Most crops looking remarkably well and have greened up in the new year. Brown rust is more evident in crops in the South. Temperatures from now to April will be important in determining whether this will be another brown rust year. The graph shows the relationship between the latent period of brown rust and average temperatures. Last year we saw temperatures in April up to 16 C with many days above 10 C, this allowed an early start for the epidemic. This year we have abundant inoculum from previous season, plentiful hosts in susceptible varieties but a cooler over-winter period to date. But don't be complacent as a return to the temperatures of last spring could see the disease being as virulent as last year.

South East: Peter Cowlrick reports that, October emerged crops now tillering, while November sown wheat is at 3 leaves to GS 21. Earliest sown (September) and most advanced crops are mid-tillering (GS 24+). Has been some noticeable growth/greening of crops in last 10 days or so of mild weather. Autumn spray programmes completed on most farms and am hopeful that bulk of outstanding spraying will be completed next week as high pressure builds from the South. Wet in heavier and lower lying fields following recent wet spell, otherwise most fields will travel again by end of this week.

Brown rust: noticeable pustules present in all September/early October sown crops of Claire/Alchemy/Solstice and Cordiale where seed not treated with fuberidazole/triadimenol - also beginning to find pustules now on September sown Solstice that was dressed.

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

Aphids: no aphids being found at present, but unseasonably mild weather of late may encourage a low level of activity in coastal areas and also build up/spread of aphids in any later sown and unsprayed crops.

Slugs: no renewed grazing noted since turn of year despite wet and mild weather of late.

Weeds: blackgrass present in usual fields, although there are still only very low levels where peri-emergence treatment applied. In general most blackgrass ranges from 2-3 leaves up to early tillering reflecting later emergence and slower growth to date.

South West: Stephen Harrison, reports that forward crops are well tillered and green. Later drillings are at 3 leaves to 1 or 2 tillers. Some areas are showing manganese deficiency brought about by rapid growth in current mild conditions and waterlogging around the roots. Some wheat has been lost to flooding on riverside fields. Damage brought about by physical eroding effects as floodwaters receded before plants were killed by submersion. Land currently extremely wet with little prospect of land work over the next week or so. Fortunately not much to do at the moment. A lot of soil wash at the end of tramlines on sloping fields. Over cultivated fields on silty land have slumped and capped severely.

Brown rust: not entirely absent, occasional lesions can be found on older leaves on forward early-drilled crops and second wheat Istabraq. Infection appears to be absent on early-drilled Alchemy where fuberidazole/triadimenol seed dressing used.

Mildew: levels remain low.

Septoria: confined to older leaves.

Weeds: autumn programmes have given satisfactory control. On later drillings where a good pre-emergence applied no follow up with a contact material has yet been necessary. Wild oats at coleoptile now emerging in known problem fields. Not planning to treat in the immediate future.

East Midlands: Martin Eudall reports that later drilled wheat after maize at GS 13. Early drilled wheat at GS 26. Most crops look very well and are growing with the milder conditions. Wet - no travel on fields possible.

Brown rust: first pustule seen on Alchemy, other varieties clean at present.

Mildew: some pustules seen on lower leaves of Einstein but at low levels. Otherwise levels very low.

Weeds: blackgrass mainly at GS 25+ on unsprayed crops. Just a few crops to spray when weather allows but if delayed for some time some plants could be quite big. No new emergence seen.

West Midlands: Bryce Rham reports that crops range from GS 13 -25. Einstein and Humber are the most visibly forward crops (I thought Humber was a slow developer!) Wet areas in most fields but in the main walking well. Fields along the river Severn have been under water since last Thursday, levels dropping today. If stays dry over next 7-10 days then envisage field work could begin.

Aphids: none seen.

Mildew: not active and primarily visible on Humber.

Brown rust: none seen.

Slugs: still visible on surface but majority of crops are beyond the stage when slugs will effect the crop.

Rabbits: worse than ever on most farms, where they are an issue some crops bared to the ground. One client put electric rabbit fencing out only to have it stolen within 7 days!

Weeds: Wild oats, spring germinators coming through now.

Eastern Counties: Bredan Butterworth reports that most September drilled wheats now at 5 -6 tiller stage, with the majority of crops at early tillering. Very wet recently, drains running well. Compacted areas under water in extreme cases.

Brown rust: trace levels.

Mildew: trace on Solstice and Alchemy.

Aphids: low levels but most crops treated.

Wheat bulb fly: no current signs of damage - egg numbers low, but monitoring.

Weeds: blackgrass variable stages of growth. All autumn sown wheat crops have now had a pre or early post em treatment.

North East: Andrew Beeney reports that earliest sown crops now at 3 -4 tiller stage whilst late sown crops are at the two leaf stage. A lot of rain has fallen over the last month, 125 mm in January so far. Some cooler periods below freezing, but also some periods where temperatures have risen to double figures. Soil temp's 6.5 degree but dropping. Some localised flooding has occurred.

Brown rust: none seen.

Mildew: traces on Einstein and Claire early sown.

Weeds: Still waiting to treat later sown crops once soil temperatures have risen.

Phoma returning to some
crops.
Photo Farming Online

South East: Crops range from 6-9 true leaves - bulk of crops remain around 6-8+ true leaves and have started to grow again in recent mild conditions.

Phoma: most crops were sprayed between 7-10 weeks ago and so far there is still very little sign of renewed infection. Where low levels of re-infection are being found, application is unlikely to be economical, even at current harvest prices, as most plants and leaves are too large for Phoma to be yield damaging.

Pigeons: quite problematic in thinner patches and more open crops - some very large flocks about. Pigeon deterrence underway in earnest now to try and allow crops to get away as days begin to lengthen - probably not doing yield prospects much harm yet, however, they are removing a significant amount of foliar accumulated nitrogen which at current values is significant in terms of the amount of bagged N subsequently required!

Weeds: significant late flush of blackgrass in a few fields with history of blackgrass or poor control in wheat last year. Around half area recommended for spraying pre-Christmas is still awaiting application.

South West: Crops have produced a lot of new leaf in the mild January. Smaller plants have made sufficient growth to be viable so spring redrilling may be less than anticipated following the extremely dry establishment conditions.

Flea beetle: no further damage.

Phoma: some respotting on larger leaves but too late to result in yield reducing cankers. Small plants with new spots on thin crops will be treated as soon as ground conditions allow.

Pigeons: plants are currently tolerating pigeon grazing.

Slugs: no further damage seen.

Weeds: Charlock control has been acceptable except where very dense patches have shaded smaller plants.

Eastern Counties: Pat Turnbull reports that small plants have survived well so far. There are even signs of fresh growth in centre of plants during current mild weather. Rape is a good colour. A whole range of canopy sizes generally not as forward as last year. A range of plant sizes within fields also due to uneven emergence in dry weather. Very wet, water in tramlines and on headlands.

Pigeons: continue to be a nuisance.

Phoma: crops sprayed twice completely clean. Some fresh Phoma now appearing in crops which received a single spray but generally most plants are large and canker threat should be low.

Weeds: Some charlock control still outstanding, waiting for land to dry. Blackgrass: overall emergence has been very low, very little propyzamide/carbetamide applied.

East Midlands: Crops mainly with 7-9 leaves but pigeons have stripped quite a bit of leaf back. New leaf growth apparent with the milder conditions and rape is growing actively.

Phoma: no new lesions seen on new growth.

Club root: inspection of known areas show clubbing of roots but not a levels previously seen - may be due to strategic nutrient use taking pH up to 7+. However, as symptoms are a bit later this season anything could happen in the next few weeks. Interestingly patches do not show typical above ground symptoms with leaves staying green rather than dying off and roots are penetrating well.

Pigeons: pigeons flocks now increasing.

Weeds: Propyzamide applied about 6 weeks ago now working well with the typical tell-tale signs of swollen stem bases.

West Midlands: Crops range from 4 leaves to 10 leaves.

Phoma: some reinfection noticeable on big crops. Unsprayed crops now showing 20% plants affected.

Pigeons: vast amounts in some crops.

North East: Crops are well established now at 5-9 leaves.

Phoma: no re-infection has been seen so far. Even untreated crops are only at very low levels.

Pigeons: activity increasing, damage extensive, large flocks still gathering.

Weeds: Cleaning up a few bad areas of blackgrass as conditions permit.

Most crops now tillering well.
Photo Farming Online

South East: All crops range from GS 24-29. Brown rust - low-moderate levels can be found in most crops of Pearl/Sequel/Boost. Mildew at low levels.

South West: Crops now well tillered with all tillers even and healthy. Occasional areas of manganese deficiency can be seen. Very little disease present.

Eastern Counties: Crops at the 5 - 6 tiller stage. Net-blotch: evident in crops, especially second barleys.

Midlands: GS 21-25, majority of crops very thick and lush which is the opposite to the wheat. Traces of Mildew and Net-blotch.

North East: Crops in range GS 23- 25. Low level of Mildew and Net-blotch in most crops.

South East: Crops range 3 leaves to GS 22. Crown rust - readily found in any earlier sown crops of Dalguise/Gerald, particularly where not Fuberidazole/triadimenol dressed.

South West: Winter oats are very thick and have grown strongly in the recent mild weather. Traces of mildew.

East Midlands: Crops at GS 21 or thereabouts but like other crops growth has slowed right down. No diseases present.

West Midlands: Crops at three leaf stage and growth slowing down. No diseases present.

North East: Crops now at GS 22 -23. No diseases present.