Ears emerging in forward wheat (photo from Farming Online).

South East: Crops now range from GS32-33 (late November sowings) to mostly GS39-52 for September/October sowings – crop development is surprisingly rapid given recent cool days and nights, but crops are responding to increasing day length. September and early October sown crops of Cordiale, Crusoe and Skyfall now have ears up to 50% emerged.

Gout Fly: first eggs being found now on lower leaves of later sown wheats and also on Spring Wheat.

Brown Rust: T0 and T1 fungicides have removed any visible signs of disease.

Mildew: still mostly absent.

Septoria: obvious in the lower canopy (leaf 5 and below, with some on top 1/3 of leaf 4 in earlier sown crops), but top 3 leaves remain spotless for now despite nearly 3 inches of rain in May so far. Showery and windy conditions in the last two weeks will have potentially transferred infection onto upper leaves, particularly as many canopies are still relatively short.

Yellow Rust: none seen to date.

Eyespot: some general stem based browning is quite widespread - in many cases likely to be Michrodochium.

Weed control: Blackgrass survivors from herbicide programmes are now beginning to show above wheat canopies.

Eastern Counties: Early drilled (5/9/14 – 25/9/14) now have ear emerging or emerged (eg Gallant). Later drilled wheats just getting to GS37. Growth stages more in keeping with calendar date now.

Brown Rust: trace levels found on Crusoe.

Mildew: none seen.

Septoria: obvious on old leaves in all situations.

Yellow Rust: trace levels on Solstice.

Eyespot: none seen.

East Midlands: One or two forward crops have ear emerging (Skyfall) but most at flag leaf emerging to emerged. Late crops have flag leaf just emerging. Many crops look very good with some crops requiring a late growth regulator usually with the flag spray but some before that to prevent them getting away. Wind and rain have hindered spraying but field conditions are good.

Brown Rust: none seen.

Mildew: generally low - some seen on Crusoe but at base of crop and T2 should hold it down otherwise crops remain quite clear.

Septoria: upper leaves remain clear with leaf 5 worst affected but on the whole crops look clean from leaf 4 up.

Yellow Rust: none seen in crops.

Eyespot: levels remain low.

Weed control: Blackgrass now starting to head and flower although in some crops stunted which may be due to the resistance problem letting it grow back but on the whole not as bad as last year.

West Midlands: The most advanced crops now at the booting stage, but the majority of early sown crops are at full flag leaf emergence. Later sown crops are at flag leaf emerging. Showery weather has caused some hold ups.

Brown Rust: none seen.

Mildew: gone.

Septoria: many crops now have signs of Septoria on the tips of leaf 4, however final leaf three remains clear of disease.

Yellow Rust: trace levels on Solstice that didn't get a T0 fungicide.

Eyespot: remains at low levels - less than 5% of stem bases.

Weed control: Good control of grass weeds in general. Groundsel proving to be a bit more difficult to control this year and assume the dry spring prevented herbicide take up.

North East: Flag leaves are out on the most advanced crops and T2 applications are under way. Slugs seen on flag leaf this week. Cooler weather slowed growth slightly.

Brown Rust: none seen.

Mildew: beginning to develop on some varieties.

Septoria: moving on to final leaf 4 but no further development seen.

Yellow Rust: no new infections seen.

Eyespot: trace levels on some second wheat.

Weed control: post emergence applications for control of Blackgrass have been variable. Bindweed and newly emerged Cleavers will need treating.

Good pod set reported (photo from Farming Online).

South East: Most crops are now between late flowering and end of flowering with pod set complete – hopefully no more inputs until pre-harvest desiccant.

Sclerotinia: all crops here in the South were sprayed around 2 weeks ago and those that are still at mid-flowering stage are due for second fungicides now onwards.

Seed Weevil: some crops reached thresholds again at the end of last week, mainly in locations where there have been problems in previous seasons.

Eastern Counties: All crops past peak flowering and some have only a tinge of yellow left. Pod set looks good. Early drilled crops are the best. Variable amounts of rain recently followed by heavier showers now turning drier. Still a relatively dry month to date.

Sclerotinia: most crops received a robust Sclerotinia spray before the early May rain. As crops are well past peak flowering it looks as if our goal of a single fungicide application during flowering has been achieved.

Seed Weevil: present on several of the sunny warmer days.

East Midlands: Many crops at late flowering with forward crops starting to look more green than yellow, and many crops look good.

Light Leaf Spot: no sign of any damage yet and hopefully wont see any where early treatments went on.

Sclerotinia: second Sclerotinia sprays now on where necessary although some farmers cutting back to one spray with the price of rape.

Seed Weevil: levels remain low with no crops at thresholds - the cold weather and rain appear to have kept them away.

West Midlands: Crops range from late petal fall to late flowering. The earliest crops are now starting to turn green again.

Light Leaf Spot: no new sightings.

Sclerotinia: all crops have been treated once and very few have elected to go for a second treatment.

Seed Weevil: cooler, windy conditions have kept them out of the crops.

North East: Crops mainly at mid to late flowering and looking well.

Phoma: no new sightings.

Light Leaf Spot: no new developments.

Sclerotinia: no signs yet but crops have been treated.

Seed Weevil: now at threshold levels in several fields.

Weed control: recent flush of Blackgrass coming through the cracks of dry soil.

Awn emergence in winter barley (picture from Farming Online).

South East: Crops typically now at awns/ears emerged.

Eastern Counties: Ears emerging to beginning of flowering. Disease levels remain very low.

East Midlands: Ears now out and expect gate to be shut unless massive surge in aphids.

West Midlands: Many crops are flowering. All crops remain remarkably free of disease.

North East: Awn emergence to early flowering. Crops still remain free of disease with only traces of Net-blotch and Rhynchosporium on older leaves.