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

South East: Peter Cowlrick reports that, October emerged crops now tillering, GS 29, while November sown wheat is mostly at GS 21-23. Earliest sown (September) and most advanced crops are mid-tillering (GS 24+) to GS 29. Many crops have yellowed/bronzed in last 10-14 days, probably due to a combination of low N supplies in top 30cms and also marked diurnal contrast in temperature.

Brown rust: levels so far are not nearly as great as this time last year.

Yellow rust: none seen

Mildew: pustules still present on most September sown crops of Solstice/Claire in sheltered areas and lusher canopies, but otherwise mostly browned by recent frosts.

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

South West: Stephen Harrison reports that crops range from mid tillering to occasional crops of Einstein on the South Wales coast and early drilled Humber in sheltered areas at GS 30. Most crops are looking tipped after recent frosts. Land is dry on the surface and in good order for travelling.

Brown rust: much less than last year and recent frosts have curtailed inoculum build up.

Yellow rust: none seen.

Mildew: levels remain low.

Aphids: no aphids being found.

Weeds: autumn blackgrass control generally excellent with very few fields needing a spring overspray.

East Midlands: Martin Eudall reports that forward crops at GS 30+ with later crops at GS 29+. Second wheat at GS 29+. Crops a bit stressed from stop - start weather and cold nights. Conditions generally good with only one or two sticky patches. Lighter soils in particular dry on top.

Brown rust: none seen.

Yellow rust: none seen.

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

Eyespot: stem based browning quite easy to find even in first wheat but nothing penetrating and on older leaves sheaths which are dying off. Hard to say at this stage whether it is early eyespot or fusarium, although some lesions do look eyespot like.

West Midlands: Bryce Rham reports that crops range from GS 13 -30. Have some Humber and Timber at GS 31 on the main stem, Einstein is the next most forward variety. Field conditions generally dry which has allowed field operations to take place, some heavy land still difficult to travel and people are holding back from these so as to avoid wheeling issues.

Mildew: not active and primarily visible on Humber.

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

Eyespot: some lesions visible on Gatsby early sown and on Solstice.

Gout Fly: damage varies between none up to 40% plants affected particularly bad on wheats sown up to and including third week September, majority of crops are well tillered so hopefully not a major issue.

Weeds: Wild oats, spring germinators coming through now.

Eastern Counties: Helen Baxter reports that most crops looking well and growing rapidly, GS 29 for Cordiale other varieties less forward.

Brown rust: low levels in Alchemy now disappeared following frost.

Yellow rust: trace levels.

Mildew: now building again especially on Claire.

Septoria tritici: levels building especially in early sown crops , Solstice, Gladiator, Consort all with quite high levels.

Weeds: blackgrass variable stages of growth

North East: Phillip Tuplin says most crops mid to fully tillered. A few forward first wheats close to GS 30, and will be there in 7 days if temperatures rise a bit. Recorded only 14 mm of rain in February and 2.5 mm on 1st March. Consequently land is dry and travelling well for planned operations.

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

Yellow rust: none seen, but it may be there and visible symptoms could appear soon.

Septoria tritici: high levels on older leaves of susceptible early sown varieties such as Nijinsky, but overall seeing average levels for this time of year.

Eyespot: lower stem browning easily found but not identifiable by eye at this stage.

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

Wheat bulb fly: no 'dead-hearts' seen so far.

Green bud stage in forward
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 days.

Phoma: second Phoma sprays are only being applied to smaller/backward crops

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.

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

South West: Many crops now at green bud stage with stem extension under way, as always Excalibur is first off the starting blocks.

Phoma: one or two new spots on larger older leaves but new growth very clean.

Eastern Counties: Helen Baxter comments that crops growing well but not elongating stems yet. 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.

East Midlands: Crops vary from thick and forward to just stumps where heavy pigeon damage with variations across fields. Forward crops at early bud emergence and stem extension. Pigeon damaged crops putting buds out and extending.

Phoma: no new symptoms and crops now growing too rapidly for it to be a problem.

Club root: Crops haven't suffered as bad as other years with little or no above ground evidence (i.e. yellowing of leaves, bad stunting) - hopefully due to use of Lime, Boron etc or it could have been due to the dry Sept/Oct.

Pigeons: pigeons flocks now increasing.

West Midlands: 4 leaves to green bud visible, forward dense crops are moving and green buds are now visible. Backward fields are also picking up. Still some very wet oilseed rape fields but in the main they have dried out well.

Phoma: some reinfection is now visible particularly on Lioness.

Light leaf spot: difficult to decide whether fertiliser scorch frost damage or genuine article, will look again next week.

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. A few crops have flower buds visible now. Some crops in poor seed beds look like they need some encouragement so applied a foliar feed early March. Also, applied to some 'good' crops to see if can identify an economic response, which shouldn't be too difficult with rape at £350 / tonne.

Phoma: applied 2nd application in late Jan/early Feb.

Light leaf spot: none seen

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. First N+S applications already applied to all barley crops. Brown rust - low levels can be found in most crops of Pearl/Sequel/Boost.

South West: Crops now fully tillered but generally yellow and prostrate. Cassata is carrying a lot of mildew. Possible to find foci of Rynchosporium in a number of varieties. With current strong prices we will consider an extra fungicide at the onset of rapid spring growth where the crop has high potential.

Eastern Counties: Crops at the 5 - 6 tiller stage. Net-blotch: evident in crops, especially second barleys. Nitrogen and Sulphur applications have been applied.

Midlands: Generally GS 29- all crops look well. Majority of crops very thick and lush which is the opposite to the wheat, can see the need for growth regulators in a lot of crops.

North East: Most crops fully tillered now in range GS 25-28 and at leaf sheath erect stage. N planned for early-mid March and being applied this week. Most crops fairly yellow following cold spell. Mildew: some forward crops had significant levels in December, but they are clean now although some older leaves have been lost. Generally, there is very little mildew around.