Yellow rust evident in crops (image from Farming Online).

South East: Little change in crop growth and still range from GS21 to GS29.

Brown Rust: very evident in September sown Crusoe and Claire in particular.

Yellow Rust: some localised foci can be found in Reflection.

Mildew: frosty nights have knocked back the prevalence of mildew.

Septoria: very obvious on older leaves of all September and early October sown wheats.

Eyespot: stem based browning can be readily found in earliest sown wheats, along with second wheat and wheat after oats.

Aphids: quite a number of crops that are still awaiting weather delayed pyrethroid sprays – primarily on heavier/wetter fields.

Weed control: blackgrass, generally only at low levels, present in most fields following autumn residuals.

Eastern Counties: Crops range from GS23–31! Earliest drilled Gallant is now at GS31 on main shoot. Little change in the last two weeks.

Brown Rust: trace levels in all varieties but more so on Santiago, Crusoe and Kielder.

Yellow Rust: traces on all susceptible varieties that didn’t have a rust active seed dressing.

Mildew: traces on all varieties but recent frost has helped.

Slugs: still some grazing, mainly after rape.

Weed control: blackgrass is evident in all the usual hotspots.

East Midlands: Crops range between GS25-29 and cold weather has meant little change in crops. Some are showing yellowing due to wet feet with later drillings after maize at GS 23-25. A few forward crops at late GS29. Soils generally very wet with localised ponding and wet patches meaning no fieldwork possible.

Brown Rust: none seen.

Yellow Rust: found in Gallant but cold weather and frosts holding it back, many crops relatively clear so far.

Mildew: some on older leaves but frost holding it.

Septoria: Plenty there to get going when crops start to extend but no panic.

Aphids: none seen.

Weed control: many fields with tillering blackgrass which means that control may not be all we could wish for and spraying still a week or so away when fields dry out and temperatures rise.

West Midlands: All crops of KWS Lili GS30 on the main stem, also crops of Revelation and one crop of Crusoe sown week beginning of 14th September. All remaining crops are either well tillered or GS21-22 (wheat after maize and fodder beet). Earliest sown crops of Revelation and KWS Lili have final leaf 4 emerging. Fields drying up well this week, especially on the lighter land.

Brown Rust: traces on Crusoe and Leeds.

Yellow Rust: traces in all crops of Reflection and Revelation.

Mildew: traces on all varieties.

Septoria: early sown crops full of Septoria on the bottom leaves.

Aphids: found wingless aphids on both Deter and non Deter dressed wheat.

Gout Fly: significant damage in some crops at worst 70-80% of plants affected.

Slugs: still active in crops after oilseed rape.

Weed control: good selection of weeds emerging - groundsel, volunteer oilseed rape, poppy, wild oats and tame oats.

North East: Crops range from GS13 to GS26.

Brown Rust: none seen.

Yellow Rust: traces in variety Reflection, KWS Lili and Kielder.

Mildew: low levels in variety Leeds.

Septoria: more evident on early sown crops.

Aphids: easily found in forward cereals, in sheltered areas.

Slugs: still active.

Gout Fly: severe damage in localised areas.

Weed control: blackgrass control: remaining populations well established, early drillings worst, up to 15 tillers.

Light Leaf Spot present in all regions (image from Farming Online).

South East: Crops remain advanced for the time of year with a higher proportion of leaf retention than would normally be expected. GAI’s of 1-2 are quite common. Forward crops have buds showing.

Light Leaf Spot: field symptoms now becoming quite widespread in many crops.

Phoma: renewed leaf spotting can be found in fields that had high infection levels last Autumn, even where had second fungicide applied by early December.

Club Root: severe symptoms found in only two fields so far.

Flea Beetle: can find moderate levels of larvae in petioles of crops particularly in the North of our region (Hampshire and West).

Aphids: can find low levels in unsprayed crops of Amelie (TuYV resistant).

Weed control: residual herbicide applications made prior to January look to be providing high levels of control of blackgrass – later applications are only just showing signs of activity.

Eastern Counties: Crops range from 5 true leaves to early stem extension and buds above the canopy. Most crops have a mix of growth stages in field, not dependant on variety.

Flea Beetle: some crops that were attacked in the autumn have larvae in the leaf stems. Most crops are big enough to compensate.

Light Leaf Spot: first symptoms seen on V316.

Phoma: some new symptoms starting to show.

Aphids: none seen.

Pigeons: have been a real pain in the last two weeks, big flocks grazing.

Weed control: variable control from residual herbicides as conditions generally too warm and weeds too well established by application time.

East Midlands: Some Charger with flower buds above canopy but colder weather holding crops back although flower buds now evident in many crops.

Light Leaf Spot: easily found now in Charger with other crops cleaner but frost damage is clouding the symptoms.

Phoma: Autumn sprayed crops remain clean, but again reports of high levels where no autumn fungicide applied.

Aphids: none seen.

Flea Beetle: none seen.

Weed control: some very big Charlock at high populations as good control in the autumn was prevented by weather. Also with the forward crops and flower buds showing there is concern over timing of herbicides.

West Midlands: Green buds visible on 75%+ of crops and some definitely starting to extend.

Light Leaf Spot: present at low levels and treatment due when we can travel, a lot of rape fields still too wet.

Phoma: trace levels, single autumn spray seems to have done a pretty good job.

Aphids: very low levels.

Flea Beetle: none seen.

Weed control: Too many fields with Charlock and Runch but will probably only be able to treat half of the necessary fields as if not done this week it will be too late for all crops.

North East: All crops range from 6 leaves to early green bud stage GS1.6-3.2

Flea Beetle: larvae present in most plants, in large numbers in south of the region.

Aphids: none seen.

Light Leaf Spot: low levels in all crops.

Phoma: trace levels.

Weed control: some very large cleavers after warm winter, some December germinated small cleavers as well.

South East: Crops range from GS22 to GS29. Mildew at low levels can still be found in Cassia and Glacier where crops are thick, though activity much reduced by frosts. Net-blotch and Rhynchosporium both present at low levels.

Eastern Counties: GS30 common but very little change in the last two weeks. Trace levels of mildew in all crops.

West Midlands: Little growth and still no crops yet at GS30 majority are GS23-27. Mildew present in all crops. Traces of brown rust on Cassia earlier this week. Net-blotch at low levels.

East Midlands: No change in crops. Most crops at around GS25 with some forward ones at GS25-29. Mildew on some older leaves but frosts holding it back.

North East: Crops range from GS23 to GS26. Mildew very evident in all crops with Saffron badly affected. Net-blotch developing.