Plants survival better than
expected after the big freeze.
Photo Farming Online.

South: Peter Cowlrick reports that crops are generally ok, but are being hammered by large flocks of pigeons - we need a mild February to enable an early start to nitrogen applications to encourage some early foliar growth.

South West: Rape has taken a battering in the frost. Large plants have lost leaf and pigeons are now tucking into the remaining green leaves. Small late drilled fields look to be disappearing as pigeons are feeding hard. Charlock has been hit hard by the frost however small plants remain healthy at the base of dense canopies of large plants killed by frost.

Eastern Counties: Pat Turnbull reports that the more forward crops look well some lower leaf loss accelerated after the frosts. Backward crops still variable and a few are being condemned already and plan to replace with spring beans. Farmers working hard to keep pigeons away. These small rape did progress a little in growth during early December and we don't seem to have suffered plant loss.

Phoma: little re-infection yet on protected crops but unsprayed crops at threshold level now says Brendan Butterworth.

Weeds: some charlock has been hit hard by the frosts in some fields in others it still looks relatively healthy.

East Midlands: Backward crops being hit badly by pigeons, although even where leaf stripped the growing point as yet not damaged. Real concern is backward crops will be thin, susceptible to pollen beetle (if they have survived cold) and weed competition.

Phoma: unsprayed crops showing low levels of lesions and fungicides rates now envisaged to be raised but small plants may well have suffered damage to stems already - time will tell but no real spraying weather on the horizon so getting concerned but nothing no one can do.

Weeds: charlock has survived well - main problem is it is as small as the rape so not susceptible to frost.

West Midlands: Majority of crops have survived the cold snap over the new year but there is still doubt over the viability of some of the late sown crops.

Phoma: unsprayed crops now range from 5-10% infection and will need treatment as soon as ground conditions allow.

Pigeons: moving into crops but not a major problem yet.

North East: Only about 60% of crops have reached full establishment, many have weathered poorly especially where wet.

Phoma: unsprayed crops still remain below threshold level.

Pigeons: major problem in some crops.

Sharp frosts brought in the
new year.
Photo Farming Online.

South: Peter Cowlrick says that cereal crops have stood still for three weeks really, with no obvious new growth noticeable due to around two weeks of frozen soil. He is waiting to see if frost heave has been a problem on any later sown fields as the soil thaws out, otherwise crops seem to have coped with cold well up to now apart from bruising of older leaves by frost.

South West: Stephen Harrison reports that wheat crops have come through the cold snap very well. Little new growth has occurred but leaves are green and healthy. Only crops to have suffered are those on poorly drained heavy land which now look yellow and stressed. Little prospect of further drilling for a few weeks except on the lightest land where late drilled wheat tends to perform poorly. Given the prospect of a poor to average wheat crop or a potentially very good spring barley crop most people will take the spring barley option.

Weeds: a lot of sterile brome emerged but temperatures too low for good control and little chance of obtaining the required dry leaf.

East Midlands: Martin Eudall reports no real change - wheat coping OK but not a lot of tillered crops - even relatively forward crops with only 1-2 tillers which will need boosting. Late drilled crops still at GS 13+. Soils cold and wet with wet patches and very sticky on top.

Slugs: cold, frosty weather has slowed them down but low levels of leaf shredding still in evidence.

Weeds: little spraying done - none envisaged for some weeks unless drastic change in weather.

West Midlands: Bryce Rham reports that, very little change in crop growth over the last four weeks. Fields essentially waterlogged despite the dry spell over Christams. Most forward crops now at GS 22 but a lot of crops only at two leaf stage. It will take a prolonged dry spell before we can get back on the land.

Weeds: a lot of crops have yet to receive any herbicides so a re-think will be necessary this new year.

Eastern Counties: Brendan Butterworth reports that growth has virtually stopped due to cold wet conditions. Early drilled at GS 2.2-2.3 (mid tillering), majority at GS 1.2-2.1. Some still only at emerging to two leaf stage.

Weeds: blackgrass control has been good after early pre-emergence herbicides, forward plants now tillering, little to no emergence on late-drilled crops.

North East: Crops have weathered the cold well and looking in reasonable condition with most forward crops at GS 23. Late sown crops still at GS 13. Soils are now wet and cold and little chance of any field work.

weeds: earlier applied herbicides working well on blackgrass.

South: Forward winter barley has yellowed in the cold and lost some older leaves. Cold stress can often induce manganese deficiency so watch out for typical symptoms (pale green, "floppy" growth).

Eastern Counties: Growth has slowed due to cooler weather conditions. Crops looking under stress - they have not enjoyed cold weather.

East Midlands: No change - crops have coped reasonably well.

West Midlands: Some crops showing yellowing due to waterlogged soil conditions.

North East: Crops have not weathered the cold well and now looking yellow.