GROWERS MUST act now to reduce the risk of lodging in forward wheat crops, experts have warned.

Many crops in southern parts of the UK are now at or approaching growth stage 31, while those further north are also developing well, latest Crop Watch reports show.

As some early sown crops reach leaf three emergence, development is well ahead of last year, said United Agri Products‘ Brin Hughes.

A mild winter, higher soil nitrogen and increased seed rates for many this season have all contributed to well advanced first wheats across the southern half of the UK, he said.

“Crops are too far forward and in danger of running out of control. Growers will now have a difficult job keeping them standing,” he warned.

T1 is the key timing for growth regulator treatments and growers should apply robust rates of chlormequat and/ or Meteor (chlormequat chloride + choline choride + imazaquin), he said.

Monitor the progress of crops across the UK via weekly reports (updated every Tuesday) directly from the experts in FWi‘s exclusive Crop Watch section.