Blackgrass at three leaf
stage. Photo Philip Tuplin.

South East: Peter Cowlrick reports that, October emerged crops typically range between GS12-21. Earliest sown (September) and most advanced crops are now tillering (GS 22+). It's wet in some fields following 3 inches of rain early last week.

Brown rust: pustules present in all September/early October sown crops of Claire/Alchemy/Solstice where seed not treated with fungicide dressing. Monitor until February.

Mildew: pustules present on most September sown crops of Solstice/Claire.

Aphids: no recent sightings.

Slugs: foliar grazing continues in fields where were problematic in early October.

Weeds: only very low levels of blackgrass can be found although there seems to be some late emergers at around 1 leaf appearing now.

South West: Stephen Harrison, reports that earliest drillings have six or seven tillers. Later sowings now taking around 2 weeks to emerge.

Aphids: crops now treated.

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. Meadow grass - high levels on a few known problem fields where pre emergence herbicide did not go on.

East Midlands: Martin Eudall reports that most crops have almost ground to a halt with forward crops at GS 22/23 and later drilled second wheat at only GS 12 with little or no growth over the last 2 weeks. Later drilled wheat slow, with vigour not as good as other years in spite of good seed tests. Fields wet on top and sticky. Some wet patches on headlands.

Aphids: most early sown crops now treated.

Gout fly: no change since last report.

Slugs: just slight activity in some cloddy patches but no major damaging problems.

Weeds: blackgrass where 2-3 leaves has been sprayed and where low levels and backward crops will now hold off until early spring. On few fields where nothing on yet due to late drilling, cleavers, at cotyledon, are evident in high numbers.

West Midlands: Bryce Rham reports that, all wheat now sown varies from chitting to GS 24. All wheat has a very prostrate growth habit and some still growing VERY slowly even though its been in the ground 2 months. This may be due to the dry autumn and or lack of residual nitrogen after the very wet summer. February N looks to be a certainty in quite a few crops! Some fields now getting soggy but still in the main OK to spray, weather conditions over the last 2 weeks have hampered finishing spraying off, either too windy, too wet or too cold.

Aphids: none seen.

Frit fly: surprisingly little after long term setaside.

Slugs: back again with a vengeance in some fields. But I think majority of crops now too big to disappear

Eastern Counties: Bredan Butterworth reports that most September drilled wheats now at 4 Tiller stage, with the majority of crops at early tillering leaf stage. Some acid patches showing up in forward wheats.

Brown rust: trace levels

Septoria: Low levels in the most lush forward crops.

Aphids: low levels but most crops treated.

Slugs: still active but slowing down.

Weeds: blackgrass at variable stages of growth 1 leaf to 1 tiller.

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 30 mm rain over last 14 days so fields have been too wet for spraying, but conditions have improved in last few days and some spraying is being done now.

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: some grazing on a late sown crop as it is emerging.

Weed control: A few fields identified now with enough Blackgrass at 3 leaves to justify prompt treatment. Most fields are still very clean except for some headlands where dense patches of grasses are appearing now.

Crops now filled out well.
Photo Farming Online

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 were sprayed between 3-5 weeks ago and so far there is no sign of renewed infection. With very good control from first fungicides to date.

Flea beetle: some evidence of a low level of larval invasion of leaf petioles being found now.

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.

Aphids: no further increase.

Slugs: no further damage seen.

Eastern Counties: Pat Turnbull reports that crops still continue to grow but more slowly over last 2 weeks. Not currently losing plants. Pigeons becoming a problem, large numbers flocking in some areas and it is important to move them on. There are reports of some crops now at the green bud stage.

Phoma: about 4 to 5 weeks since fungicide application. No signs of fresh phoma spotting in any crops!

Slugs: becoming less severe.

Weeds: low emergence of blackgrass.

East Midlands: Forward crops at 7-9 leaves with backward crops at 5 leaves. Backward patches due to delayed emergence in the dry have now filled out.

Phoma: crops very clean.

Club root: Odd lesions on plants on known monitored site but as yet not showing effects on crop and much less than last time rape was in field. Boron applied with fungicide and more will go on in spring on farms with known club root.

Flea beetle: now much less serious.

Pigeons: pigeons flocks now increasing and some large flocks seen, with damage to crops. Early damage probably due to lack of food with no set aside stubbles - rape is all they have to go at now!

West Midlands: Gappy or late emerging plants still struggling along and there are quite a few crops that range from 2 true leaves -10 true leaves in the same field. There are concerns about the viability of some fields if we have a harsh winter.

Phoma: unsprayed crops still showing very low levels of phoma.

Flea beetle: only slight damage seen so far.

Slugs: less activity now.

North East: Most crops in range 5 - 9 leaves and areas of slow establishment are looking Ok now.

Phoma: virtually all crops been treated. This was a month ago now, but no re-infection has been seen so far.

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.

Most crops now tillering
well. Photo Farming Online

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: Little movement in crop growth. Some barley showing patchy stress on headlands probably due to herbicide overlaps but generally scorch has been absent. Crops clear so far for all diseases.

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 still a bit yellow but generally they are recovering now from some transient stress due to crop debris in the seedbed, wet soils and recently applied herbicides. No diseases present