Crops remain variable, it is important to check actual growth stage as some crops are further developed than their growth suggests.

Most winter wheat crops (except the very backward) have received the T1 fungicide mix during the emergence of final leaf 3.  Decisions regarding the timing of fungicides have been problematic but I have decided to target the emerging leaf 3 (T1) and the flag (T2). I believe this will also fit well with timing intervals between sprays (ideally three weeks); although in terms of calendar date these applications will be later than usual. 

In the wheat crop disease levels have been low. However, this could change rapidly following warmer and more showery weather especially as wheats respond to recent high doses of nitrogen and growth is rapid.  CropMonitor has recently reported that yellow rust risk is moderate and although symptoms are low these could increase quickly.

On crops with lower yield potential there may be scope to reduce fungicide spend, but remember good disease control on the flag leaf will be very important to maximise its potential.

A change to moist conditions will also improve the efficacy of “fops and dims” for grass weed control in spring crops and sulphonyl ureas for brassica weeds and poppies in cereals.

Rapeseed crops have really shown their card, it is now strikingly obvious which crops will yield and which will produce very little. This season has clearly demonstrated that the bigger the plants going into winter the more ability they have to fight back in the spring.  More backward crops have been unable to grow away from continued pigeon damage. 

Pollen beetle remain a threat on backwards crops and now numbers are increasing crops should be monitored carefully. More forward crops may need a spray for sclerotinia control soon. Accurate programming for sclerotinia control will depend on the interaction between temperature and rainfall at flowering.  

Disease in winter barley is low and many crops are below par. Be aware that backwards crops will move through their growth stages quickly. The second fungicide timing (T2) should be aimed at the “paint brush” stage (awns emerging) with a gap of less than four weeks between the first and second spray.  There are many broad spectrum T2 fungicide options based on a strobilurin + triazole mix.

Most beans (spring & winter) are short but look surprisingly well, however, pea and bean weevil remain active. On winter crops the first fungicide should be applied soon, usually at early flowering and the first signs of disease; this will be based on cyproconazole + chlorothalonil.  Possibly with the addition of a cost effective triazole such as tebuconazole or strobilurin for rust control or when disease pressure is high.