Ears emerging in forward crops (image courtesy Farming Online).

South East: A combination of warmer days and plenty of sunshine have encouraged accelerated growth, with many autumn sown wheat crops now almost caught up in terms of growth stage, with flag-leaves typically fully emerged and ears up to 2/3 emerged in some crops. In particular, September and early October sown Gallant, Cordiale and Solstice typically have ears 1/3 - 2/3 emerged on main shoots. Other varieties sown before the end of October range between GS37-39 with flag leaves fully emerged on main shoots and ears splitting the boot. Later autumn sown crops are around GS37-39. Crops sown in January/February are typically between GS31-32 with tip of leaf 2 emerging on main shoots. Soils beginning to rapidly dry out at surface, some varieties/patches within fields are showing leaf curling on warmer afternoons, some rain next week would be useful otherwise areas of poor rooting will begin to suffer badly.

Septoria tritici: some relatively high levels of infection are evident on leaf 5 and below in September sown wheats. Some infection has also been noted on the tip of Leaf 2 in October sown Gallant and Solstice - otherwise most wheats still have virtually no infection on the top four leaves.

Yellow Rust: none seen.

Brown Rust: none seen.

Mildew: controlled by T2 fungicides.

Eyespot: stem based browning and some eyespot lesions now showing.

Weed control: blackgrass control showing mixed results.

Eastern Counties: Majority of wheat crops are booting with the ears emerging on the more forward crops. T2 fungicides are now on most crops.

Septoria tritici: trace levels on lower leaves.

Yellow Rust: none seen.

Brown Rust: none seen.

Mildew: trace levels.

Eyespot: stem browning and eyespot more visible now.

Weed control: there is a lot of bindweed, knotgrass, fat hen and charlock coming through late.

East Midlands: Most crops have the flag leaf emerged.

Septoria tritici: top five leaves continue to remain fairly clean with the top four leaves very clean.

Yellow Rust: no new sightings.

Brown Rust: none seen.

Mildew: very low levels mainly at stem base.

Eyespot: levels are low with many stems clean.

Weed control: knotgrass and fat hen continue to dominate thin and bare areas. Wild oats now becoming more prominent.

West Midlands: September sown wheat crops now pushing ears out rapidly, Grafton in to sprint mode and overtaking the other varieties. Early October sown crops are now booting and later sown but pre Christmas wheats are all at flag leaf emerged. Late winter sowings have now got leaf 2 fully out with the flag just beginning to show. Nothing in flower yet.

Septoria tritici: still confined to the bottom of the crop. Later sown crops are clean to the ground.

Yellow Rust: no fresh sightings.

Brown Rust: none seen.

Mildew: has appeared in the bottom of quite a few crops over the last fortnight.

Fusarium/Eyespot: only at low levels.

Weed control: late flush of wild oats.

North East: Most winter wheat now at GS39-55. Booting and swelling in many crops. Crops remain shorter than usual and less PGRs have been needed than commonly used. There is a wide variation in growth stages amongst plant tillers and main stem observed in some crops. Late winter wheat sown up to 5th March have vernalized OK.

Septoria tritici: active on lower leaves of some varieties but still not moving up the crop.

Yellow Rust: none seen.

Brown Rust: none seen.

Mildew: none seen.

Orange blossom midge: odd ones caught in pheromone traps.

Weed control: warmer weather bringing out early spring weeds.

Seed weevil (image courtesy Farming Online)

South East: Around 50% of crops are now at late flower/pod set stage, with remaining crops still between early flowering and mid-flowering. Finally we are nearing the stage where the next operation will be desiccation.

Sclerotinia: conditions remain ideal for apothecia emergence and spore release.

Pollen Beetle: panic over now that most crops are flowering.

Seed Weevil: only low levels now.

Eastern Counties: Some of the earliest crops have now lost nearly all their flowers while the pigeon damaged ones are now in full flower.

Sclerotinia: first flowering fungicide spray currently being applied to backward crops now in full flower.

Seed Weevil: very few.

Weed control: thin poorly competitive crops are going to allow some weed problems to show through later. On light land some poppies will come through in thin crops.

East Midlands: All crops still in full flower. Some later patches just starting to flower.

Sclerotinia: crops treated.

Seed Weevil: no reports of major weevil numbers.

Weed control: reports of cleavers starting to recover after herbicides in thin areas where there is no crop competition, same with mayweed.

West Midlands: Crops range from mid flowering to petal fall with some of the earlier crops now turning predominantly green again. However, there are plants in most crops that still range from green buds on lower racemes and pod set on upper racemes.

Sclerotinia: petal fall starting and petals sticking to crop.

Pollen Beetle: still hard to find.

Seed Weevil: numbers remain very low.

North East: Crops now range from mid to late flowering. Crops are shorter this year especially in backward plantings.

Pollen Beetle: odd beetle seen in crops at green bud, but levels much lower than previous years.

Seed Weevil: none seen.

South East: Crops are now generally at ears emerged, but still around 7-10 days behind normal. All crops remain short, even Volume, consequently very few have had late PGRs applied. T2 applications have all been completed and disease levels remain very low. No further action until the combine arrives!

Eastern Counties: Crops are fully out in ear now.

East Midlands: Awns emerging and T2 on so now gates shut. Crops remain clear of all diseases and look generally well but a bit short.

West Midlands: Ears fully emerged in most crops. Disease levels remain low.

North East: Most crops at ear emergence and have improved in appearance.