T2 fungicides next week.
Photo Philip Tuplin.

South East: Peter Cowlrick reports that all September/early October sown Einstein, Solstice, Xi19 and Cordiale all have flag leaf emerging/emerged on main shoots. Late October/November sown crops are at GS 31-32. Flag leaf is emerging/emerged on October sown Soissons (up to 100% emerged) - have even seen flag-leaf emerging on September sown Claire in last few days (!). As suspected earlier, arrival of warm days and nights has led to accelerated leaf emergence, which will probably lead to emergence of ears in May again this year. Applications of T0 and first splits of PGR were generally made later than normal (around 10th-20th April), and most had the addition of 25-33% dose of triazole - these have now been followed with a delayed T1 (around leaf 2 emergence) between 2-3 weeks after T0 applications - this may enable a combined T2/T3 follow-up in some situations, depending upon variety, weather and disease pressure - time will tell. Despite cold spring and late leaf 3 emergence, crops are now racing through their growth stages and are now ahead of normal in many situations.

Brown rust: none detectable now following inclusion of T0 triazoles.

Yellow rust: following use of T0 triazoles on Robigus, no signs of yellow rust pustules can be found.

Mildew: a few pustules on Claire and Solstice.

Eyespot: ALERT noticeable levels (20% plus) of stem based browning (combination of sharp and True eyespot) are present in many crops (including 1st. wheats) this year.

Septoria tritici: common on all older leaves, but top 3-4 leaves are generally spotless, hopefully reflecting inclusion of triazole at late T0 timings. T2 timing is likely to be from beginning of next week on earlier developing crops - in general will wait for full flag-leaf emergence on main shoots.

Weeds: cleavers still emerging in some fields (especially where min-tilled) - applications in these situations being delayed until mid-May to optimise weed kill.

South West: Stephen Harrison reports that crops are now looking green and healthy. Leaf 2 is around 50% emerged on sowings before mid October and flag leaf tip can be found in many September drilled crops. A lot of T1 sprays were applied when leaf 2 was emerging, given that early season disease levels were low with little infection on leaf 3, timely flag leaf sprays in a week or 10 days time should result in very clean canopies. Many fields are very wet with water lying in tramlines. T1s are now complete but it has been a battle.

Brown rust: only very low levels in susceptible varieties however fungicide programmes have kept leaf 4 onwards totally clean.

Yellow rust: none seen.

Mildew: levels remain low.

Eyespot: levels have not escalated and at risk crops now all treated. Wet May weather allows further penetration of leaf sheath so maintain vigilance.

Septoria tritici: no expression of symptoms on yield building leaves.

East Midlands: Martin Eudall reports that forward crops have tip of flag leaf emerging. Most crops have leaf 2 out with only very late drilled crops with leaf 3. Soils now drying out with warmer and dryer weather making fieldwork a much better proposition. Some crops showing signs of soil problems, compaction, etc with stunted growth in affected patches with transient Mg deficiency.

Brown rust: none seen but with temps above 20 deg C then risk will rise. T1 sprays will be holding it for now.

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

Septoria tritici: where T0 went on OK then down to leaf 5 clear - T1 will now be holding it again and hopefully the interval between T1 and T2 will be only 3 weeks so should be able to be kept under control.

Mildew: levels remain low but with warm weather and moist in the base of crops, then risk will rise - most likely any action needed will be at T2.

Eyespot: levels have remained similar to recent weeks and much of browning is on outer leaf sheath. Dryer weather will now help

West Midlands: Bryce Rham reports most crops sown in September have flag leaf emerging. Alchemy is the odd one out where some sown in September are just at flag leaf emerging whereas others that went into dry min - till seed beds are only at leaf 2 emerging, certainly in the main behaving very differently to last year. One crop of Humber at full flag. Wet conditions have prevailed with sharp thunderstorms over the weekend, some have got fields that they dare not travel on. All T1 applications now applied, with T2 commencing on Friday 9th May, some intervals will be less than 3 weeks BUT with septoria pressure so high and the unpredictable weather conditions feel it is the right thing to do. Some T1 sprays have ended up as T2 (Einstein and Consort daren't think what they will look like in 2 weeks time!). Some crops still not had all N yet partly because of weather/field conditions and some because they have not had all their N delivered yet!

Brown rust: none found.

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

Mildew: reports that where metrafenone not used on Humber at T1 then mildew now very visible and climbing the plant.

Septoria tritici: Einstein and Consort have 1-2% Septoria on leaf 4, majority of other varieties have leaf 4 clean at the moment.

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.

Eastern Counties: Brendan Butterworth reports that leaf 2 is emerging on forward wheats.

Yellow rust: low levels in untreated crops of Robigus.

Mildew: coming back into susceptible varieties e.g. Claire.

Septoria tritici: none on new leaves.

Eyespot: lots of eyespot reported in untreated crops.

North East: Phillip Tuplin reports less variation in growth stages now. All at GS 33 with final leaf 3 emerged, and some with final leaf 2. In sheltered areas can find a few flag leaves just showing but will be another 7 days before a regular feature. Only had 2mm rain this week , and had lots of sunshine. There is still water in some tramlines but this hasn't stopped completion of all T1 fungicide applications. T2 applications will begin in 7 - 10 days.

Brown rust: none seen.

Yellow rust: no pustules seen but there are leaf blotching symptoms.

Septoria tritici: present on leaf 5 in Nijinsky and Cordiale, but others such as Alchemy and Timber are very clean.

Mildew: none seen.

Eyespot: no significant stem damage seen.

Sclerotinia sprays most
completed
Photo Farming Online.

South East: All crops now at mid- flowering stages. Planning to apply foliar nitrogen products on a few even crops at end flowering - to see if we can reproduce reported yield responses of 0.4-0.7t/ha.

Sclerotinia: mid-flowering fungicide sprays have mostly been applied in last 5-7 days, so should see most crops through until end of flowering.

South West: All crops now at full flower although backward pigeon damaged area are only just at early flowering. Canopies are standing well with no lodging at flowering which is generally very yield damaging and can worsen Sclerotinia. Our crops of dwarf hybrids still look very encouraging with dense flowering and thick stalks only a few inches long. Tap roots look like medium sized parsnips. We look forward to seeing if final yield reflects the early promise.

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.

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

Sclerotinia: all sclerotinia sprays now applied well on time!

East Midlands: Crops now in full flower.

Sclerotinia: earlier Sclerotinia sprays now have been on some 2 weeks and decision in next few days re a second spray. The drawn out flowering makes a second spray feasible, particularly if the weather turns showery again.

West Midlands: The last few days has seen even patchy fields yellow up.

Sclerotinia: 90 % of crops now treated.

Pollen beetle: very low levels only.

North East: Most crops at early to mid-flowering and have 10 - 20 pods on the main stem.

Sclerotinia: many crops been sprayed now, and even the later ones are ready to do in next few days.

Pollen beetle: none seen.

South East: All crops at GS 37-52. T2 follow-ups at awns emerged - next 7-10 days.

South West: Awns and ear now emerging. Explosive growth has resulted in a lot of late season PGR use. All recommendations are in place and apart from pre harvest treatments the gate is now closed on this crop for this harvest year.

Eastern Counties: Forward barley is at flag leaf with awns emerging.

Midlands: Awns just starting to show. Most likely start T2 week beginning 12th May.

Rhynchosporium: now visible on quite a few crops, delay in T1 applications main cause for high levels, due to wet weather will need to keep T2 doses up.

North East: Flag leaves fully emerged in most crops now. Disease levels in treated crops remain very low.