Leaf tipping after recent
frosts. September sown
Humber. Photo Farming Online

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+).

Brown Rust: noticeable pustules present in all September/early October sown crops of Claire/Alchemy/Solstice but levels so far are not nearly as great as this time last year.

Mildew: frosts have curtailed development on most September sown crops of Solstice/Claire.

Aphids: no aphids being found.

Weeds: blackgrass present in usual fields. Bromes - a widespread problem in fields/headlands after set-aside, with a mix of species often present.

East Midlands: Martin Eudall reports that forward crops moving to GS 26-29. Later drilled crops at GS 12-21. Some crops looking forward and a bit lush whilst others have started to take on a yellow tinge, probably showing the wide variation in soil N. In spite of dry period soils very wet still with local ponding on headlands and wet sticky patches. Fieldwork being avoided where possible due to potential damage.

Brown rust: little seen yet and recent night frosts are helping.

Mildew: some pustules found on lower leaves of Einstein and Solstice but cold frosty nights are holding it in check.

Eyespot: some low levels of stem base browning found on second wheat but difficult to tell if start of eyespot or fusarium at this stage.

Weeds: Soil temps still only at about 6degrees. Where low levels of blackgrass that are still small, then holding off herbicides until soils warm up a bit.

West Midlands: Bryce Rham reports that crops range from GS 13 -30. Humber and Timber are very forward. Drying up again, fieldwork starting apace this week. It will be beginning of next week before most can travel without any disasters.

Aphids: none seen.

Mildew: not active and primarily visible on Humber.

Brown rust: looked at lots of Alchemy and none found to date.

Rabbits: worse than ever on most farms.

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. Dry considering time of year allowing some P&K applications.

Brown rust: low level in Alchemy.

Mildew: trace on Solstice and Alchemy.

Aphids: low levels but most crops treated.

Wheat bulb fly: egg hatch now well underway. Monitor crops especially after onions / early harvested crops.

Gout fly: Symptoms of Gout Fly attack now being seen in some fields.

Weeds: blackgrass variable stages of growth.

North East: Phillip Tuplin says all crops well tillered now and in range GS 25-28. Some early sown crops have a lot of leaf but no stem extension. Dryer, cooler weather but soils are still wet and soil temperatures are dropping back. There has been some crop kill from waterlogging on low-lying land. The travelling situation is improving. Disease levels have decreased.

Brown rust: much lower levels than last year at this time. Can be found at low levels in Alchemy and Nijinsky.

Mildew: present at a low level in forward crops of Claire, but is actually less evident than it was in December.

Weeds: fields which had very low numbers of Blackgrass last Autumn now have enough plants to justify spraying, and although they have tillers they are small plants and should be controlled well.

Check Sulphur requirements.
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, if 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.

Eastern Counties: Pat Turnbull reports that plants have grown and greened up. Considerable fresh growth in the centres of plant especially on lighter soil types. Enclosed flower buds present in forward plants.

Pigeons: backward thin areas still being grazed heavily by pigeons.

Phoma: crops sprayed twice completely clean and very green. Reinfection on some varieties, especially Castille and NK Bravor.

Weeds: Charlock continuing to die back during current frosty spell.

East Midlands: Crops mainly with 7-9 leaves but pigeons have stripped quite a bit of leaf back. Slight growth but no major stem extension.

Phoma: new growth remains clear but on the other hand pigeons taking new growth in some crops anyway.

Club root: Crops seem to be coping with no major crops loss.

Pigeons: pigeons flocks now increasing.

West Midlands: Some fields will be popping out green buds before too long, some crops still looking stressed due to length of time sat in wet fields. Backward crops are definitely looking better post Christmas.

Phoma: All crops have now finally been sprayed for phoma, have not been tempted back in as yet, Lioness showing reinfection, majority of other crops clean.

Pigeons: vast amounts in some crops.

North East: Have a very wide range of crops from 5 - 10+ leaves . Most crops though are average size with good plant populations i.e. not too dense.

Phoma: the Autumn treatment appears to have given good control in majority of crops, but new Phoma lesions present at varying levels in some fields.

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

Weeds: dense patches of Runch/Charlock in a number of crops. Also areas of Cranesbill mostly on some headlands.

Mildew controlled by recent
frosts. Photo Farming Online

South East: All crops range from GS 24-29. 1st N+S applications being planned for all barley crops from mid-February onwards.

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: Most crops now tillering with forward crops up to GS 30. Late drilled crops not yet sprayed, but waiting for frost free nights before applying mix with manganese in.

North East: Most crops fully tillered now in range Gs 25-28. Mildew: some forward crops had significant levels in December, but they are clean now although some older leaves have been lost.