RHYNCHOSPORIUM is now widespread in barley crops throughout Scotland, according to latest field reports from the Scottish Agricultural College.

After a relatively slow start due to cold weather in February, it is now the most common barley disease in Scotland, with infection levels up to 5% in many crops, said the SAC‘s Simon Oxley.

With the majority of crops now at the first node stage (growth stage 31), an effective stem extension fungicide will be key to managing the disease, he said.

“Strobilurins have had a bad press with resistance issues recently, but they are still working well against rhynchosporium so they will make a good option at GS 31-32.”

The next main timing for fungicide applications will be just before early ear emergence, he added.

“Rhynchosporium can still cause damage, but these later epidemics tend to be at a lower level, unless May is a wet, miserable month.”

Keep track of the latest disease developments from around the country with FWi‘s weekly Crop Watch reports.