now is not the time to reduce rates.

There are still plenty of active septoria spores present on the lower leaves, which will begin to splash up the plant with the recent  rainfall.

I’ll be sticking with robust rates and product choices this season, with isoflucypram (Iblon) alongside an azole and/or a strobilurin as my go to strategy for keeping septoria under control. 

Unsettled weather is forecasted for the coming weeks ahead. Starting the disease programme weak will only result in having to fire fight septoria off later in the season – a fight that is rarely won.

Oilseed rape

Oilseed rape has been a joy to grow this season, with the crop looking the best it has in years.

OSR is now in flower and attention has turned to mid-flower fungicide applications to target sclerotinia.

There are a wide range of actives available for use at this timing, including prothioconazole, tebuconazole and boscalid, all of which help to prevent and tackle this disease.

Spring cereals have all emerged well. From walking the spring cereal fields last week, it’s clear the recent rainfall has brought a flush of broad-leaved weeds, with fat hen, red dead-nettle, and cleavers among the usual suspects.

Recommendations will be going out to tackle these weeds sooner rather than later, as if you turn your back for a week or so and they’ll have doubled in size.

Maize seed-bed preparation and drilling is now in full swing. Many farmers are keen to make the most of the kind weather, and ground destined for maize is working up nicely, even on the heavier land. 

Most of my maize will be receiving a pre-emergence treatment of pendimethalin, to keep weed pressure under control and manageable.

I would advise not to panic. Don’t rush getting your maize into the ground, if others around you have.

We are still plenty early enough in the season, with still many cold mornings present.

Remember, maize needs to be sown into a warm, moist seed-bed, with the crop emerging quickly and going full throttle though its growth stages.

South

Neil Harper – Agrii (Kent)

The next few weeks are about setting up everything we can for our crops before Mother Nature plays her part.

Winter wheat growth stages are spread widely according to their drilling date.

Early drilled crops have leaf three fully out and are due their T1s.

The latest drilled ones only had their T0 a week ago.

Yellow rust has appeared in some varieties; we have seen a bit of it in Extase and Zyatt so far.

We need to be protective, especially on high-pressure varieties. 

Tebuconazole will give quick activity, but we will need to look at a strobilurin for longer-lasting activity.

However, with only two strobilurin applications allowed, we need to decide whether this is the right time to use one or wait.

Septoria is sitting at the bottom of canopies.

We are watching how this spreads up the plant following recent rain.

Crops are in a protective situation at the moment, and we are looking to keep it that way.

For T1s, we will change between older and newer chemistry depending on the variety’s susceptibility.

The sudden appearance of wetter weather also factors into nutrition and weed control.

Tissue tests have revealed lower-than-ideal manganese, molybdenum, boron and potassium because of the dry conditions.

About 200kg/ha of N has gone on in a dry time, which the plants can now fully access and will tip a nutrient imbalance further away from us.

It will need checking and addressing at T1 with foliar nutrition.

Challenging decisions

The most challenging decisions at the moment are with broad-leaved weeds.

We are only seeing a few weeds at cotyledon, which we can deal with using sulphonylurea herbicides at T1.

However, the rain could cause a big flush of weeds, forcing us to go back again and leaving question marks over residues for oilseed rape or catch and cover crops in the summer.

Do we pull the trigger now or wait and potentially let challenging weeds like cleavers get going?

Most spring barley is at two leaves.

Some establishment has been uneven because of the lack of moisture, but the rain has given them a bounce.

We are now making decisions on follow-ups for grassweed control and foliar nutrition.

Spring crops grow quickly, and their demand for nutrition is sharper, keeping us on our toes.

Sclerotinia pressure in oilseed rape has been very low, but we must be mindful that flowering fungicides are protectant only and make sensible decisions if we go into a wetter period.

Getting good coverage for OSR flowering sprays is critical because when flowers settle on the stem axials, we can see sclerotinia infections.

It could be the difference between 95% and 50% efficacy.

There’s a lot to contend with, but everything is heading in the right direction.

It is remarkable how the welcome arrival of rainfall can turn the season on its head.