Phoma developing in
untreated crops.
Photo Farming Online.

South: Crops still all over the place. Fresh leaves showing on well established crops but still doubt about the viability of some late sown crops

Phoma: some respotting occurring and these crops have now been treated again in the last week.

Light Leaf spot: variable levels in some crops ranging from trace levels to none visible.

Pigeons: just wont give up and still decimating some late sown crops.

Eastern Counties: Pat Turnbull reports that many of the forward crops have gone backwards since the harsh weather with loss of outside leaves and purpling in some waterlogged areas. Backward crops are hanging on, a few have been condemned but we hope to keep most.

Phoma: some fresh spotting but very variable. Most forward crops sprayed once, early second application applied in most cases, few more to complete.

Pigeons: are a continued nuisance and require hard work they have stripped a few fields.

Rabbit: grazing has also been a continued problem.

East Midlands: Crops all over the place - vast majority have little or no leaf due to heavy pigeon damage. Generally crops have a GAI at around .4 with hardly any above .7. Many crops completely stripped of leaves and the hope now is that pigeons leave the crops alone for long enough to get some new growth which is starting slowly. Some crops have had to be written off due to pigeon and rabbit damage. Root systems well below average with even good crops having a tap root of some 2-3 inches.

Phoma: none seen but no leaf either in many cases!

Pigeons: flock in their thousands.

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

West Midlands: Crops range from 75% ground cover through to bare ground where rabbits and pigeons have damaged the crops. Expect about only 5% of crop will have to be ripped up.

Phoma: any outstanding applications have now been applied.

Pigeons: still a major problem on some crops.

North East: Early sown crops were 9 leaves+ in late 2008, but they have lost a lot of leaf now and are looking severely weathered. Virtually all late sown crops have enough plants to make viable crops but they are still very small and a bit of a worry. One 60 acre crop has now been declared a Summer fallow and no further treatments will be made. The rape fields tend to be drier than the cereals and they are traveling OK now. Early sown crops are weathered but because of good root systems are greening up Ok. Later sown crops are small and still showing a lot of "purpling".

Phoma: still not above 10% on any crops.

Light Leaf Spot: difficult to see in badly weathered crops, but all have been treated once.

Pigeons: major problem in some crops.

Charlock: still some areas to be treated.

Wheat at mid tillering.
Photo Farming Online.

South: Stephen Harrison reports that wheat crops greening up and early sown crops at mid to late tillering. No signs of stem extension yet. Rolling taking place as ground dries up.

Brown rust: none seen.

Mildew: any odd pustules on early sown susceptible varieties.

Septoria: levels very low.

East Midlands: Martin Eudall reports that crops on the whole are backward. Majority of "forward" crops at GS 22/23 but many at GS 21 with late drilled second wheat still at GS 12/13. Probably about 10% of wheat could be considered normal.

Septoria: usual infection on older leaves but frost and cold has killed off many lower leaves.

Weed control: some fields which had pre-em are in fact very clean and will not need any follow up.

West Midlands: Bryce Rham reports that, crops beginning to green up and grow over the last 10 days. Crops range from still to emerge for very late sown crops through to early stem extension for early sown Duxford.

Septoria: levels very low.

Mildew: low levels present on late sown Solstice.

Weed Control: catching up at last with outstanding recommendations. Late sowns are still quite clean of weeds.

Eastern Counties: Brendan Butterworth reports that fields are slowly drying out. Early drilled at GS 2.3-2.4 (mid tillering), majority at GS 1.2-2.1.

Mildew: some pustules found on Solstice/Claire/Humber. Although some dried up.

Septoria: trace levels only.

Wheat Bulb Fly: some signs of dead-heart, none sprayed pre egg hatch. Monitor backward crops after peas, early potatoes and set aside.

North East: Phillip Tuplin reports that the frost, rain and snow left the Holderness clays very wet, with standing water in lower areas of many fields. Conditions have improved dramatically thanks to only 5mm of rain over last 10 days and there is very little standing water now. Although many fields will travel, it is only with care as there are still soft muddy areas. Despite the recent wintry conditions the wheat crops have good colour.

Mildew: low level on older leaves on some early sown Humber.

Blackgrass: not much seen in later sown crops, but some early sown have dense patches in them now.

South: Still rather yellow.

Mildew: high levels present in some crops of Cassata.

Eastern Counties: Crops have not enjoyed cold/ wet winter, soils slowly drying. Disease levels still remain low.

East Midlands: Crops generally at GS 23 but stressed.

West Midlands: Some crops showing yellowing due to waterlogged soil conditions, very few sprayed as yet again due to poor conditions. Very little disease present.

North East: Many crops have been very yellow, especially where only top-worked and a lot of trash in seedbeds. Field conditions same as for wheat crops.

Mildew: following the hard winter, it is surprising to see such high levels present on older leaves of most crops of Saffron, Carat and Retriever.

: Being drilled this week. TGW of spring beans high requiring some 250 kgs/ha to get 40 plants per metre square.