Report compiled by Farming Online from reports received from members of the Association of Independent Crop Consultants
Pollen beetle: - rising temperatures have encouraged growth and many oilseed rape crops are at stem extension stage. Watch out for pollen beetle in backward crops - approaching threshold levels in the South.
Wheat: - earliest wheats at GS 30 with odd precocious crop approaching first node.
Weather: - keep an eye on the weather forecast as some predicting lower temperatures next week and cold end to the month.
Highlights
Winter Oilseed Rape |
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Winter Wheat |
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Winter Barley |
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Spring Beans |
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Winter Oilseed Rape
Watch out for Pollen Beetle.
Photo Farming Online.
South East: Crops beginning to extend now in response to recent milder weather and applied N, with many crops now showing green buds just visible. Pigeon grazing has been extensive and severe in many crops - but flocks appear to have dispersed somewhat recently, but pigeon deterrence needs maintaining in earnest now to try and allow crops to fill in and get away as days begin to lengthen.
Light Leaf Spot: despite media reports of widespread infection here in the South am still only finding fairly isolated occurrence.
Pollen beetle: beginning to see adult beetles now in many crops following several days with temperatures above 15 deg.C and in one or two approaching thresholds for control - looks being potentially a difficult spring for pollen beetle control unless weather turns much colder again soon.
Charlock: some fields still have moderate/high populations, often in patches surviving winter frosts.
South West: All oilseed rape growing away strongly. Even the wetter areas are starting to respond to applied N.
Phoma: no further reinfection seen.
Light Leaf Spot: can be detected on new leaves in a few crops.
Pollen beetle: on thin late crops be especially vigilant for pollen beetle as the temperature rises.
Eastern Counties: Pat Turnbull reports that forward crops rapidly moving into stem extension phase whereas the most backward are still small rosettes with very small leaves and a LAI of 0.3 or less. Pigeons still continuing to plague crops.
Phoma: no further infection seen.
Light Leaf Spot: still seeing fresh light leaf spotting.
Charlock: some backward crops still have outstanding weed problems but crops considered too weak to treat.
East Midlands: Crops still creating problems especially where pigeons will not leave new growth alone - still writing off some fields to be replaced with spring rape. Most crops behind normal with some still very backward. On the whole those that are left have a reasonable chance but prolonged dry weather could cause problems as crops get going.
Light Leaf Spot: none seen yet but small crops could be at risk.
West Midlands: Most forward crops are now at stem extension and will need to apply growth regulator to approx 25-30% of crops.
Pollen beetle: just starting to come into some crops. Backward areas and pigeon/rabbit damaged areas will need watching.
Pigeons: still grazing some crops.
North East: Flower buds visible in all forward crops now, and a few at 'buds proud', but still have a lot of very small late sown crops where pigeons have caused severe damage. The growers persistence at pigeon control, and better growing conditions are starting to pay off though, and these crops at last have plants visible from the road now. Field conditions are good now, and crops are growing very quickly.
Phoma: still not above 10% on any crops.
Light Leaf Spot: high level seen in some crops and all crops treated.
Pigeons: major problem in some crops.
Winter Wheat
Septoria on October sown
JB Diego.
Photo Farming Online.
South East: Peter Cowlrick reports that earliest sown (September) and most advanced crops are at late-tillering to early stem extension (GS 24-29). Despite recent mild conditions conditions growth stages remain around 2+ weeks behind normal. 10+ days without rain and warm sunny days has dried wetter fields out and all fields now travelling well.
Brown rust: none seen.
Yellow rust: none seen.
Mildew: pustules present on drill overlaps and sheltered areas of fields in September sown crops of Solstice/Claire and Cordiale. If weather remains mild and dry from now on there could be high mildew pressure going into the Spring as canopies thicken in response to applied N.
Septoria: present on older leaves of all September/early October wheats.
Eyespot: none seen.
South West: Stephen Harrison says what a difference a week makes. Wheat has picked up N as soils warm and dry out and now looks green and healthy. December sowings are starting to tiller while the few February drilled crops are at coleoptiles to first leaf. We still have nothing at stem extension. Ground now in ideal order with sprayers and fertiliser spreaders hardly leaving a mark.
Brown rust: none seen.
Mildew: any odd pustules on early sown susceptible varieties now browned from cold.
Septoria: more evidence of Septoria with fresh picnidia apparent.
Eyespot: very low levels of stem browning.
Wild oats: early flushes are now visible and as soil warms and as nitrogen mineralises more will show up.
East Midlands: Martin Eudall reports that in spite of milder weather crop development is painfully slow, due mainly to poor root development over winter. Roots are short and few on the whole and newer root is only just developing. Most crops at GS 23-24 with some at 24-29. Many crops low on tillers. Fields drying well on top although some wet patches remain and heavier soils still wet down below. Field work going well with better soils. Some rain would be welcome for urea N to be washed in!
Mildew: cool nights has kept mildew at bay.
Septoria: plenty of Septoria on lower leaves.
Eyespot: still some stem browning at low levels and with the dry weather and open crops stems are drying out which will hopefully keep eyespot at low levels.
Weed control: quite a few crops have remained clean after pre-emergence and require no follow up.
West Midlands: Bryce Rham reports that crops now growing well. Heavier land is still wet in places despite no rain for over a week.
Mildew: visible on Solstice and some early sown Humber.
Brown rust: none seen.
Yellow rust: none seen.
Septoria: visible on lower leaves only.
Eyespot: none seen.
Eastern Counties: Brendan Butterworth reports that fields are slowly drying out. Early drilled at growth stage 2.4-2.5, mid tillering with the odd field at GS 3.0 (stem extension), later crop 1.3-2.1.
Mildew: some pustules found on Solstice/Claire/Humber. Although some dried up.
Brown rust: trace levels only.
Yellow rust: none seen.
Septoria: levels beginning to build on crops of Consort, Gladiator and Viscount.
Eyespot: low levels expecting to treat at T1, mainly early drilled crops.
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 higher daytime temperatures and longer day length is encouraging rapid growth and most first wheats now at GS30, and will be GS31 in 7 - 10 days. Later sown crops ranging from GS 22 to fully tillered. Only had 3mm rainfall in last 7 days and all fields traveling well now. As fields dry out some later sown crops starter to look 'a bit thin'.
Mildew: low level on older leaves on some early sown Humber.
Septoria: highest levels seen in some first wheat Nijinsky, but lesions present in virtually all crops particularly on older leaves.
Brown rust: none seen, and don't expect it to be a problem early season following the cold winter.
Yellow rust: none seen.
Eyespot: only low level seen so far, generally in the earlier sown crops.
Blackgrass: some early sown crops have dense patches of well tillered blackgrass.
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Winter Barley
South East:
Mildew: generally low levels being found on older leaves and mainly in crops of Cassata.
Net blotch: moderate levels can be found in earlier sown crops Sequel and Boost.
Rhynchosporium: very low levels currently being found.
Brown rust: low levels can now be found in earlier (end Sept/early October) sown crops.
South West:
Mildew: severe in Cassata, easily found in forward Suzuka.
Rhynchosporium: low levels currently being found.
Brown rust: low levels picked up in Suzuka and Sequel.
Eastern Counties: Crops range from end of tillering to early stem extension and now picking up after N applications.
Mildew: low levels only.
Net blotch: low levels only on Carat, Cassata and Pearl.
Rhynchosporium: traces on susceptible varieties.
Brown rust: trace levels.
East Midlands: Crops still relatively backward at GS 23-24 - new growth just starting to get away. No disease problems noted.
West Midlands: Crops showing distinct signs of rapid growth.
Mildew: visible on high fertility soils variety Saffron applying fungicide control.
Weed control: applying herbicide for wild oats and ryegrass.
North East: All crops in GS23-fully tillered, and a few at GS30. Disease levels remain low.
Spring Beans
: Drilling should be completed this week in the south. In the Midlands crops are just starting to chit and should be through in next week or so in some cases.