Phoma developing in wetter conditions (photo courtesy of Farming Online).

South East: Crops now range from 4 true leaves to 6-8+ true leaves ? more than half of crops are now at 5-6+ true leaves. Mild conditions continue to favour rapid growth and around half of crops are likely to need a PGR Fungicide.

Phoma: leaf spotting now being found more readily in the last week, but most crops are still only showing around 5% infection levels and mainly on older leaves.

Slugs: good seedbeds and dry soils have minimised problems.

Aphids: no Myzus persicae adults seen to date.

Weed control: moderate/high levels of blackgrass emerged/emerging in some crops, particularly after spring barley, indicating low dormancy in shed seed.

Eastern Counties: Crops now seem to have enough growth to survive the winter and only a few are very far forward (early drilled light land). Generally establishment is uniform across fields with better headlands than last year (although there has still been some rabbit and partridge grazing). Even direct drilled crops have moved on and made a reasonable stand. Wet again another 35mm of rain. Light land fields will travel OK.

Phoma: just beginning to see a low level of spotting.

Flea Beetle: although seed treatments worked well we did have some difficulties on open cloddy seedbeds where adult beetles can feed below ground. A reminder that the more open seedbeds or subcasting will probably be more prone to early flea beetle damage next year with loss of emerging rape when we can no longer use neonicotinoid seed treatments.

Slugs: very little slug activity although it has increased during recent wet weather, grazing can be seen on larger lower leaves in the canopy. Most crops are well-established and just a few later drilled crops with smaller plants need attention with a slug pellet application required.

Weed control: planning follow up herbicides targeted at poppies on light soils, probably apply soon before canopy completely shades weeds.

East Midlands: Crops still continue to grow but rate has slowed a bit ? later drilled crops now at 4 leaves with forward at 7-9 leaves.

Phoma: first spotting seen in last few days and fungicides due to go on when weather window allows with later small crops first priority, but levels still below 10% although expect this to rise in the next week.

Slugs: a few backward crops showing some damage and will require a low rate of pellets.

Weed control: residual herbicides to go on when soils cool.

West Midlands: All crops especially light land crops are growing extremely rapidly. There are some very forward crops about and may need an autumn PGR. In general crops looking well in complete contrast to last autumn.

Phoma: levels increasing especially in the south of the region where now at threshold.

Slugs: no new damage seen.

Leaf Miner: in some crops but not at damaging levels.

Weed control: follow up graminicides for second flush of bromes and volunteer cereals going on.

North East: There are some large canopies developing as the mild autumn weather continues. Average temperature for the week: 12.5 degrees, rain 20.7 mm for the week.

Phoma: still no disease seen.

Slugs: a little activity.

Weed control: various weeds seen emerging, shepherds purse, few cranes bill, chickweed etc.

Wheat crops establishing quickly (photo courtesy Farming Online).

South East: Crops are still emerging around 10 days after sowing - earliest sown crops (20th Sept) now @ GS22, with most crops being between GS13-21. Could do with weather settling down now to enable post-emergence spraying to get caught up. Wet after recent rains - heavier fields are now starting to get wet in places following around 130 mm of rain in the last 2 weeks.

Aphids: none seen yet, but can be readily found on volunteers in oilseed rape.

Slugs: Slug activity becoming increasingly evident, particularly in crops after oilseed rape and second wheats on heavier soils, following another 40-50 mm of rain in last 7 days. Most of damage appears to be being caused by juvenile/pin-head grey field slugs and/or black keeled slugs (Arion spp.), with damage of the latter often indicated by subterranean grazing leading to yellowing of main shoots.

Weed control: rains have thoroughly wetted seedbeds now which is activating the pre-emergence herbicides. There has been a significant flush of bromes on some headlands.

Eastern Counties: Rain and wind has slowed progress with the sprayer and for some the drill. Crops range from emerging to first tillers. The mild weather has meant that some fields have emerged within 8 days of sowing.

Aphids: above average numbers of aphids around. BYDV follow up sprays may be needed this year.

Slugs: there are a minority of fields after rape where slugs continue to graze the emerging wheat crop.

Weed control: where contact products were applied to wet foliage on a dull, misty day, with rainfall the following morning, control has been poor. Herbicide uptake is obvious in some crops.

East Midlands: With the wetter weather crops have slowed a bit, but forward crops at 3-4 leaves and later drilled crops at 1-2 leaves. In spite of heavy rain fields are quite good on top but too wet for cultivations or drilling. In some fields sprayers would carry but wet headlands and patches hinder many. However, the combination of wind and rain has meant that no fieldwork has been possible.

Aphids: none seen.

Slugs: odd fields show damage requiring treatment and slug levels have risen with the wet but a lot of slug pellets remain in store.

Weed control: blackgrass at 1-3 leaves and requiring treatment when weather allows. On fields with resistance and with no pre-emergent to date due to conditions they may well have to be burnt off. Pre-emergents working now but thicker areas have had a lot of plants left.

West Midlands: Most forward crops are at pretty much 100% ground cover, with minimum of three tillers. Apart from crops drilled in the last 7 days after beet and maize all crops are up with anything from 1 leaf to 1 tiller (with the exception of the three tiller stuff). Rain: 50mm last week, 50mm the week before and 25mm the week before that so 125mm for October = very wet.

Aphids: can be found.

Slugs: renewed activity in some fields after oilseed rape.

Mildew: becoming more obvious on quite a few crops of Grafton, Leeds and JB Diego.

Weed control: recent rains have helped activate pre-emergence herbicides. Bromes are more obvious this year on headlands.

North East: Crops range from emergence to GS21. All first wheats are in now. Fields are wet after recent rains and conditions are too wet to travel on some days.

Aphids: few winged aphids sighted.

Slugs: seen surface grazing, increased activity from last week.

Weed control: more blackgrass emergence this week. Pre-emergent herbicides are working well now that there is some moisture.

South East: Earliest sown crops now at GS13-21.

Eastern Counties: Most crops now in but later sown crops have patchy emergence due to dry seed beds. Main varieties are Cassia and Glacier with a bit of Volume.

West Midlands: Most forward crops at 2 tiller stage. Light land crops have high levels of mildew. Manganese deficiency showing up on light land.

East Midlands: Crops at 3 leaf and look well although some yellowing showing where pre-emergents used, but on the whole plants look healthy.

North East: Earliest sown now at first tiller stage. Powdery mildew seen on Glazier.