As we approach mid-June, spraying pod stick on oilseed rape crops, the yellow rust plague in the North and weed control in maize are some of the topics covered in this week’s Crop Watch.

See also: Why leafhoppers are an emerging threat to potatoes

West

Antony Wade, Wade Agronomy (Herefordshire/Shropshire)

Often in the autumn, when trying to get winter cereals established, being situated in the “wet” West of England does not feel like an advantage for arable production, but in one of the driest springs for many years, it has definitely been advantageous this year.

About 20mm of rainfall in May and an already similar amount only a week into June means my region is in a better position than those of colleagues not far south or north.

There are reports of maize crops struggling to emerge due to the dry conditions, and both winter and spring cereals showing drought stress symptoms.

The rainfall in May was a bit variable across my farms, so on lighter land, and in crops after potatoes where soil structure and therefore rooting was compromised, patches have developed with leaf curling from lack of water availability just before flag leaf.

However, while I have some patchy wheat crops due to establishment issues, I also have some crops that look to have good potential.

Septoria that we usually struggle to control has increased, but at significantly lower levels than we would normally expect.

While other regions are struggling to keep on top of yellow rust with the breakdown in resistance in some varieties such as Bamford/Champion, in my region I have some crops of those varieties which look particularly good with no rust problems so far.

With low disease levels, my T2 applications were not rushed to try to hit the flag leaf as soon as it was emerging, but rather to keep the gap from T1, so some ears were emerging.

As a result, with some coverage on ears I am not rushing with my T3 recommendations although we have returned to more typical showery conditions.

Fusarium risk

I still think fusarium risk is lower and with at best moderate control, I am targeting my T3 for prolonging rust and septoria protection to try to keep the upper leaves green for as long as possible to fill some large ears that have emerged.

Many of my winter oat crops look to have really good potential as long as they keep standing. Some have big biomass despite a two-split plant growth regulator strategy based on Canopy (mepiquat + prohexadione).

Recently they have had their second fungicide at panicles half emerged to protect against late crown rust which is absent so far.

Also I have included biostimulant 3ALOT6P to try to help with the crucial bushel weight needed for milling in these high potential crops.

Spring oats and barley, however, are generally the opposite due to lack of rainfall, with low biomass, short crops and minuscule flag leaves, so prospects for these are probably on the low side.

Disease levels are currently low, but with more stress symptoms apparent, especially on the barley.

South

Oli Pilbeam, CCC and CLM (Kent and Sussex)

Despite crops improving dramatically over the past month, I still can’t see this year being a barn-buster in terms of yields, but we have had good amounts of sunlight to date, plus rain at flowering and at early grain fill.

Let’s hope quality makes up for the projected lack of quantity.

T2s went on wheat in good time between 10 May and 20 May, with lots of settled weather, so we were able to wait for the perfect timing.

The programmes were based around fenpicoxamid or benzovindiflupyr, but as septoria and brown rust levels were low we reduced the rates to keep costs down.

Given the weather we’ve had, I’m pleased we didn’t opt for a more “cheap and cheerful” option, as that would probably have necessitated a stronger, early T3.

T3 applications have been a little more tricky, dodging showers and wind, but they have been going on in small weather windows.

We grow a lot of milling wheat, so the T3 consists of a tebuconazole and/or azoxystrobin to prevent the late rally of yellow rust taking hold, and prothioconazole protecting against fusarium while topping-up septoria control.

Milling wheat

Attention now turns to Nufol applications, with a range between 20kg and 40kg/N/ha on milling crops to boost protein nitrogen.

We are doing our final assessment on yield potential and will look to pull rates down on crops with lower yield potential.

Mid-May saw us in spring barley and oats with a T2. A low rate of Miravis (pydiflumetofen) on the barley will, hopefully, put paid to any ramularia that appears.

Both crops certainly look to have some very good potential – which amazes me, considering the low amount of rainfall since planting. Similarly with our canary seed and pea crops.

Meanwhile, new-season fertiliser prices have been released. The traditional merchant selling tactics continue: “Order now, within the next two hours, otherwise you may never see any again…ever.”

Thankfully, my independent buying group – Crop Advisors – is good at seeing through the smoke and mirrors while doing a cracking job on price negotiation and securing our requirements without panic.

Initial prices released make for some poor gross margins with feed wheat at £170/t.

As much of a concern is cashflow, and this year seems more challenging than most as we walk the overdraft tightrope. I can see the use of flexible payment plans being more attractive this year.

North

Patrick Stephenson, AICC (Yorkshire)

Most areas have now had a meaningful amount of rain. It will remain to be seen if this is “golden rain”, but it certainly will be sufficient to ensure a harvest.

Depending on the timing of the flag leaf spray, there has been enough rain to justify a T3. Last year in the South of England they battled with brown rust.

This year we have had to deal with a plague of yellow rust.

Spray misses demonstrate the advantages of a well-timed spray programme. It is with this ongoing challenge that our T3 will be targeting rust control.

Catching fusarium is a pipedream, as timing is critical. Added to this, the lead product for T3 is likely to be tebuconazole, which will still have some effect on the fusarium.

It would be easy for me to say my spray programmes had been brilliant. However, disease pressure has been very low, except for yellow rust.

It is easy to see wheat crops with five clean leaves, and I am sure we are going to see many growers claiming superb control for only a minimum spend.

Although there have been reports of orange blossom midge, the strong winds and showers will have limited the opportunities for this pest.

The gate will now be closed on the wheat crops and in calendar terms we are about 7-10 days earlier than an “average” season.

Winter barley crops are now ripening nicely. All year it has been a mixed love affair, swinging from looking good to looking awful.

Fortunately, they appear to be finishing on the nice end of the spectrum, so fingers crossed.

Spring barley is the real curate’s egg, with early drilled crops looking good and late ones very thin.

Despite this, all have raced through the growth stages and with ears now emerged there will be some awn sprays, but this will not be standard.

OSR desiccation

Oilseed rape crops are now well on the way to desiccation, and the main decision to make is the inclusion of a pod sealant product.

Sadly, doing trials on pod sealants is fraught with difficulty, as to show they work you must deliberately delay harvest.

This is a decision for each farmer and their attitude to risk. With prices at the current high, many will err on the side of caution and use them.

Winter beans are now setting pods nicely and will be due a second chocolate spot spray.

Disease pressure has remained low, and this will tilt me towards another azoxystrobilurin/tebuconazole mix.

Spring beans unfortunately are not the same picture, with the dry weather leading to lower populations and stunted crops.

The first fungicide will be due shortly, and a cost-effective option will be the key.

No two years are the same, but this has been different, leading to more questions than answers. But will we learn from it?

East

Rory Kissock, Farmacy (Essex, Herts, Cambs and Suffolk)

The rain in late May and the scattered showers last week have slightly restored some optimism in the potential of this year’s harvest, with the region certainly looking much better for it.

Final T3 fungicide applications, where required, have been completed.

These have been focused around tebuconazole, prothioconazole and azoxystrobin, to cover fusarium and top up yellow and brown rust protection.

With the crops having their feet in some moisture now, this will help with the all-important grain fill, and encourage take-up of final nitrogen applications to boost milling quality. 

Oilseed rape has now finished flowering. Hard work in the spring, chasing incredibly determined pigeons, has paid dividends and there are some very handsome looking crops about.

The canopies of these crops are deep and the number of pods setting is encouraging.

Pod sealant applications, if utilised, want to be applied before the pre-harvest desiccant while the crop is still malleable, to minimise crop damage.

Peas

Pea crops across the region have hit the ground running and the tendrils are now well knitted together.

Flowering has started and some earlier crops have set their first pods. The first fungicide applications are applied or will be very soon.

Benzovindiflupyr and prothioconazole provide very good protection from disease and this will be in a programme with an azole and a strobilurin.

Nutrition in peas is crucial, with manganese and magnesium both featuring in each fungicide application.

Aphids can be found relatively easily and should be treated accordingly – growers should consider the best time of day for application of insecticides to flowering crops, to minimise damage to beneficials.

Monitoring of pea moth traps will indicate if a different mode of action is required.

Winter beans will be receiving their second fungicide and nutrition application, which will include much the same chemistry as the pea crops.

Black bean aphid can be found on headlands, but I am yet to see these stray into the middle of fields and pose too much of a threat, Ongoing monitoring of these will be necessary.

My final crop to go in the ground for harvest 2025 is pumpkins, which have been planted as modules this year – a change from previous years where seeds were drilled.

Weed control in pumpkins is challenging where fat hen is present, and by utilising modules we have been able to delay drilling and prolong the stale seed-bed.