Gout fly eggs on Alchemy
sown 20 September.
Photo Farming Online

South East: Peter Cowlrick reports that, most farms have now completed sowing or will complete drilling in next 5-7 days, except following late harvested crops (eg. Grain maize). Crops of Claire drilled 2-3 weeks ago now emerging/emerged - emergence has been noticeably delayed by combination of dry seedbeds, cooler soils/nights and in some cases Baytan seed dressing. Most advanced crops now at 2 leaves.

Aphids: none seen.

Slugs: very high populations of slugs (particularly pinhead sized immature slugs) proving problematic on fields following oilseed rape, and particularly on heavier soils.

Weed control: Blackgrass at worrying levels now flushing through in some fields after oilseed rape in particular (despite comprehensive control in the preceding rape crop), otherwise generally very little has emerged to date, hopefully indicating good control in previous seasons or delayed germination of shed seeds from this years harvest.

South West: Stephen Harrison, reports that most wheat drilled in September is now emerging. Earliest sowings now tillering. Germination and emergence rapid and even except on cloddy areas. Field conditions ideal and drilling virtually complete. A lot of maize is being cleared and cultivation kit and drills are moving straight in behind the harvest teams. Last few old leys now being ploughed and drilling should start here by the weekend.

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 metre 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. Be aware of herbicide sequence restrictions. Later drilling does allow some to be controlled before the crop is sown but is not practical on all soil types.

Mildew: trace levels on early sown Claire.

East Midlands: Malcolm Harrison reports that, most crops now drilled (except those after maize -approx. 10%). First crops at leaf 1-2, most just emerging. Expect many crops to emerge this week following rain.

Aphids: none seen.

Slugs: after rain there is an increasing problem following oilseed rape.

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

West Midlands: Bryce Rham reports that, early sown wheat is at GS 22. Some rain (approx. 5-15mm dependant on which cloud you were under!) over last 7 days is helping even up some fields, but on heavy land rain has still not got down to the seed. Crops on medium or light soils are now coming through in about 10 - 12 days.

Aphids: none seen

Gout fly: Gout fly eggs easily found on emerged crops.

Slugs: quite a lot of grazing after oilseed rape.

Weed control: most early drilled crops have been treated.

Eastern Counties: Helen Baxter, reporting from Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, says that some drops just emerging. All now drilled. Patchy emergence due to lack of moisture and seedbed conditions. Colin Allott, Essex, reports that, 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 emerging crops.

Slugs: activity visible in all these areas.

Weed Control: blackgrass significant emergence this week both from depth and nearer the surface. Lot of cotyledon Cranesbill and Shepherds needle now present.

North East: Phillip Tuplin reports that, early sown at GS 11-12. Most crops emerging OK but many have areas slow to come through where heavier soil which was very dry when sown. Later sown just germinating. Virtually all crops drilled now. 24mm rainfall by late afternoon on 9 October. For most fields this is enough but some still need more to get moisture down to drilling depth to ensure good germination.

Aphids: all wheat after rape is dressed

Slugs: incidence steadily rising.

Weed control: following a season of poor kill in stale seedbeds due to high levels of seed dormancy virtually all fields have had a pre-em herbicide. Some emergence seen this week, but not too dense yet.

Recent flush of rape will
hopefully fill the gaps.
Photo Farming Online

South East: Cotyledon to 7 true leaves - bulk of crops are now around 4 true leaves.

Fea Beetle: damage quite pronounced on late emerging plants.

Phoma: generally nothing to report, but have today seen fields of both Komando and Expert on the same farm at threshold for spraying (i.e. 10% leaf spotting)

Aphids: none seen

Slugs: good seedbeds and dry soils have minimised problems to date this autumn in most cases, only exceptions are heavier soils/trashier seedbeds.

Weed control: significant flush of blackgrass in a few fields, - in general though, emergence to date has been minimal in many fields

South West: Further emergence of rape on heavy cloddy soils. These plants will need a spell of mild weather to get enough size to survive the winter. Large plants from August sowings now around the tops of wellies.

Flea beetle: damage quite pronounced on late emerging plants.

Phoma: none seen yet

Aphids: Can be found in many rape crops. Occasional colonies of mealy cabbage aphids. Beet western yellows virus may be associated with static rape yields.

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

Weed control: seems to be a high level of sowthistle emergence.

Eastern Counties: Pat Turnbull reports that light crops range from cotyledon to 8 leaf. On light land there are good even well established crops with some fields almost complete cover. Heavier soils are at varying stages of crop growth. Newly emerged rape still only cotyledon stage.

Flea beetle: still seeing flea beetle activity on some fields (next to game strips for example). Particularly noticed feeding where plant population low, seem to aggregate and concentrate feeding on lone plants.

Phoma: First signs. Trace of phoma not at threshold. Monitor carefully.

Slugs: still need to keep up vigilance on newly emerged cotyledon rape. Double rolling on rape established by using air seeder on sub soiler legs has helped. Some areas of rape have also been rolled again after part of the cop had emerged but when fresh moisture helped

Bird damage: Pigeons coming in.

East Midlands: Crops have improved considerably, but most are at two stages of growth - tiny cotyledons just emerging and rest of crop at 2-3 leaves. Moist and warm, enhancing good growth rate. Some backward crops and part-crops have had 30kg/ha N (by end Sept!). Expect rapid growth next week.

Phoma: First signs. Plants still at cotyledon stage particularly vulnerable. On the plus side, most crops are Castille, Astrid and Hearty (HEAR) with good resistance. No more Winner!

Flea beetle: now much less serious, especially after recent rain

Slugs: some localised attacks where seedbed poor.

Weed control: volunteer wheat present in most crops, but is still largely not too competitive. In my experience, some volunteer cereal 'nurses' and protects the young rape crop, comments Malcolm Harrison.

West Midlands: Most crops have now chitted with just enough rain to get them through resulting in a flush of rape at cotyledon stage. Last resort on one farm, have got the rain guns out! Most forward crops at 100% ground cover and up to 12 leaves.

Phoma: none seen yet.

Flea beetle: only slight damage seen so far.

Slugs: problems in some fields where emergence has been delayed and plant pops low

Weed control: Cranesbill emerging and hoping recent rain will activate the pre-emergence herbicide where applied.

North East: Most forward up to 5 - 7 leaves now. Seen good crop emergence this week so most crops now have enough plants but most are only cotyledons to 1 true leaf.

Phoma: first lesions seen on most forward crops, but only at very low level.

Flea beetle: all crops dressed. However, moderate levels of damage seen where dry cloddy seedbeds.

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

South East: All drilled in last 10 days. Main Varieties being grown are Sequel, Boost, Cassata and Pearl.

South West: Earliest crops at 2 leaves.

Eastern Counties: All Drilled. Very few fields yet emerged.

Midlands: Earliest sown now at GS 12, but most crops still to emerge.

North East: All crops drilled now. Earliest at GS 13. Most just emerging.