Eyespot in winter wheat.
Photo Farming Online.

South East: Peter Cowlrick reports that, September-Mid-October sown crops range between GS 30-31 (most advanced still being Solstice and Einstein), with leaf 4 now up to 100% emerged - tip of leaf 3 seen yesterday in forward Einstein. October sown Soissons now at GS 32 with leaf 3 around 75% emerged. Otherwise later sown crops just beginning stem extension (GS 29-30). Recent snow and cold weather (night temps. down to -4 degrees C) slowed stem extension growth down considerably, but leaf emergence now being driven by day length.

Brown rust: recent cold weather has prevented further pustule development.

Yellow rust: none seen.

Mildew: brown/inactive pustules present on most September sown crops of Solstice/Claire in sheltered areas and any lusher canopies.

Septoria: widespread on all older leaves and beginning to show expression on leaf 6 of more susceptible varieties (Solstice, Cordiale and Xi19) - with regular rain events and inoculum present latent infection can occur and the infected leaves appear symptomless.

Eyespot: weather to date has been ideal for eyespot development.

Weeds: cleavers present particularly in fields after beans/potatoes this year, but overall fairly widespread this spring. Further flush of cotyledon cleavers now appearing.

South West: Stephen Harrison reports that, crops progress towards GS 31 and leaf 4 emergence still slow as cold snap continues. Later crops will have one fungicide and PGR at GS 31 when leaf 3 often emerges on later drillings. No T0 to be applied here. Manganese patches on greensand and flooded areas becoming more obvious. No sign of leaf 3 yet even in earliest sowings.

Brown rust: still very rare.

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: lesions are still easy to find but currently slow to penetrate the leaf sheath so main focus of control will be at T1.

East Midlands: Martin Eudall reports that forward crops at GS 31 with leaf 3 tip just showing. Majority at GS 30/31 with leaf 4 out. Backward crops at GS 30. Soils generally ok but some wet patches and sticky areas but all travallable. Very limited chance of spraying - due to snow and frost. Soil cold 5-6 degrees C. Temps from -2 to +10 degrees C.

Brown rust: none seen.

Yellow rust: first traces on Robigus.

Mildew: levels extremely low with the cold conditions holding it back.

Eyespot: generally steady with older leaves now dying off and penetration through leaf sheaths not as high as would have expected. Showery conditions ideal for keeping eyespot ticking over.

West Midlands: Bryce Rham reports that crops range from GS 23-32. Einstein once again racing away with mid September crops now at GS32. A fair percentage of crops now at GS 30. Mid September sown Consort GS 30-31. Humber varies from GS 30-31, sown at same time! Heavy soils still very wet and will take some very good weather to dry up. Having said that, 75% of T0 applied between 2nd and 4th April. T1 applications will start Friday 18th April.

Mildew: low levels on Einstein, Humber and Oakley.

Brown rust: none found to date.

Eyespot: early sown Claire with very visible lesions and on Einstein the lesions have penetrated the leaf sheath. Visible on Gatsby and Solstice at low to moderate levels.

Eastern Counties: Majority of early sown wheats now at GS 31. Later sown at mid tillering. T0 fungicides applied this week. Soils are now drying out but there are still some wet areas.

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

Yellow rust: none seen.

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

Mildew: now building again especially Claire, Solstice, Humber and in lush crops of Robigus.

Eyespot: levels are high in susceptible varieties e.g. Robigus.

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

Weeds: groundsel is common, few polygonums starting to emerge, thistles starting to come through. Wild oats also present.

North East: Phillip Tuplin reports that all crops in range GS 30-31. Ground is a bit sticky, but will travel OK. Its been a cold week with 12 mm rain.

Brown rust: none seen.

Yellow rust: none seen.

Septoria tritici: present on older leaves on most varieties particularly Nijinsky and Cordiale.

Mildew: none seen.

Eyespot: high levels of stem browning easily found in second and continuous wheats.

Weeds: cleavers have seen very few, but where are present they are quite big.

Early flowering in forward crops.
Photo Farming Online.

South East: Most crops now around yellow buds visible to early flower. Pigeons are at last beginning to leave crops alone allowing crop recovery.

Light leaf spot: none seen.

Sclerotinia: following last years infection levels, risk will be high this year if conditions are conducive to infection. At present, soil temperatures are too low for apothecia to emerge.

Pollen beetle: low levels can be readily found in early flowers - recent colder weather has slowed migration again, but will need to be vigilant with more backward/pigeon grazed crops. Apply insecticide spray to backward/pigeon grazed crops only if an average of 3-5 pollen beetles found on most plants. If re-treating is necessary, then will use a neonicotinoid spray to avoid further selection for pyrethroid resistant populations

South West: Earliest crops have main raceme at full flower. Side branches still at yellow bud.

Light leaf spot: none seen.

Pollen beetle: can be found but not at damaging levels.

Eastern Counties: Pat Turnbull reports that crops are very slowly coming into flower on more advanced fields. Some still being hammered by pigeons. Frost have made plants twist and go floppy but this soon disappears.

Light leaf spot: odd foci of infection but not widespread.

Pollen beetle: still low levels of pollen beetle to cold for them to fly.

Pigeons: continue to be a real nuisance.

East Midlands: Very variable with some crops at first flowers with others still at early green bud, particularly where pigeon damage - pigeon continue to attack and hold crops or part crops back.

Light leaf spot: none seen.

Pollen beetle: levels generally very low and well below threshold.

Pigeons: continue to attack crops.

Weeds: although herbicide has hit cleavers there is still concern over slow growth of rape and thin crops where lack of crop competition may well allow some to survive.

West Midlands: Majority of crops showing some signs of flowering with light land crops looking more advanced.

Light leaf spot: no further infection seen.

Pollen beetle: very low levels only.

Pigeons: still devastating some crops.

North East: Most forward crops coming into flower now, but many crops still just at 'buds proud' stage.

Light leaf spot: none seen.

Pollen beetle: none seen.

Net-blotch in winter barley.
Photo Farming Online

South East: All crops now around GS 30-31 with leaf 3 emerging now - T1 timing has arrived!

Brown rust: low levels can be found in most crops of Pearl/Sequel/Boost.

Mildew and Rhynchosporium: both at very low levels.

Net blotch: at moderate levels in Sequel and Boost.

South West: Crops still prostrate except in south Somerset where they are well into GS 31. Elsewhere at GS 30 and still prostrate.

Brown rust: at low levels in crops of Carat and Sequel.

Rhynchosporium and net blotch: remain at low levels

Eastern Counties: Crops now at GS 30-31. T1 fungicides will be applied as soon as possible.

Net blotch: levels increasing, Pearl and Cassata notably.

Rhynchosporium: at low levels.

Brown rust: now more active in susceptible varieties e.g. Carat, Pearl.

BYMV: a few patches have been seen.

Midlands: Most crops at GS 30 - 31. Disease levels remain low. T1 fungicide week scheduled for next week.

North East: Crops starting to grow now and despite the cold are greening up. Most crops at GS 31. Disease levels remain very low.

South West: Sitona (Pea and Bean) weevil is now active in spring beans and causing severe notching. In some cases first leaf pair has been almost totally wiped out. Insecticides have been applied as a matter of urgency before eggs can hatch and invade nodules.