Double cropping? Wheat
after potatoes that couldn't be
lifted. Photo Farming Online

South East: Peter Cowlrick reports that, all wheat drilling now completed, apart from few fields after grain maize. Emerged crops typically range between 1.5-3 leaves. Earliest sown and most advanced crops now starting to tiller (GS 21-22).

Aphids: winged aphids in any crops not dressed. Where seed dressings have been used, it is important not to apply a pyrethroid earlier than 6-8 weeks after drilling, otherwise there a risk of any late aphid fly-in not being covered.

Slugs: recent rain and return of mild weather has again increased foliar grazing in fields where were problematic in early October.

Weeds: Blackgrass now flushing through in many fields where no pre-emergence herbicides applied.

South West: Stephen Harrison, reports that earliest drillings have six or seven tillers. Later sowings now taking around 2 weeks to emerge. Some 'very poor plant stands where a little seed straight from the barn' was used to finish drilling, where bought treated seed was not quite sufficient. Emergence only 50% of treated seed and very low vigour plants suggesting high levels of fusarium - not surprising after the very wet July. Ground in very good order and even able to roll in some of the last sowings.

Gout fly: a few gout fly eggs seen.

Slugs: activity is building up again with surface grazing a real issue especially in non inversion wheat after rape, where there is still considerable surface trash.

Weeds: worst fields now have blackgrass at 2 leaves, albeit at low to moderate populations, after pre-emergence herbicides. Meadow grass, high levels on a few known problem fields where pre emergence herbicide did not go on. Canary grass emergence even and early this season.

Aphids: still just winged migrants, no secondary spread seen as yet

East Midlands: Martin Eudall reports that, little real change with most crops at GS 13-15 and forward crops at GS 21-22. Crops seem to be moving more slowly than other seasons which may be down to seed dormancy and vigour (even though tests showed seed vigour to be good). Anything drilled mid October followed by the 25 mm or so of rain we had are slow to establish and just putting out roots - recent warmer weather will help them. Malcolm Harrison adds that soil has warmed a bit since last week - now approx. 10-11 deg C and is remarkably dry for late October. Air temperature up to 17 deg C by day.

Aphids: becoming obvious. Warmer days will encourage build-up, and forward crops becoming vulnerable to BYDV.

Gout fly: no change on last week.

Slugs: activity slowing down as crops generally too forward for damage.

Weeds: blackgrass in forward crops now at 1-3 leaf stage. Usual flush of general weeds.

West Midlands: Bryce Rham reports that, winter wheat drilling all but complete and crops range from yet to emerge through to 4 tillers. Many crops at the two to three leaf stage. 'Yet another good week has allowed more spraying to be completed, I would guess that 80% of crops sprayed.'

Aphids: none seen.

Frit fly: surprisingly little after long term setaside.

Gout fly: no change on last week.

Slugs: renewed activity in some fields but on the whole finally winning the battle.

Weeds: crops recovering from discolouration from herbicide mixes.

Eastern Counties: Colin Allott, Suffolk, reports that, September drilled wheats now at 1-2 tillers stage, with majority at 1-2 leaf stage.

Aphids: populations building up on early drilled crops.

Gout fly: Gout fly eggs found on emerging crops.

Slugs: still active but slowing down.

Weed control: blackgrass at variable stages of growth 1 leaf to 1 tiller, some has germinated from depth. Lot of cotyledon to 3 leaf Cranesbill, and Shepherds needle now present. Volunteer oilseed rape now emerging to 3 leaf, Charlock is coming through too.

North East: Phillip Tuplin reports that, most crops establishing well now. Earliest at GS 23, latest GS 11. Only 2 mm rainfall over last week and although most crops looking very good there are some capped seedbeds now and need some rain to allow full emergence. Also seeing some herbicide damage which is reducing establishment in a few crops, but expect to see an acceptable plant population eventually.

Gout fly: a few gout fly eggs seen.

Slugs: grazing continues in several crops.

Boron deficiency in winter
oilseed rape.

South East: Crops range from 3-9 true leaves - bulk of crops are now around 5-6+ true leaves and continuing to grow well in current mild spell.

Downy mildew: around 50-75% of late emerging plants have been killed outright by downy mildew attack.

Phoma: now being found very widely with all crops showing infection levels of around 10-50%, irrespective of supposed varietal resistance.

Flea beetle: a low level of renewed shotholing being found now.

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 following rain.

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

South West: Milder conditions have allowed good growth on later smaller plants or where seedbeds dried out too much. Most look like they will survive the winter provided weather and pigeons are not too severe.

Flea beetle: no further damage.

Phoma: most crops now at threshold. So called resistant varieties do not appear to have read the lists as there is little variation in phoma levels between varieties.

Aphids: no further increase.

Slugs: a lot of leaf grazing on larger plants, which these plants are well capable of withstanding.

Weeds: soil temperatures still too high for residual herbicides.

Eastern Counties: Pat Turnbull reports that rape growing well in current mild, bright conditions. Most forward 10 leaf +, the late emerging rape in the backward crops has 2 to 4 leaves but are small and have lacked vigour. Plants have been struggling due to downy mildew and some cotyledons have died back but they now look like survivors. No crops abandoned yet. Some of the forward light land fields have become uneven due to differences in soil type across fields or uneven spreading of poultry manure on some fields. Compaction on headlands resulting in discoloured purple plants.

Downy mildew: causing cotyledons to die on other plants but next leaves just beginning to appear.

Phoma.: Norfolk: now widespread Phoma spotting and many crops now treated.

Slugs: becoming less severe.

Weeds: emergence of blackgrass has been low. Lot of Charlock and some Runch emerging.

East Midlands: Forward crops at 7-9 leaves and look well. Later crops now at 4-5 leaves and all crops now look to be established well enough.

Phoma: surprisingly still at very low levels with no crops at above 5%.

Downy mildew: now less obvious, but some small plants as good as dead.

Flea beetle: now much less serious.

Slugs: although some leaf grazing vast majority of crops now past any problems with thankfully only one field needing some re-drilling.

West Midlands: Most forward crops at 100% ground cover and up to 12 leaves. But there are also some rough looking crops around. Still looking at some VERY backward crops final decisions will be made next week as to plough and redrill or risk it.

Phoma: levels still below threshold in most crops with very little increase over the last week.

Flea beetle: only slight damage seen so far.

Slugs: less activity now.

Boron: obvious boron deficiency symptoms showing up in crops in parts of the West Midlands.

North East: Most forward up to 7-9 leaves now. Crops evened up well now, although plants still very small in many crops they are 5 -7 leaves now.

Phoma: a week ago expected infection to rapidly reach threshold for treatment, but it hasn't increased in last 7 days.

Flea beetle: some activity in most crops, but not requiring specific pass to control.

Slugs: no further damage seen.

Weeds: worst fields have significant germination of blackgrass now, which is at 1 - 2 leaves.

Loss of color in winter
barley from stubble
debris. Photo Philip Tuplin.

South East: All crops range from 2 leaves to GS21. Blackgrass: significant flush in some crops now.

South West: Crops now tillering and have made a lot of growth during the recent milder weather. Herbicide scorch has not been too severe although treated areas are noticeably paler than misses. No diseases present.

Eastern Counties: Early drillings emerged and growing well. Later drilled now at 1-2 leaves. Net-blotch coming into crops now. Aphids apparent.

Midlands: Generally still at GS 13-15, and looking well although some manganese patches seen, even on heavier land.

North East: Crops have emerged well, but seeing some herbicide effect in some crops. Some leaf bleaching following pre-em herbicides but expect to be only transitory. Also, loss of colour due to debris from previous crop where top-worked, which again expect to be transitory (see photo of crop of Pict where drilled after non-inversion tillage). No diseases present.