T1 fungicides most are up
to date.
Photo Philip Tuplin

South East: Peter Cowlrick reports that September-Mid-October sown crops range between GS 31-33 with leaf 3 now between 50-100% emerged, with leaf 2 up to 25%. Otherwise most later sown crops are between GS 31-32 with leaf 3 10-25% emerged.

Brown rust: T0 sprays have prevented further pustule development.

Yellow rust: none seen.

Septoria: with recent poor spraying conditions and leaf 2 emerging, applications now need to be made as soon as conditions allow - we urgently need two or three decent spraying days.

Mildew: rapid accumulation of nitrogen and new soft growth are now generating ideal mildew conditions.

Eyespot: ALERT Stem based browning increasingly obvious in many first wheats, with combination of some true eyespot and general browning. Weather to date continues to be ideal for eyespot development.

Weeds: Cleavers fairly widespread this spring.

South West: Stephen Harrison reports that there has been rapid growth over the past week with mild wet weather. Einstein on early coastal ground is at GS 37 (tip of flag leaf just showing). This is very much the extreme, most wheats are at GS 32 to 33 with leaf 3 25% to 80% emerged. Crops are now even and later sowings have tillered well to fill available space. Severely rabbit damaged crops are still very thin. Disease levels still low. However, delayed spraying is causing concern. Could this be the year when T0s show their worth. Heavy showers have disrupted spraying.

Brown rust: still very rare.

Yellow rust: none seen.

Septoria tritici: warmth and rain continue to provide ideal Septoria conditions. Expect to see symptoms on main yield forming leaves if fungicides not robust and timely.

Mildew: levels remain low.

Eyespot: ALERT 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.

East Midlands: Martin Eudall reports that forward crops with leaf 3 out - later crops have leaf 3 emerging. Mixed weather - after dry weekend some 25+mm rain this week - fields now very wet and need a couple of days to dry out. Still no-one on narrow wheels yet! Tissue analysis in one or two crops shows low boron and magnesium - slow growth and changeable weather is not helping uptake of micronutrients so tissue test if in doubt. Rain has delayed some T1 applications which will hopefully be finished end of this week. Delayed T0 changed to early T1. Upsurge in growth means second split of growth regulator at T1 important on forward crops, particularly.

Brown rust: none seen.

Yellow rust: report of yellow rust in south Warwicks where no T0 on, due to weather.

Septoria tritici: risk rising as T1 sprays delayed.

Mildew: levels probably lowest I have seen for some years - even Solstice is clear.

Eyespot: in spite of stem browning penetration not as severe as would expect but with continued wet risk will remain. Some browning mix of eyespot and fusarium. Cause for concern on second wheats, especially if T0 not applied. Disease penetrating on some second wheats. Occasional sharp eyespot suspected.

Weeds: some cleaver tidy ups with T1.

West Midlands: Bryce Rham reports that "This time last year I was saying thank goodness for 12mm rain, this year I just wish it would stop. Quite a lot of fields now impassable after rain on 29 April, with many fields with such deep ruts that it's unlikely that they will dry out by T2!" 80-90% T0 have been applied. 70-75% T1 applied with 10% now late and the remainder OK until Monday 5th - Friday 9th May. Most advanced crops of Einstein have the tip of the flag leaf just appearing, most September sown crops have leaf 3 fully out with leaf 2 emerging quickly. October sown crops have leaf 3 at 20 - 50 % emerged.

Brown rust: none found to date.

Yellow rust: report of yellow rust on Robigus where no T0 on.

Septoria tritici: risk rising as T1 sprays delayed. Where T0 fungicide applied leaf 4 remains clean, though older leaves are carring high levels of inoculum.

Mildew: some pustules evident on Alchemy where thick and some found on Gladiator. Also visible at low levels on Timber and Gatsby although both varieties rated 7 for resistance.

Eyespot: ALERT early sown Claire, Einstein and Solstice with very visible lesions some visible on Gatsby at low levels. Reports of some severe lesions being found in Humber.

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 GS 32. Later sown at GS 31. Had 8 mm rain this week and several good days for spraying. Virtually all farms up to date now and 90 % of T1 applications done. Rest will go on in next 7 days.

Brown rust: controlled by T0 fungicides.

Yellow rust: low levels in untreated crops of Robigus.

Septoria tritici: still main disease this year so far. Levels building especially in early sown crops, Solstice, Gladiator, Consort all with quite high levels.

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

Eyespot: lots of eyespot reported in untreated crops.

North East: Phillip Tuplin reports later sown crops at GS 31. Majority at GS 32 with final leaf 3 emerging.

Brown rust: none seen.

Yellow rust: pustules developing on Robigus 7 days ago where T0 not applied. Where T0 applied no pustules seen but there are leaf blotching symptoms.

Septoria tritici: significant level on older leaves, but all newer leaves are clean.

Mildew: none seen.

Eyespot: high levels of stem browning in second and continuous wheats, and also early sown first wheats, but no significant stem damage seen.

Protracted early flowering period.
Photo Farming Online.

South East: Most crops now range from early flowering to full flower on main racemes (with up to 10 pods set on some plants) and remain remarkably short as a consequence of cold spring weather and resultant slow nitrogen uptake.

Light leaf spot: none seen.

Sclerotinia: following last years infection levels, risk will be high this year particularly now that soils are wet again. With the more advanced crops at early petal fall, conditions for infection are overlapping well with flowering.

Pollen beetle: overall risk is also declining, but will need to remain vigilant with more backward/pigeon grazed crops.

South West: Crops now in full flower and generally quite short after the cold April. Most Sclerotinia sprays have been applied by farm sprayers with little need for specialist high clearance machines.

Light leaf spot: none seen.

Sclerotinia: steady soft rain worse than downpours which tend to wash off petals rather than sticking them to the stem. These conditions could worsen light leaf spot so worth checking that your chosen Sclerotinia fungicide has activity on this pathogen.

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

Eastern Counties: Pat Turnbull reports that many crops now at mid-flower with the pigeon grazed areas still green.

Sclerotinia: trying to apply Sclerotinia sprays in between the heavy showers! Brendon Butterworth adds that due to the long flowering period this year two sprays may be required as persistence is only 21 days at best.

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

East Midlands: Most crops flowering but still some green patches (or even half fields in some cases where pigeon damage has delayed flowering). Check tissue analysis for boron especially if any club root found on farm.

Light leaf spot: none seen.

Sclerotinia: sprays now on or going on imminently when weather allows.

Pollen beetle: very, very few, but backward crops could still be at risk.

West Midlands: A spell of warmer weather has brought these crops on with more now at full flower, although still some crops at yellow bud. Soils are wet.

Sclerotinia: risk has increased with recent rains and warming soils. Fungicide applications already started. Results from cultures from petals show 25% infection already in some crops.

Pollen beetle: very low levels only.

North East: Most forward crops have 10 - 15 pods set on the main stem. Majority are at early petal fall and a few later crops or poorly established areas are still at yellow bud.

Sclerotinia: A few applications already done on most forward crops, but most will be over next 14 days.

Pollen beetle: none seen.

South East: All crops now around GS 32-39 - T1 applications completed on all crops. Crops needing PGR will need monitoring closely to ensure latest timings are not missed (awns just visible). T2 fungicide timing also approaching in next 2-3 weeks.

South West: Vigorous growth over the past week. Awns are just starting to appear in sheltered areas and flag leaf emergence is widespread. PGR applications will be made with the T2 fungicide. Winter Barley generally doubles in height from flag leaf to full ear emergence. Rapid growth has moved new leaves quickly away from diseased older leaves.

Eastern Counties: Most crops now GS32-37 - leaf 2 out.

Midlands: Crops mainly at leaf 2 still emerging. First flag leaves on most forward crop. Estimating need for PGR difficult as crops have little or no real growth yet but may well shoot up over the next 10 days or so. Decision on PGR will be in next few days.

North East: A few crops at GS 37-38 flag leaf emerging, but for most flag leaf will be emerging in a few days. As flag leaf emerges will apply PGR depending on variety. These applications started this week on most forward crops