'I couldn't spray the rape,
there was something in the
way.' Photo Felix Griffith

South East: Crops range from 5-9 true leaves - bulk of crops are now around 6-8 true leaves and have continued to grow well in recent benign autumn weather.

Downy mildew: damaging levels that could be found on late emerging rape cotyledons now been arrested by earlier frosts and new leaves appear totally healthy.

Phoma: all crops have now been sprayed between 2-3 weeks ago and so far there is no sign of renewed infection, probably due to settled weather conditions in last two weeks.

Weeds: Charlock/Runch - some fields have moderate/high populations, often in patches.

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: no reoccurrence yet and we wait to see if earlier treated crops will need a follow up in mid/late November.

Aphids: no further increase

Slugs: no further damage seen

Eastern Counties: Pat Turnbull reports that crops have grown well during last two dry, mild weeks. Smallest rape now 4 leaves but plant size fairly small 8 to 10cm across. Plant populations are good and plants well distributed. Other fields have complete canopy cover. Unevenness appearing on some lighter soil types related to soil type. Some manganese deficiency and some pale areas which may be Sulphur deficiency.

Downy mildew: dry weather halted spread, plants grown away from disease.

Phoma: Norfolk: checking for fresh disease (old phoma lesions appear to have dried up after treatment with a prominent brown outer ring). No fresh disease present at moment. Will continue monitoring especially after wet weather but still only about 3 weeks from first fungicide so expect this is holding out well.

Slugs: becoming less severe.

East Midlands: Crops have improved, but growth has now slowed with colder weather. Two stages of growth now less obvious - 1-2 lvs to 5-7 lvs.

Phoma: first signs, but now protected, and symptoms have subsided.

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

Flea beetle: now much less serious.

Slugs: no further damage seen.

West Midlands: Good crops looking very good with nothing too forward, bad crops looking a bit scary in terms of growth stages and open, it will test the theories on how few plants/sqm are needed. A small acreage has been redrilled with wheat.

Phoma: levels still below threshold in most crops.

Flea beetle: only slight damage seen so far.

Slugs: less activity now.

Weeds: some fields with volunteer wheat or barley that has emerged since graminicide applied, not surprising with the very dry weather earlier followed by rain, some control also not that stunning could be down to too coarse a spray.

North East: Virtually all crops well established now and in range of 5 - 9 leaves, but still a few crops of very small plants which need a mild spell for them to get up to 3 leaves and a they will then have a good chance of surviving the winter.

Phoma: level has not increased significantly over the last 14 days as was expected, but can be found in all crops. Virtually all treated now. Will monitor to see if second application needed after end November.

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. The decision to apply a residual herbicide will not be taken until the level of control achieved by current program can be assessed.

Blackgrass at three leaf
stage. Photo Philip Tuplin

South East: Peter Cowlrick reports that, all wheat drilling completed, apart from few fields still to be sown once grain maize harvested! October emerged crops typically range between GS12-21. Earliest sown (September) and most advanced crops are now tillering (GS 22+). In general, despite relatively mild conditions crop growth and establishment seems somewhat slow and without the vigour of recent autumns - possibly a reflection of low seed vigour after poor summer grain fill and also low nutrient status of soils.

Aphids: no recent sightings.

Slugs: foliar grazing continues 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.

Manganese: now seeing some quite marked manganese deficiency symptoms in wheat and barley on greensand which appears to have flared up over the past week. Classic pale green floppy growth with greener plants on tramline edges and wheelings where ground firmer and seed to soil contact better.

Slugs: activity slowing in colder conditions.

Weeds: worst fields now have blackgrass at 2 leaves, albeit at low to moderate populations, after pre emergence herbicides. Canary grass emergence even and early this season.

Aphids: crops now treated.

East Midlands: Malcolm Harrison reports that, 99% crops now drilled. Most crops at leaf 3-6 with most forward tillering. Growth has now slowed down with cooler and dry soil. However, most later sown crops have emerged well. I have never seen such dry conditions at this time of year, hard clods on clay soil following late but easy harvesting of forage maize.

Aphids: most early sown crops now treated.

Gout fly: no change on last week.

Slugs: dry weather has reduced slug attack even on vulnerable patches, but risk could increase when weather becomes wetter and colder.

West Midlands: Bryce Rham reports that, the most forward wheat now at GS 23 and many more crops just starting to tiller. Late sowns at the GS12. Drilling all but complete.

Aphids: none seen.

Frit fly: surprisingly little after long term setaside.

Slugs: continued activity in some fields.

Weeds: Good overall control of annual meadow grass and broad-leaved weeds but some crop scorch on occasions.

Eastern Counties: Helen Baxter reports that, slow growth last two weeks. Most crops looking well, if slightly low on plant numbers. Slugs seem to have finally stopped. Quite dry, some rain would be good. Colin Allott reports that September drilled wheats now at 4 Tiller stage, with the majority of crops at early tillering leaf stage.

Aphids: low levels but most crops treated.

Slugs: finally stopped.

Weeds: blackgrass at variable stages of growth 1 leaf to 2 tiller stage. Some crop damage from herbicide, in waves across fields.

North East: Phillip Tuplin reports that, most forward crops at GS 22-23 and latest sown virtually all emerged. Majority of crops at GS 21. Had 12mm rainfall over last 2 weeks, which after dry spell is welcome for all crops and especially the layer sown. Some frosty nights and the shorter days are slowing growth as expected at this time of year.

Wire worm: High numbers seen in some crops where old grass has been ploughed out. But Dual Purpose seed dressing has kept damage to a low level, and crops are established now.`

Slugs: no new damage seen this week.

Weeds: A combination of high seed dormancy and a good result from the pre-emergence herbicides has resulted in most fields having only a low level of blackgrass emerging, but some of these are already tillering (see photo).

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

South East: All crops range from 3 leaves to GS22. Net-blotch: high levels noted in few fields of Sequel after spring barley/winter barley.

South West: Crops now tillering and have made a lot of growth. 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: Majority of barley now sprayed, crops have grown very quickly over the last 2-3 weeks with some looking very lush. Low level of Net-blotch in some crops.

North East: Crops in range GS 21 - 23. Some crops stressed due to herbicide effects and/or crop debris in seedbeds. No diseases present.