South East: Most crops now flowering and pod set under way, but occasional late sown or backward crops at yellow bud. Bulk of crops now beginning to fill-in & normalise physiological appearance as they get hold of applied nitrogen. A few crops on wetter and poorly drained soils which were at field capacity throughout February, still looking poor. Sclerotinia: control being planned now for at risk crops. Pollen beetle: varying from very low numbers to not quite at threshold.

South West: Remarkable growth in the last week with a significant number of crops at 50% pods set on main raceme. Very few blind pod sites at this stage suggesting minimal pollen beetle damage. Light Leaf Spot: low levels have been seen although previously applied PGR triazoles should take care of this. Seed weevil: can be found at around 1 weevil per 2 plants in some crops. Mealy cabbage aphid: levels are very high for so early in the season.

East: Still large differences in plant height within a field. Castille most forward approaching full flower, a few pods set on most forward plants. Planning flowering sprays for Sclerotinia control currently risk is diminishing. Will review need to spray next week taking into account weather forecast especially for rainfall. Light Leaf Spot: in the East foci stopped spreading in dry conditions, not perceived to be a problem. Pollen beetle: only odd backward crop or area merited treatment.

East Midlands: All crops now well into flowering, generally very few tall crops as again dry weather has restricted uptake of N. Generally crops look well with only odd crop requiring magnesium. Boron has been applied where likely to be low or where club root patches. Sclerotinia: risk still deemed low but rain forecast for end of next week will raise risk. Will evaluate early next week re spraying high risk crops. Anticipate seed weevil and pod midge problems.

West Midlands: Majority of crops showing rapid stem extension, crops now coming into flower. 90% now flowering with some at early pod set. Due to rapid growth clients applying solids having to go this week. Liquids also being applied this week. Hopefully by end of the week all fertiliser will have been applied, shortages of liquid fertiliser are hampering completion of this job, hopefully not to much scorch will occur! Pollen beetle: some beetles in crops which are flowering but well below threshold levels at present. in crops which are flowering but well below threshold levels at present. Mealy cabbage aphid: found in one crop will need monitoring.

North East: Crops flowered very quickly over Easter weekend and most crops now overall yellow. Some have patches where late to flower and a few crops still only at yellow bud stage. Final N applications applied last week just before crops tall enough to spoil spreading pattern. Pollen beetle: significant seen in a few crops but as well in flower no treatment advised. Light Leaf Spot: some signs of new infection. Sclerotinia: this is a high-risk area due to short rotation and very high acreage of rape over may years. Despite dry conditions will apply fungicide when 10 - 20 pods set on main stem, say in 10 - 14 days.

South East: Still at GS31-32, although occasional forward crop of Einstein and Solstice with leaf 3 fully out, slowed up by cold dry nights. Some fields showing yellow tipping due to large diurnal temperatures. Brown rust: still very widespread on lower leaves all September sown crops of Alchemy, Claire and Solstice in particular. Mildew: still very hard to find any active pustules. Septoria: lesions obvious on older leaves of all September/early October sown wheats - lesions can be found on leaf 5 of early sown Solstice. Eyespot: drying up now.

South West: Early sown crops now at GS 32 with leaf 3 at 10% emerged on September sowings of Alchemy and early October Einstein. The top few millimetres of most soils are very dry however below this layer moisture is still more than adequate. Until a fuller canopy develops and starts extracting water vigorously soil below this layer will not dry much more. Think how damp setaside pulls up even after a dry summer. Wheat crops, with roots below this layer, are not currently suffering from moisture stress. Advantage has been taken of the dry period to roll some very puffy seedbeds. Wheat has responded well to this as root soil contact has been greatly improved. Brown rust: none seen. Mildew: levels still very low even on very susceptible varieties. Septoria: older overwintered leaves heavily infected on most varieties. No infection seen on leaf 4 or 5. Eyespot: lesions have not penetrated much further into stem walls. Yellow rust: no further outbreaks.

East Midlands: Forward crops at leaf 3 just emerging to 25% out - odd areas in field with leaf 3, 50% out. Later crops at 4th leaf fully emerged. Forward crops will have leaf 3 fully out next week. Soils very dry and heavier soils now with cracks to about 4". Drying very hard on top now. N applied recently still showing on soil surface as powder where granules have broken down. Night dews breaking granules down but not enough moisture to penetrate soil much. When it does rain expect quick uptake of N. Mildew: levels very low with little or none seen as drying weather keeps it under control. Septoria: can be found on leaf 5 where it has been out a long time - 4 and any emerging 3 clear. Yellow Rust: traces on Robigus. Now seen on later Robigus which has not had T0. Eyespot: variable with some crops where it is absent, but up to 10% in some forward crops of Einstein and Solstice. Later Solstice clear or very low levels. Some Richmond badly affected. Reports of high levels in Hereward in Warks. Aphids: warmer weather has brought them out and can be found on plants - now generally too late for any BYDV damage unless on a very late drilled crop or backward crop - pointer to spring barley risk though.

West Midlands: Range GS 21-32. Most forward crops of Einstein, Alchemy and Ambrosia have leaf 2 emerging in some instances, vast majority of crops at leaf 3 emerging to 1/3rd out. Late sown wheats struggling to get away. Wheats on light land suffering from the dry conditions and are loosing tillers fast. Crops are showing varied growth in these fields highlighting areas of compaction or slumped soils as a result of heavy rains earlier in the year. Light land wheat not taking up nitrogen some crops now beginning to look thin and short of nitrogen, so much for delaying N! Brown rust: very little present. Mildew: visible on Einstein, Solstice and Gladiator, but no signs of any mildew on Alchemy, even in lush forward crops. Septoria: high levels on older leaves, especially Einstein. Eyespot: low levels on Alchemy, Einstein, Robigus and Solstice. Take-all: low levels showing on roots of some first wheats. Aphids: finding low levels, some small colonies, in unsprayed Deter treated crops, or where treated in late October only, first signs of BYDV patches seen on Alchemy with Deter dressing that did not have follow up aphicide. To early to say how much damage has been caused. Cleavers: are noticeably less than usual but watch out for late germinators once it rains.

East: Mid September drilled Alchemy, Robigus and Solstice at GS 32 with late October drilled Gladiator at GS 29/30. No rain for a month, soil surface like concrete with cracking all caused by 'final straw' February rain and subsequent dry. Earlier N doses being picked up despite dry and crops generally quite green but large number of crops showing effects of earlier boggy conditions with reduced tillering. Disease levels much reduced. Brown rust: disappeared. Mildew: trace on Solstice and Claire only. Septoria: no increase - lower leaves on most varieties have the disease. Yellow Rust: Essex: trace in some Robigus crops with very occasional Foci. Norfolk: sight increase over last week on Robigus. Eyespot: Essex: Generally dry weather has halted the 'march' of the disease. Little penetrating lesions. Will advent of wetter weather increase risk?

North East: Week before had cold days and nights, which slowed crop development. It is much warmer now and generally crops are growing well again with some early sown close to GS 32. Only limitation is long dry spell, which is slowing N uptake and in some seedbeds also restricting root development. Most first wheats showing loss of colour due to N deficiency. Brown rust: lower level now, but can find on susceptible varieties such as Alchemy. Mildew: as with Brown rust it has mostly disappeared now. Septoria: present in all crops with all susceptible varieties showing significant level, but not any worse over last 7 days. Eyespot: some stem discolouration easy to find in most early sown crops. Some stem penetration reported in area. Yellow rust: there is a big acreage of Robigus as first wheats after rape in this area, only seen traces in a few crops so far. Some areas of Brome grass seen this week, and also seen wild oats in some fields.

South East: Earliest sown crops now at GS30-31 with leaf 3 just emerging (Boost/Sequel), and remainder crops around GS 30. Brown rust: widespread, pustules can be found in all crops of Sequel/Boost in particular. Mildew: mostly browned pustules can be found on lower leaves Sequel/Pearl. Rhynchosporium: becoming less noticeable now.

South West: Rapid growth has occurred and as usual in early April barley has overtaken wheat in the growth stage stakes. T1 fungicides have been applied to most crops. Some of the most forward crops are now showing severe abiotic spotting often linked with manganese deficiency (see photo). Rhynchosporium: has not progressed significantly in the dry conditions. Brown rust: low levels at stem base. Mildew: at very low level in most varieties.

Midlands: GS 29-32 but some crops still showing signs of stress especially on light land although finally starting to green up and grow this week. Crops taking a while to respond to first nitrogen applications. Rhynchosporium: all but dried up. Mildew: no new pustules, some signs on Saffron on light land. Net blotch: New growth remains clean - hopefully fungicides to go on next week if growth occurs. BYDV: patches starting to appear in early sown crops that had only one autumn aphicide.

East: GS 30 with some at GS 31 which will get T1 shortly. Disease levels, particularly rhynchosporium lower than normal.

North East: Most crops at GS 31. Very dry now. Crops taking up N but some rainfall would help. Mildew: much lower level now following long dry spell and appearance of new growth. Net blotch: significant level in Carat and Pict, but Saffron only very low level.

South West: Early February sowings emerging vigorously and evenly. Sitona weevil notching now showing up.

Midlands: Spring beans about to emerge but some concern where cloddy soils drying out with late drilled crops. A dry June and July could spell disaster for these late drilled crops, which on heavier wet soils were impossible to drill until mid March. First signs of weevil damage.

North East: Crops germinated now, and should emerge in 7 - 10 days.