Crop of Einstein now at GS30.
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South East: Peter Cowlrick reports that, September-Mid-October sown crops are now entering early stem extension GS 30 >31 (especially Solstice and Einstein), with leaf 4 up to 50% emerged. October sown Soissons now at GS30-31. Otherwise later sown crops range between mid-tillering and GS 29. Recent cold weather has slowed growth down considerably, and we are heading for a more typical season of crop development with more traditional spray timings seeming likely.

Brown rust: earlier pustules that were present in all September/early October sown crops of Claire, Alchemy, Solstice and Cordiale have all but disappeared - infections still present, but latent within leaves.

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.

Eyespot: increasing levels of stem based browning being noted in many first wheats, with combination of some true eyespot, but mostly sharp eyespot at this stage.

Weeds: Cleavers present particularly in fields after beans this year, where residual materials gave very poor cleaver control, and also after oilseed rape where establishment was patchy. Further flush of cotyledon cleavers now appearing.

South West: Stephen Harrison reports that most varieties on lower ground and kinder soils making steady progress towards GS 30 with 31 becoming more common in South Somerset and coastal areas. Leaf 4 around 33% emerged in forward crops. Humber and Oakley moving on quickly. On higher ground crops remain at the end of tillering with no stem movement away from the over wintered leaf rosette. Continued cold weather and occasional night frosts mean it is unlikely any T0s will be applied before the end of March. This is a normal season after the excesses of some previous springs. Floods have receded no signs of permanent damage except where soil has been scoured away and deposited in other areas of the field burying the crop.

Brown rust: levels still very low. Close inspection of susceptible varieties treated with fuberidazole/triadimenol seed dressing shows good control compared to areas of untreated seed although even here infection levels still very low. Rust active triazole with T0 but on a risk assessed, field by field basis.

Yellow rust: still none seen.

Septoria tritici: still only on older overwintered leaves however it is possible to find newer, fresh lesions with obvious pycnidia.

Mildew: levels remain low.

Eyespot: colder conditions are slowing down further development of eyespot.

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

Aphids: no aphids being found.

East Midlands: Martin Eudall reports forward wheat at GS 30 going on GS 31, generally crops standing still with little or no change. Growth regulators await dry and milder weather. Up to today fields were drying out nicely. E Leics rain and fog today and fields very sticky on top - no fieldwork envisaged. In Warks very little rain today with chance of some fieldwork. Soil temperatures in last week dropped to 5 deg C but today (26 March) risen to 8 deg C.

Brown rust: none seen even on Alchemy.

Yellow rust: none seen even on Robigus.

Mildew: odd inactive pustule seen but most crops very clean of mildew - cold weather will keep it in check and low rates of mildewicide at T0 if required on susceptible varieties.

Eyespot: stem browning still found but not always penetrating.

Weeds: Where not sprayed yet blackgrass are getting well tillered and control may now be compromised. Cleavers were starting to move before cold weather.

West Midlands: Bryce Rham reports that a fair percentage of crops now at GS 30, Einstein at GS31 in quite a few cases. Ground conditions varying from too wet to drying quickly and allowing field work to be carried out. Too cold/windy for T0 at the moment, will start this week if conditions allow, with the bulk of crops looking to go from Mon 31st through to Mon 7th April.

Mildew: not active. Lot killed by recent frosts.

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

Eyespot: early sown Claire with very visible lesions and Einstein where the lesions have penetrated the leaf sheath.

Gout fly: there does seem to be a distinct difference between treated and non treated fields with a lot less on crops treated with clothianidin.

Weeds: Herbicide applied 4 weeks ago for well tillered ryegrass has done a very good job with almost total kill already, brome also severely scorched but too early to say what results will be.

Eastern Counties: Majority of early sown wheats now at GS 30. Later sown at mid tillering, reports Brendon Butterworth. Very wet soil conditions after recent heavy rainfall. The weather in the last week has been horrendous with lots of rain and snow, very little change to note compared with last week. The priorities are treatment for grass weed control in Wheat, Sugar beet drilling, last of the spring barley drilling, spring beans drilling , T0 fungicides for wheat.

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

Yellow rust: none seen.

Eyespot: becoming obvious in some crops.

Septoria tritici: main disease this year so far. Solstice, Gladiator, Consort all with quite high levels.

Mildew: now building again especially Claire and Solstice and notably following sugar beet.

Take-all: starting to show in second and third Wheats.

Wheat bulb fly: some dead-hearts especially following peas.

Gout fly: symptoms of attack now being seen in some fields

Weeds: blackgrass variable stages of growth.

North East: Phillip Tuplin that even later sown wheats have main stem at GS 30, and most September sown crops close to GS 31. Very little progress made in last 7 days, due to 22mm rainfall and some very windy days. Most plans for a split dose PGR been abandoned now so changed to a single application. The crops look a bit battered after the snow and frost we had over Easter, but they will recover quickly as soon as we get some sunshine.

Brown rust: None seen this week even on early sown 1st wheat Alchemy. Will apply T0 triazole, but not until early April.

Yellow rust: none seen, even on Robigus.

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. Will include a chlorothalonil product at T0.

Eyespot: high levels of stem browning easily found in second and continuous wheats. No decision or action until T1 timing.

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, and crops close to cut off for dimethoate approval.

Early flowering in forward crops.
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South East: Most crops now between green and yellow buds visible.

Light leaf spot: none seen.

Pigeons: still very problematic in thinner patches and more open crops - are still some very large flocks about.

South West: First flowers now opening, hybrids the most forward except for later flowering semi dwarf types. Smaller plants in poorly emerged crops are now growing rapidly and filling the gaps however in these situations flowering will be uneven and extended which may lengthen the period in which Sclerotinia infection can occur. Maturity is also likely to be very variable within the crop.

Pigeons: damage is, at last, reducing.

Eastern Counties: Pat Turnbull reports that growth slow in current cold wet conditions. Crops very uneven within a field. Applying 2nd N to more advanced crops. Need to apply fungicide to most forward crops as soon as weather turns warmer. Other crops are not sufficiently forward.

Pigeons: continue to be a real nuisance.

Light leaf spot: odd foci of infection but not widespread. Plan metconazole/tebuconazole at less than full rate at mid stem extension on several fields for canopy manipulation. Aim to shorten crops and also even up flowering. With the added benefit of some disease control.

Pollen beetle: none seen and too cold.

East Midlands: Growth all over the place with some crops at knee high and others only half that, even in the same field depending on pigeons. Very few fields have a GAI above .75 so growth regulator use will be down, but some fields getting part treatments on forward areas to try and level up very forward areas with pigeon damaged areas.

Light leaf spot: generally crops growing away but colder weather has slowed them down and risk is still there on backward crops or pigeon damaged crops.

Club root: can be found but less where Limex followed by Boron, here galls can be found on some plants- no visual patches can be seen across crop which hopefully will withstand dry weather.

Pollen Beetle: if weather warms up backward crops may come under risk especially pigeon damaged areas, but at present risk is low.

Pigeons: continue to attack crops.

West Midlands: Crops now visibly growing with most advanced at full green buds visible, early flowers on most forward crops.

Light leaf spot: obvious signs being found in Astrid.

Pigeons: still devastating some crops.

North East: Most crops at 'buds proud' stage, and a few have some plants at yellow bud.

Light leaf spot: none seen.

Pigeons: damage extensive, large flocks still gathering.

Mildew controlled by recent
frosts. Photo Farming Online

South East: All crops range from GS29-30. First N+S applications already applied to all barley crops. Brown rust - low levels can be found in most crops of Pearl/Sequel/Boost. Mildew, Rhyncosporium both at very low levels. Net-blotch at moderate levels in Sequel and Boost. T0 fungicides based on cyprodinil or cyproconzole.

South West: Southernmost crops in my area are now at GS31 with lush growth and high tiller numbers. Canopies here are starting to look more erect. Elsewhere crops are still quite yellow and at late tillering to GS30.

Eastern Counties: Crops at the 5 - 6 tiller stage. Net-blotch: evident in crops, especially second barleys. Balance of N fertiliser will be applied at the end of March - early April.

Midlands: Generally GS 29+ - not a great deal of change. Crops beginning to green up as they pick up the earlier applied nitrogen. Growth regulators to go on after Easter when weather allows. Disease levels remain low.

North East: Many crops at GS 30 now. Some crops had growth regulator + Manganese, but most not been done yet so including T1 fungicide in tank-mix. Disease levels remain low. Fungicide planned for early April, but in tank-mix with PGR now so likely to be marginally earlier than ideal.

South East: Crops at GS 24.

Crown rust: readily found in any earlier sown crops of Dalguise/Gerald, particularly where not fungicide dressed.

South West: Turning paler as soil N is used up. No artificial N will be applied before mid/late April. Low levels of mildew present.

East Midlands: Crops at GS 22 or thereabouts but like other crops growth has slowed right down. No diseases present.

West Midlands: Hendon sown in 3rd week September very lush and the most forward crop of oats seen for this time of year. No diseases present.

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