GS68 Lower spikelets flowering.

South East: September and early October sown crops have ears fully emerged & anthers showing, with crops of Gallant, Grafton & Cordiale at the end of flowering & grains up to half filled - remaining wheats generally between GS51-59. Cool but brighter conditions over the last week have allowed steady growth. A further 10-15mm of rain earlier this week has again left some standing water in tramlines of lower lying fields, but in general we have only had two spells of rain in the last 7 days hopefully reducing Fusarium infection pressure.

Brown rust: none found in last 2 weeks but easy to find in any spray misses.

Yellow rust: as above.

Mildew: still only very low levels.

Septoria: some infection showing now on leaf 3 in earlier sown crops (reminiscent of 2012) - pressure remains very high & keeping fingers crossed that infection on upper canopy will remain minimal.

Eyespot: anticipating some whiteheads this year.

Fusarium: unsettled and warm conditions are again predicted for the next 10 days or so which will only aggravate the infection risks at T3.

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

Wheat blossom midge: a few farms have caught a threshold, but otherwise populations as predicted appear to be low this year, meaning many crops will be past the vulnerable (pre-anthesis) stage within the next 5-7 days.

Eastern Counties: The majority of crops are now at full ear emergence and flowering. Recent showery conditions with occasional heavy downpour has held up T3 spraying with only about half done as of Thursday.

Yellow rust: trace levels only.

Brown rust: trace levels.

Mildew: trace levels.

Eyespot: not significant.

Septoria: septoria pressure remains high.

Wheat blossom midge: the recent wet and windy weather has not been ideal for midge migration but drier, warmer weather will be more favourable for the pest.

East Midlands: Ears fully emerged and crops starting to flower. Looking to do T3 as soon as they can get on.

Yellow rust: crops generally clean except where spray misses.

Brown rust: none seen.

Septoria: top 3 leaves remain clean where the timings have been right. Any spray misses though and top leaves have high infection levels.

Mildew: levels continue to be low.

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

Wheat blossom midge: none seen yet.

Weeds: ryegrass resistance rife in some fields. Looks like we may have found another case of SU resistant poppies.

West Midlands: Bar the very late sown crops, most are now with ears 50-95% out. All the early sown crops are now flowering well, and the recent sun has encouraged more to start flowering. There is a race now on to get them treated before the forecast deluge on Saturday.

Slugs: still surprisingly high numbers in some crops.

Yellow rust: seen in Spring Wheat.

Brown rust: none seen.

Septoria: Septoria levels all over the place, early sown crops are anywhere from leaf four clean to having 40% infected. Leaf 3 now has up to 10% septoria in some crops despite full fungicide programme.

Mildew: very little seen.

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

Aphids: no increase in numbers over last two weeks.

Wheat blossom midge: the very occasional one seen in cob webs.

North East: Most crops now at early flower. Average temperature for week 13.3 and 11.7 mm rain for week

Yellow rust: high disease pressure on susceptible varieties.

Brown rust: none seen.

Mildew: none seen.

Septoria: developing where sprays delayed or missed and varietal tolerances showing.

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

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

Wheat blossom midge: low number caught in traps.

Good pod set reported in most crops

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

Eastern Counties: Crops now out of flower - pod set looks good. Heavy rain 78 mm in last week. Areas of Norfolk now had 90mm in May. Hedge mustard towering over some crops where herbicide not used.

East Midlands: Vast majority of crops now finished flowering, no further inputs until desiccation time.

West Midlands: crops are definitely on the turn so next time through the crop will be with a desiccant. As yet no embarrassing messes in terms of thistles or poppies.

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

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.

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

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

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