September sown Humber,
leaf 3 emerging 17 April 08.
Photo Farming Online.

South East: Peter Cowlrick reports that the most advanced varieties, still being Solstice and Einstein, now have the tip of leaf 3 appearing in more crops. Otherwise most later sown crops are in early stem extension (GS 29-30). Ongoing cold weather continues to slow stem extension growth down considerably, but leaf emergence now being increasingly driven by day length.

Brown rust: combination of recent cold weather and T0 sprays have prevented further pustule development.

Septoria: recently applied triazole based T0 sprays should give around 3-4 weeks protection from renewed infection, particularly as the latent period for Septoria tritici under the current cool conditions is likely to be around 28 days, there is no benefit in applying T1 sprays too early.

Mildew: weather to date this Spring has not been conducive to mildew progression.

Yellow rust: none seen.

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 the season still continues to be marked by extreme variability with crops becoming polarised by location. South facing coasts which have avoided worst of the frosts now have leaf 3 at 33% emerged. Crops high up on the Downs or Cotswolds have barely pushed past GS 30. Compared to last year crops have maintained tillers through the first half of April. Nitrogen uptake appears slow and so far only crops in fertile or milder areas have a lot of chlorophyll and corresponding greenness. Passing of the frosty spell should see growth pick up as temperature and day length triggers kick in. Once this happens expect growth to be rapid and growth stages to pass very quickly. Land has dried out well and no barriers to current field activity.

Brown rust: still very rare.

Septoria tritici: new growth is free from Septoria however latent period will still be prolonged in cooler conditions and vigilance needed as weather improves.

Mildew: levels remain low.

Eyespot: worst of eyespot is now on silty soils that continue to lie wet. In some cases lesions are starting to affect the stems beyond the old leaf sheaths. Crops on more free-draining soils have occasional lesions but these have rarely passed the leaf sheath.

East Midlands: Martin Eudall reports that generally majority of crops at GS 31 with some forward crops showing tip of leaf 3. Growth slow with the showers and cold nights. Fields alternate between dry and damp but travel OK. Tramlines now gathering water as showers continue. Some headlands and corners lie wet. Spraying days have been scattered and snatched.

Brown rust: none seen.

Yellow rust: first traces on Robigus.

Septoria tritici: older lower leaves have infection but leaves 4 and 5 clear and T0 on recently should be holding it now.

Mildew: notable by its absence.

Eyespot: many crops have browning of older leaf sheath (generally all varieties affected to some extent but Einstein showing quite high levels). In many cases penetration is light but with the levels on older sheath and dead tillers and continued damp conditions any crops showing signs of eyespot getting boscalid/epoxiconazole the extra cost in fungicide is insignificant compared to the value of the crop. In conditions like these two years ago even low levels of eyespot took off when May was continually damp.

Weeds: blackgrass - still one or two outstanding patch spraying to be done - T0 has taken precedence with the few spray opportunities.

West Midlands: Bryce Rham reports that crops range from GS23-32. Einstein once again racing away with mid September crops now at GS32. A fair percentage of crops now at GS30. Mid September sown Consort GS30-31. Humber varies from GS30-31, sown at same time! Growth has slowed down in the last 2 weeks, thankfully. There are some VERY wet fields out there with all farms still on wide tyres. Few more T0 applied on 9th, 14th and 16th somehow and in far from ideal temps - now up to 90% applied. T1 applications start Friday 18th April.

Brown rust: none found to date.

Mildew: some pustules evident on Alchemy where thick and some found on Gladiator.

Eyespot: early sown Claire, Einstein and Solstice with very visible lesions and Einstein where the lesions have penetrated the leaf sheath, some visible on Gatsby at low levels. Easy to find on most farms first and second wheats.

Weeds: still no pattern to what has controlled cleavers best, just appears that some fields are clean for whatever reason.

Eastern Counties: Brendan Butterworth reports that the majority of early sown wheats now at GS31. Later sown at GS30. T0 fungicides some applied but many delayed. Soils are now wet again after recent rains. Most wheats have now had first dose of nitrogen.

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.

North East: Phillip Tuplin reports that 18 mm rain fell this week, and spraying has been difficult between heavy localised showers giving some areas up to 40 mm. We have abandoned a lot of intended T0 applications now and are going straight to T1 as it was intended for next week anyway.

Brown rust: none seen this week even on early sown first wheat Alchemy.

Yellow rust: none seen.

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

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

Mildew: none seen.

Weeds: blackgrass - seeing more survivors in Autumn treated crops than anticipated, and undecided whether just poor control or the result of high dormancy and an extended germination period. The latter is favourite.

Protracted early flowering
period.
Photo Farming Online.

South East: Most crops now around yellow buds visible to flowering (with up to 10 pods set on some plants). Pigeons have at last begun to leave crops alone allowing crop recovery, though some headland areas still being attacked.

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 and air temperatures are still too low for apothecia to emerge.

Pollen beetle: levels of adult pollen beetle appear to have declined rapidly during recent cool weather and as more crops begin to flower, so overall risk is also declining, but will need to remain vigilant with more backward/pigeon grazed crops.

South West: Significant number of fields now predominantly yellow a few pods set on main raceme. Dwarf hybrids noticeably later to flower and definitely shorter! Pigeon damage and variable establishment still causing extreme variability within fields. Fortunately as larger plants branch, fill the gaps and out-compete smaller specimens this is starting to recede.

Light leaf spot: none seen.

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

Eastern Counties: Pat Turnbull reports that crops are very very slowly coming into flower. Crops still look very uneven with plants a variety of heights within an individual field. There is further variation across a field as a result of bad pigeon grazing.

Sclerotinia: too early for Sclerotinia sprays.

Pollen beetle: still few pollen beetles around but need to keep a watch on this as crops will be a long time coming into flower.

Pigeons: continue to be a nightmare.

East Midlands: Crop growth all over the place with some parts of fields flowering and some just at green/yellow bud due to pigeon damage. Crops now too far forward for pigeons to do much damage but backward areas will be a problem all way to harvest with some yield losses where damage heavy. Some crops having split fields of N at early pod set/end flowering to see if any yield benefits.

Light leaf spot: none seen.

Sclerotinia: with the cool conditions it appears that flowering may well be a long drawn out period.

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

Pigeons: continue to attack crops.

West Midlands: A very protracted early flowering period with many crops reluctant to move. Majority of crops showing some signs of flowering with light land crops looking more advanced. Frost can not be having a good effect on forward flowering crops.

Sclerotinia: already finding petals stuck to leaves, not an issue as yet as too cold for Sclerotia to develop.

Pollen beetle: very low levels only.

Pigeons: Still devastating some crops

North East: Most forward crops well in flower now and have first pods set. Most though still at yellow bud.

Sclerotinia: This is a high risk area for Sclerotinia.

Pollen beetle: none seen.

Conditions generally getting
worse.
Photo Philip Tuplin.

South East: All crops now around GS30-31 with leaf 3 emerging now - T1 applications just underway on earlier crops and will be completed on all crops by end of next week. Final N doses been applied to malting vars.

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

Net blotch: at moderate levels on older leaves in Sequel and Boost.

Mildew and Rhynchosporium: both at very low levels.

South West: Now greening up and moving on. Low lying areas now at GS32. As in wheat, crops have maintained tillers and many will achieve their target 1000 heads/sq. metre.

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

Rhynchosporiun and Net blotch: remain at low levels.

Eastern Counties: Crops now at GS30-31. T1 fungicides will be applied as soon as possible.

Net blotch: levels increasing, Pearl and Cassata notably.

Rhynchosporium: appearing, seen in Haka and Carat.

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

Midlands: Crops have hardly moved and are at GS31. T1/T2 interval is going to be short.

North East: Barley was overtaking the wheat growth stage but it seems to be reacting badly to the cold wet conditions and there has been little growth this last week. Very wet. See photo of headland tramline in crop of Carat.

Net blotch: present at low level in most crops.