Oilseed rape establishment
is patchy.
Photo Farming Online.

South West: Cotyledon rape at last appearing in most of the problem dry seed beds. Size range in some crops is massive (Cotyledon to 4/5 leaves) however warmer weather forecast for the next few days should allow some evening out. Soil is now well wetted. In contrast well established crops are at 6 leaves.

Flea Beetle: shot holing pronounced even after seed treatment as dry conditions have slowed emergence and reduced persistence.

Phoma: none seen yet.

Slugs: not widespread - worst damage on historical hot spots.

Eastern Counties: Light land oilseed rape and earlier drilled rape now looking well established some at 4 to 6 leaves. Later drilled patchy with some rape barely at expanded cotyledon stage. We appear to have sufficient plants as long as they survive and grow away.

Flea Beetle: shot holing seen even on treated seed.

Phoma: First signs. Monitor carefully.

Slugs: unexpected slug damage leading to redrilling on chalky soil.

Bird damage: A lot of bird (pheasant, partridge some pigeon) and rabbit grazing on slow to establish rape.

Weed control: Despite the lack of early rainfall herbicide seem to be working well. Removal of volunteers now a priority where spraying has not already taken place.

East Midlands: Forward crops at 3-4 leaves but even in these fields rape still emerging at cotyledon in some patches. Have seen seed yet to germinate, just shooting at cotyledon and 3 leaf all in the same field. Later drilled crops still struggling to emerge and the next 7 days will decide whether these will warrant drilling with second wheat. Many crops have a range of growth stages.

Phoma: First signs.

Flea Beetle: Generally, treated crops showing low damage.

Slugs: Cotyledons emerging now will be at risk.

Weed Control: good flush of volunteers particularly barley.

West Midlands: Rain last week has helped to germinate more plants BUT still need rain to get the majority of the crop through, have situations of fields being anywhere from not chitted to 3-4true leaf. Still not ripping up any crops yet, let's hope for mild autumn.

Phoma: none seen yet.

Flea Beetle: only slight damage seen so far.

Slugs: very little damage seen.

North East: Most forward up to 5 - 7 leaves now. Most crops though been a long time emerging and many only just expanded cotyledons to 1 leaf. Considering nitrogen on some crops now to try to stimulate some growth before cold weather arrives. Crops most likely to benefit are on the heavier soils with maybe less good seedbeds.

Phoma: none seen yet.

Flea Beetle: Moderate levels of damage seen where dry cloddy seedbeds.

Slugs: since the rain expect to see slug activity increasing. High risk areas include some cloddy seedbeds on heavy land, where emergence is particularly slow.

'a few minutes before I
got totally soaked'
Photo Philip Tuplin

South: Variation in emergence on early-drilled crops is now starting to even out. Benefits of modern drills, which can place seed at a consistent depth away from surface knobbles and initial dryness very apparent. Early September sowings pushing towards 3 leaves. Drilling held up for a day or so by some heavy rain but now proceeding in good conditions. The forecast dry weather over the next few days should see drilling complete except after leys and maize where ground is not yet cleared. Seed beds now being created are fine and clod free however rolling has not always been possible.

Aphids: possible to find winged migrants if you look hard enough.

Slugs: damage not widespread. Largely confined to known problem areas or forced lumpy seed beds in too dry conditions.

Weed Control: bromes - field margins (first meter or so after the cross compliance margin) near hedges on known problem fields are heavily infested with sterile brome where not ploughed. These margins seem to be giving the weed a springboard into the field creating a seed reservoir in the cropped area. Herbicide sequence restrictions are making this a real headache. Later drilling does allow some to be controlled before the crop is sown but is not practical on all soil types.

East Midlands: Forward crops at 1-2 leaves but majority of crops at GS 10+, ranging from just starting to shoot to just emerging. Some patchy emergence in cloddy fields. Generally moist but some cloddy areas still dry under clods. Soils moist rather than wet on the whole.

Aphids: none seen.

Slugs: activity high after rape with many crops having had an application of pellets with damage to crops averted. As one client put it, his field looked like the Somme with dead slugs about. All crops should be closely monitored.

Weed Control: most pre-emergence herbicides on but odd blackgrass seen just starting to emerge but only odd ones.

West Midlands: Early sown wheat is at GS 13. Early drilled wheats showing patchy emergence due to dry seedbeds, fields can range from not chitted through to GS 13. No sign of blue mould yet.

Aphids: none seen.

Gout Fly: Gout fly eggs at low levels found on early emerged crops.

Slugs: plough/drill fields are extremely bad with highest populations ever seen. Non inversion fields vary from no problems as yet to grazing taking place at varying levels. Patchy germination not helping.

Weed Control: Herbicides have been applied over last 7 days as some rain has helped to wet soils.

Eastern Counties: Early drilled crops at 1-2 leaf stage, but majority still yet to emerge. Previously overworked seed beds now porridge, cloddy seed beds now producing good tilth rain has broken down the clods.

Aphids: populations building on early drilled crops.

Gout Fly: Gout fly eggs found on early drilled crops. Grazing by rabbits, pheasants, and moorhens.

Slugs: still active.

Weed control: blackgrass emerging on direct drill land at 1-2 leaf stage. Pre-emergence herbicide already applied.

North East: Early sown now at GS 11. Full emergence from drilling about 14 days providing enough moisture. Lot of crops just germinating. Many farms are 'sown-up' but others still need maybe another 4 -5 days, so a lot of wheat only just been drilled. Recorded 8mm rainfall locally, but falls amounts have been variable in area with some getting up to 30mm in last 7 days. Generally field conditions are good allowing some excellent seedbeds.

Slugs: found high numbers in some fields where wheat following rape. Incidences of slugs steadily rising so regular monitoring required.

Weed Control: Still not had much blackgrass germination in stale seedbeds, and its too late now for most as drilling conditions are too good to miss.

National: Earliest sown now at GS 13, but most crops still to emerge.