Ear emergence begins (photo courtesy Farming Online).

South East: September & early October sown crops continue to race ahead with many Crops now having ears 2/3+ emerged, and remaining wheats generally between GS39-45. Milling wheats have recently had an extra 40 kg/ha applied to help boost grain proteins. Damp with some wet tramlines still following recent showery conditions again ? next week looking potentially unsettled again which may compromise timely T3 applications on the more advanced crops.

Septoria: most September/early October sown crops are carrying very high levels of Septoria on older leaves, with symptoms commonly present on leaf 4 & the odd lesions on tip leaf 3 in earlier sown crops (reminiscent of 2012). Otherwise still generally confined to oldest leaves ? pressure remains very high & keeping fingers crossed that infection on upper canopy will be minimal.

Yellow Rust: have seen some evidence of localised leaf infection following T1 applications on leaf 2.

Brown Rust: none found in last two weeks.

Mildew: still only very low levels of mildew seen to date.

Fusarium: Andover site is indicating increasing levels of foliar Michrodochium infection, which is reminiscent of the 2012 inoculum build up ? unsettled & warm conditions are predicted for the next 10 days or so which will only aggravate the infection risks ahead of T3.

Eyespot: increasing frequency of stem based browning symptoms and clear eyespot lesions on the more susceptible varieties (Cordiale, Solstice and Gallant) particularly on heavier soils.

Aphids: beginning to find low levels of adult aphids in some crops now.

Wheat blossom midge: reports of significant numbers caught in traps.

Eastern Counties: The majority of crops are now booting with the most forward at 75% ear emergence. Recent showery conditions with occasional heavy downpour has increased the risk of Septoria spreading through wheat canopies.

Septoria: infection pressure remains high.

Yellow Rust: trace levels only.

Brown Rust: trace levels.

Mildew: trace levels.

Eyespot: not significant.

Weed control: Groundsel taking a long time to die.

East Midlands: Ears emerging in forward crops and majority have flag leaf out and booting.

Septoria: top three leaves remain clean on the whole.

Yellow Rust: crops generally clean.

Brown Rust: none seen.

Mildew: levels continue to be low.

Eyespot: levels remain under control but prolonged wet feet may cause some to re-emerge.

Slugs: high numbers in some crops with heavy grazing of leaves 4 and 5.

West Midlands: The most forward crops now have ears emerging and many crops at boot stage. Late sown crops are just at flag leaf tip visible stage. Recent heavy rain has brought field work to a halt. Flowering is expected to start late May.

Septoria: control variable, early crops in the main have leaf 3 just about clean, some with leaf 4 also clean but others with leaf 4 about 40% infected.

Yellow Rust: seen in Spring Wheat.

Brown Rust: none seen.

Mildew: very little seen.

Eyespot: huge range of incidence ranging from only a few percent up to 35% of tillers.

Slugs: still surprisingly high numbers in some crops.

Aphids: not too difficult to find aphids on lower leaves on the early sown wheat crops.

Weed control: Brome control has been good this year. Some late wild oats now starting to wave above the crop.

North East: Crops range from early flag leaf emergence to the start of ear emergence. A lot of T2 spraying completed over the last week and crops are showing good potential. Average temperature for week 14.3ºC but nil rain for week.

Septoria: present in many crops.

Yellow Rust: controlled by T0 fungicides.

Brown Rust: none seen.

Mildew: none seen.

Eyespot: developing in a few crops, some sharp eyespot seen as well.

Take-all: confirmed from lab test, on crop seed treated for take-all. This is an early sighting.

Seed weevil numbers showing a late surge (photo courtesy Farming Online).

South East: All crops now at pod filling stages ? no further inputs until desiccation time.

Sclerotinia: all crops have had early to mid-flowering sprays applied.

Seed Weevil: levels beginning to increase again in last few days with some crops frustratingly approaching thresholds for spraying despite being at the end of flowering.

Eastern Counties: Surprisingly a few late crops still in flower and fields of Cabernet holding onto a tinge of yellow. Pod set looks promising, we have had good conditions during flowering for pollination.

Sclerotinia: a few last minute late flowering applications to rape.

Weed control: appears to be a lot of charlock flowering in crops.

East Midlands: Vast majority of crops now at late flowering with the odd forward crop almost finished flowering.

Sclerotinia: all crops sprayed now.

Light Leaf Spot: levels remain low.

Seed Weevil: no weevils seen to any extent and examination of forward crops show no midge damage yet.

West Midlands: crops are definitely on the turn so next time through the crop will be with a desiccant.

Sclerotinia: period for control now finished.

Light Leaf Spot: trace levels in some crops.

Seed Weevil: none seen.

North East: Crops now at the end of flowering and await desiccation.

Seed Weevil: none at thresholds.

South East: Crops now generally at flowering to early grain fill ? no more inputs until the combine.

Eastern Counties: Most crops are about 50-75% in ear. Very little disease present.

East Midlands: All crops have awns out now and look well.

West Midlands: Crops at ear emergence to early flowering. Crops remain free of disease.

North East: Crops now flowering. Good growing conditions making some crops taller than usual despite growth regulators.