South East: All crops now range early flowering to mid-flower (20 pods on main raceme). To date pod set looks encouraging and with a long flowering period looking likely as side racemes extend, hopefully yields will be respectable.
Sclerotinia: control being planned now for at risk crops.
Seed weevil: no sign yet.
Pollen beetle: no crops have been found anywhere near threshold - with a real risk of encouraging pyrethroid resistance among pollen beetle, this is not the year for routine inclusion of pyrethroids with mid-flower rape fungicides.

South West: Crops at least 10 days ahead of last year with petal fall in progress and two thirds of pods set on main raceme.
Light Leaf Spot: low levels have been seen although previously applied PGR triazoles should take care of this.
Sclerotinia: minimal risk in current dry conditions.
Seed weevil: can be found at around 1 weevil per 2 plants in some crops.

East: Crops now generally approaching full flower with the earliest at 10-20 pods set on main raceme. On low risk crops holding off decision on sclerotinia spray. Lioness still looking very spindly with discoloration on leaves in some fields.
Seed weevil: activity starting in warm weather. Will include an insecticide in some mid flowering sprays.

East Midlands: Crops at 10-20 pods formed on the whole and look well.
Sclerotinia: with weather predicted to break, high risk crops will receive sclerotinia control fungicides with low risk crops getting a broad spectrum fungicide treatment.
Seed weevil: numbers low considering the warm weather. Just odd one found on headlands.

West Midlands: Majority of crops at early pod set.
Sclerotinia: sprays being applied in anticipation of rain next week.
Seed Weevil: numbers low.

North East: Flowering has progressed very quickly. Most crops now have 10-15 pods set on the main stem and are in full flower. Later crops such as where pigeon damaged or have compacted seedbeds also into flower now but only just setting first pods.
Seed weevil: found above threshold levels in some crops so best to assume numbers will rise over next few days.
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 many years. Despite dry conditions will apply fungicide when 10 - 20 pods set on main stem.

South East
Crop development: Very warm weather at end of last week has pushed wheats into accelerated leaf emergence, so much so that September and early October sown crops range between GS 32 (Claire/Alchemy) right up to GS 37 (late September sown Xi19). All late September and early October sown crops of Einstein and Solstice now have leaf 2 up to 1/3 emerged - most of these crops were only at tip of leaf 3 emerging around 10-14 days ago. Late October/early November sown crops are now at GS 31 with leaf 3 starting to emerge. All crops of Soissons drilled in October/November are now at GS 32-39. With all forward crops having had a late T0 in first 2 weeks April, and with ongoing dry weather and low disease pressure we are delaying T1 applications until end-April/early May to prevent risk of T1-T2 gap being greater than 21-24 days.
Brown rust: still very widespread on lower leaves all September sown crops of Alchemy, Claire and Solstice in particular.
Septoria: lesions obvious on older leaves of all September/early October sown wheats - lesions can be found on leaf 4 of early sown (24 - 28 Sept.) Solstice and Xi19.
Eyespot: despite ongoing dry weather, moderate stem base browning with some penetrating lesions can still be found in earlier sown second wheats and Solstice/Robigus, 1st wheats in particular. Continuing dry and breezy weather has caused older leaves and leaf sheaths to slough off, taking some infection pressure away.
BYDV: noticeable patches of severe virus showing in many mid-late September sown wheat crops along high-risk coastal belt, despite use of Deter and follow-up pyrethroid in November.
Yellow rust:in few crops of Robigus that were not Baytan dressed - otherwise dressed crops are clean.
Ryegrass: significant level of Autumn residual programme survivors in some fields.

South West
Crop development: Very wide range of growth stages with early Einstein, Solstice and Alchemy having 10% of leaf 2 showing. General trend is around leaf 4 fully emerged to leaf 3 10% emerged. Field conditions: Dry as dust.
Brown rust: developing strongly on leaf 4 Alchemy. Where T1 already applied good control.
Mildew: levels still very low even on very susceptible varieties.
Septoria: levels not increasing with all spring emerged leaves totally clear.
Yellow rust: Virtually all Robigus crops now have some yellow rust where no T0 triazole was applied.
Eyespot: except on very early drillings on heavy soils eyespot development has come to a halt with no further stem penetration.
Slugs: are actively stripping upper leaves in known slug hotspots. Extreme vigilance with next crop. Snails: also very active.

East Midlands
Crop development: Forward crops at leaf 3 well emerged. Late crops have tip of leaf 3 showing and very late crops have leaf 4 full out. In some cases dry weather is holding stem growth back with leaf 3 appearing at leaf 4 height, and consequently a rethink on 2nd split of growth regulators. Many crops being regulated by the dry but they will grow rapidly when it rains meaning a late growth regulator may be needed. Very dry now with soils showing heavy cracking. Lighter soils drying out in top inch or so. In 26 days we have had 0.75 mm rain. Crops which had early N due to have first half of main split now but as nitrogen applied 2 weeks ago is still on the ground no one is in a rush to apply more. A lot of N not yet taken up. Crops which were forward and waited until early April for their first N have yet to take it up. Some crops on light land sowing N stress and paling. Manganese is going on many crops at T1 as uptake is low at the moment.
Mildew: levels very low.
Septoria: as before top leaves clear - not really Septoria weather in spite of dewy nights.
Yellow Rust: now being found on older leaves of Robigus although top leaves clear even where just chlorothalonoil at T0. T1 going on now or in one or two cases a split T1 in case weather turns as predicted.
Eyespot: In Solstice and Malacca at generally low levels. Many later crops clear, allowing a low cost T1.
Slugs: grazing top leaves but not damaging. A lot of slime trails about in spite of the dry.
Ryegrass: now showing in many cases as annoying stands rather than patches. Cleavers, apart from one or two crops many have low levels, which will be mopped up at T2.

West Midlands
Crop development: Range GS 21-33. Most forward crops of Einstein, Alchemy and Ambrosia have leaf 2 emerging and in the odd crop the flag leaf is just beginning to emerge. However, vast majority of crops at leaf 3 60% out. Later sown crops deceive being a leaf earlier than they appear at first glance. The dry weather continues and some fields on light land now loosing tillers. T1 sprays started Friday 13th with over 70% crops sprayed by end of this week. Due to dry conditions applying strob input at T1 on lighter land to see if greening effect can be of best benefit now.
Brown rust: very little present.
Mildew: almost non-existant.
Septoria: high levels on older leaves, especially Einstein.
Eyespot: low levels on Alchemy, Einstein, Robigus and Solstice. Early sown crops, especially where thick, maintaining enough moisture in the base of the crop to keep eyespot going.
Yellow rust: now very obvious in some crops of Robigus but not severe.
Bromes: patches, some dense, after min-tilled.

East
Crop development: Crops largely GS 31/32. Late drilled at GS 30. Few at GS 32/33. T1 going on now. T0 on late crops of Robigus for Y.Rust. Applied N uptake poor in dry conditions on lighter land. Field conditions: very dry and hard. No rain since 19th March in some areas of Norfolk. Essex reports that it is very dry, but plants are picking up N and most crops are respectably green. In middle of T1 sprays.
Brown rust: resurgence of disease on Solstice, Alchemy and Robigus mostly confined to lower leaves but creeping up on some crops.
Mildew: treatable levels and spreading up on Solstice.
Septoria: no increase - lower leaves on most varieties have the disease.
Yellow Rust: spreading upwards on Robigus. Many fields affected.
Eyespot: at low levels.

North East
Crop development: Forward crops now at GS32-33 and looking good. Most later sown 2nd and continuous also OK, but some where seedbed compacted or on very heavy soils which now have severe cracking due to current lack of rainfall, need some rain to prevent significant loss of tillers. Another 7 days of no rainfall and some fields are deeply cracked now and have crops showing drought stress. The major areas of clay soils though with good soil structure and well rooted crops are looking fine.
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. Robust T1 will be applied towards end of April.
Eyespot: some stem discolouration easy to find in most early sown crops. Some stem penetration reported in area and expect to apply some robust control at T1.
Yellow rust: a lot of crops infected but, despite appearance of dead areas on leaves it has been well controlled by the earlier cyproconazole application.

Leaf Emergence in Winter Wheat. Comparing this year's growth rate with last year.

Comparison of leaf development from crops sown at Andover trial site. The crops were sown on the 11 - 12 September, in autumn 05 and 06. See www.leaf-emergence.co.uk for more sites and varieties. This study is sponsored by Bayer Cropscience.

The graph shows the rate of leaf emergence over time comparing crops grown at Andover sown on 12 September in 05 and 06. In previous years the flag leaf has been fully emerged at the earliest by 16 May. However, this has meant that there has been a 30 day lag period between the T1 fungicide, timed to coincide with leaf 3 fully emerged, and T2 fungicide, timed to coincide with the flag leaf being fully emerged. In a year where disease pressure is high that is too long a gap between fungicides. This year we may be faced with the same problem (or a completely different one if they continue to develop at such speed with the projection giving flag fully emerged by 3 May). T1 fungicdes are being applied this week, a month before we would normally expect the flag leaf to be fully emerged. Keep an eye on the results as they come in on the leaf emergence study this year and be prepared to apply another fungicide between the normal T1 and T2 timings if growth is delayed.

South East: Most crops of Sequel/Pearl are now at GS32-33 with leaf 2 emerging, whilst Boost is at GS37-39 and not far off being in boot! T1 applications all completed and with current dry weather any disease resurgence seems unlikely.

South West: Winter barley is loosing tillers in the dry conditions and lighter land crops look very sparse. Occasional awns are emerging. 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: Leaf 2 appearing on many crops with flag not far away - far too early as it's a long way to harvest! Crops not excessively tall as dry weather holds stem growth back. In the West, light land barley's finally starting to green up and grow this week. Majority of T1 sprays applied but some going on this week because crop was late to grow away could be that only one fungicide application needed where the crop has shot and pushed flag leaf out. Odd crop with awns emerging. Crops remarkably free of disease on the whole. BYDV: patches starting to appear in early sown crops that had only one autumn aphicide.

East: Mainly at GS 31 but odd field showing flag leaf emerging. T1 going on. Generally, low levels of disease particularly rhynchosporium.

North East: Most crops at GS 32-33. A few have flag leaf emerging. Very dry now. Crops taking up N but some rainfall would help. Many crops looking drought stressed. Others on very fit fields had lots of organic manure will continue with PGR as flag leaf emerging upto and including awns just visible. Also expect to treat all crops of Pict. 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: Many crops at 2 leaf but being attacked by weevils so getting insecticide as they do not want holding back due to late emergence. Pre-em herbicide variable in the activity - where light soil have not done much at all. Spring beans now drilled - first crops emerging but immediately being attacked by weevils - so cyper being applied to all crops.

North East: Crops emerging to one true leaf.