July 12 2005

Mark Hemmant - Agrovista UK

As this season draws to a close there are few agronomy decisions left to be made.

Top of the list for many this week (w/c July 11) will be oilseed rape desiccation – inspect crops carefully to ensure correct timing. Application in the early morning when humidity levels are high will aid results. Take care to avoid spray drift.

Some spring bean crops have high levels of aphids, which will be worthwhile treating if pod development is not yet complete. Rust is making a comeback on both the winter and spring crop – but in most cases treatment will not be worthwhile.

Sugar beet crops have recovered well after a slow start but will still benefit from a fungicide treatment in the next couple of weeks. Plans should also be made to deal with weedy beet.

As well as preparing for harvest now would also be a good time to book the sprayer in for a service and think about nozzle choice for the coming season – it can have a big impact on herbicide performance.

The reasons for any poor control of grass-weeds should be considered and resistance testing carried out.

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July 5 2005

Bridget Carroll - Independent Agronomist

Wheats remain clean for disease following the completion of ear washes but showing low levels of aphids. New products Proline (prothioconazole) and Tracker (epoxiconazole + boscalid) are looking good to date.

Slug control is probably worthwhile pre-oilseed rape. Plans for autumn establishment are under discussion, namely blackgrass strategies, variety choice for home saved seed crops, seed dressings, cultivation systems, and fertiliser needs.

Atlantis (mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium) looks good, but dangerous to consider using without a pre-em at least, as many are looking at.

All these discussions will be with a very sharp eye on costs. Meeting reviews on successes and failures of season underway.

OSR harvesting is getting last minute refinements – direct cutting can save cost and increase yield but with obvious risks. Plans for low cost OSR establishment – including Autocast and ‘in-crop’ also under consideration. OSR prices mean that these techniques must have an increasingly large role to play.

Sugar beet is looking very promising with crops meeting between rows early. Aphids are evident and fungicides may be needed on crops grown tight to quota. It is now getting late for volunteer control.

Peas have been enjoying the warm conditions. Aphids are at high numbers on untreated crops. Amistar (azoxystrobin) is being applied for pod protection. Spring beans similarly need aphid and second bruchid treatment, although these are mostly complete, along with rust and chocolate spot protection.

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June 28 2005

Jon Yeoman - Frontier Agriculture

Show season is here again, and now is a good time to see new varieties side by side off the farm. Planning the varieties ahead and requirements is a good idea before harvest starts.

For those planning Entry Level Stewardship, the first deadline has now passed, but it is good news that monthly entries are going to be allowed now after recent problems.

Most spray programmes are now finished in cereals, however aphids may still be a problem for a few days yet. Check crops for building numbers up until the milky ripe stage before treating.

In spring beans, control of Bruchid beetle and brown rust is mainly finished. Bruchid beetle can be difficult to control, so sprays should be applied when adults are seen flying in the crop.

Weed control in maize has been difficult this year, due to cooler, drier conditions reducing the effect of atrazine treatments. Any last weed control should be have been applied by now, as the growth stage of the maize will soon be exceeded. Remember this the last year for atrazine usage on forage maize.

In spring combining peas, pea moth thresholds have been reached in the majority of areas, so most control should have been applied.

Check with Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) Pea Moth helpline for timings before applying treatments. Unfortunately recent hot weather caused top flowers to fail, but at least the crop now has moisture to fill pods.

Winter oilseed rape is starting to ripen, and now is the time to start looking regularly to time desiccation and swathing before harvest.

Grain store cleaning should be mostly complete by now, ensuring a good clean start for new crop to be stored.

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June 21 2005

Andrew Blazey - TAG consulting

The last ten days has seen the completion of fungicide and blossom midge treatments in wheats. The next ten will be interesting as we see how effective treatments have been.

Looking at untreated plots in the east disease pressure is mounting albeit from a low level.

Monitor aphid levels in wheats and plan any foliar nitrogen treatments on milling crops.

Aphids should be treated only if two of three ears become infested, and treatment after milky ripe is unlikely to be beneficial. If treatment is required, a primicarb-based product would be most effective and safest on beneficials.

Where planning a foliar top up of N, this should be done from the watery to milky ripe stage. Generally around 40 kg N/ha is used. If the warm weather continues consider applying early morning or late evening or mixing with 50% water to help reduce scorch.

Downy mildew levels have increased in spring beans, so apply a fungicide ASAP for protection, if you haven’t already done so. Where levels are already high, treatment such as Folio (chlorothalonil + metalaxyl-M) may be required to get on top of the problem.

Most pea crops are flowering well and should have a fungicide. This can be done in conjunction with aphid and pea moth treatments which are necessary. Remember peas have a requirement for manganese as well.

Mealy aphid levels have increased in oilseed rape, but treatment at this stage would not be justified unless infestation is very severe.

As linseed flowers, consider the need for fungicide especially if the crop is for seed purposes.

Plan fungicide programmes on sugar beet. Consider, yield requirement and the expected lifting date as well as varietal resistance to mildew and rust before deciding what to use and when.

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June 14 2005

Mark Hemmant - Agrovista UK

As the season of shows and trials demonstrations kicks into full gear with the Cereals Event this week, spraying in most crops is up to date.

Most wheat crops in the area are flowering and beyond the stage for blossom midge control.

More unsettled weather and brown rust (even on Claire) mean that T3 sprays should be applied to crops not yet treated.  Cold nights have slowed the development of yellow rust and delayed the build up of aphids which have been reported on some crops.

T1 treatments (particularly those involving prothioconazole) have performed well, except where timings have been poor. On these, septoria is present on leaves 3 and 4 even on the more resistant varieties such as Robigus.

Grass-weeds are now beginning to appear above the crop canopy so now is a good time to appraise control strategies. Consider resistance testing early next month.

Wild oat sprays applied recently are slow to work this year due to the cold night temperatures – resistance is not always the cause of poor grassweed control.

Spraying of barley is largely complete although many crops of spring barley have yet to have their T2 fungicide.  Mildew is reported in many crops (particularly Optic).

Sugar beet is now meeting in the rows and the need for weed control is nearly past. Volunteer potatoes and creeping thistle however still warrant treatment.

Aphids although slow to build up still need monitoring particularly in crops not treated with Gaucho (imidacloprid) or Poncho Beta (beta-cyfluthrin + clothianidin) seed treatment.

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June 7 2005

Bridget Carroll - Independent Agronomist

Wheat crops look to have very good potential in East Lincs - with emerging ear counts promising. But there is a long way to go yet.

Orange blossom midge catches have been very low to date. Ear sprays going on this week may contain some preventative measures though. Evening spraying will be most beneficial.

Proline (prothioconazole) looks key as a fusarium treatment, though to date Swing Gold (dimoxystrobin + expoxiconazole) tops the trials for overall yield response.

Of concern in coastal Lincs has been the virulent march of yellow rust into Robigus - timing has been crucial with disease continuing to express through late applications to flag leaf. Aphid pressure remains low and recent rains have caused late weed flushes. This is the final chance for any last minute wild oat control before panicles emerge

With cost reviews and planning for the new season now underway, the new variety 'Alchemy' is worth a second look (Consort x Claire). Slug pelleting where 'in-crop' OSR establishment is planned needs to take place before ear emergence.

Sugar beet crops are now meeting between rows in most forward crops. Keep an eye on non-aphicide seed treated crops, as will need treatment soon.

Also watch out for late weed flushes - overall spray costs and treatment numbers have been low this spring but this leaves some crops with minimal residual to carry through control. Weed beet will soon need attention.

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May 31 2005

Jon Yeoman - Frontier Agriculture

Ears are now fully emerged in forward winter wheat and assessments will have to be made as to the risk from Orange Wheat Blossom Midge.

Past history should be taken into account along with variety, place in the rotation and environmental conditions in the evenings. Last year's very high levels of adults in Central and Eastern England will give cause for concern over the next few days.

If required, treatment can be tank mixed with ear sprays provided Dursban WG (chlorpyrifos) is used rather than liquid formulations.

Final ear sprays will be needed now where necessary. Variety, weather conditions, and timings of flag leaf sprays should be considered, and applications should be applied before flowering to achieve the best response for fusarium control.

Final foliar nitrogen requirements for milling varieties should assessed and arrangements made for product delivery.

Early drilled spring barley will soon be showing awns, so any final growth regulation that is required should be applied now. The last fungicide decision to be made when awns are showing will be soon.

Disease levels in crop should be assessed especially if wet weather is forecast.

Spring beans are in flower, and need to be checked against Downy mildew and Brown rust. Variety, closeness in the rotation and weather conditions all influence potential disease levels.

Once pods start setting, the threat from Bruchid beetle will need to be assessed on those crops that are to be sold for human food consumption.

Pollen Beetle in spring oilseed rape will need to be checked regularly, especially during periods of hot sunny weather. Levels can build very fast, and damage can be extensive if left unchecked.

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May 23 2005

Andrew Blazey - TAG consulting

Septoria tritici levels remain relatively low, this is probably due to low average temperatures slowing down infection that will have taken place on newly emerged leaves.  Be cautious with rates on outstanding T2s.

Yellow rust is still absent from Robigus crops that have received a well managed program to date.

Keep an eye out for mildew that has crept back into Solstice and Claire, treat if necessary.

Poor spraying conditions last week mean that in some cases T1s have been on over 4 weeks, where this is the case use robust rates of triazoles, especially if you are trying to stretch T2 to the boots splitting stage.  This could mean using as much as three-quarter rates or more on susceptible varieties.

Make sure winter wheat weed control is up to date.  Time runs out for many products after flag leaf.

Although soil counts are unexpectedly low and conditions are unfavourable at present plan strategies for orange wheat blossom midge control.  Prioritise your wheats according to risk:

1. Milling wheats
2. Feed wheats
3. Resistant varieties (Welford, Brompton, Glasgow and Robigus)

Read latest HGCA guidance booklet and treat if thresholds exceeded. A note of caution: OWBM is an opportunist pest and has been known to be active in adverse conditions so there is no substitute for evening crop walking!

Don’t forget to desiccate rotational set aside, many grassweeds are now past flowering and treatment becomes more urgent.

Keep monitoring spring break crop pests, pea and bean weevil and flea beetle are still munching away.

Check spring breaks for grassweeds. Treat before they go into stem extension and control becomes more difficult. Check labels for treatment gaps between broad leaved weed products and graminicides.

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17 May 2005

Mark Hemmant - Agrovista UK

With the exception of late drilled crops, the flag leaf has emerged or is emerging in most fields of wheat.

Yellow rust has yet to be observed in Norfolk or Suffolk but there are widespread reports from elsewhere in the country. Some crops have significant amounts of mildew, which will need specific addition of metrafenone or quinoxyfen.

Recent rains will have spread septoria onto newly emerging leaves, so ensure triazole dose for the flag leaf application will give enough kick-back. Less susceptible varieties such as Robigus appear to have grown away from high levels of septoria earlier in the season - but do not be complacent.

Flag leaf spraying should be prioritised - spray the more susceptible varieties such as Consort and Tanker first. Try to ensure that the gap between the T1 and T2 fungicide is no more than 3-4 weeks.

On many wheat crops this is the last opportunity to treat wild oats and/or broad leaved weeds, or to use a late PGR. With the current 'cooler' weather do not be tempted to cut herbicide doses as much as previous seasons.

Recent frosts have meant that most spring sown crops are growing very slowly. This and the prolonged windy weather mean that post-emergence herbicides should not be applied on peas without first testing wax levels.

Winter beans are flowering and ready for the first fungicide. Chocolate spot levels are not particularly high but most fungicides are protectants. Keep an eye on spring beans now for downy mildew and treat if necessary.

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10 May 2005

Bridget Carroll - Independent Agronomist

Earliest wheat drillings are approaching flag leaf. This critical yield producing leaf is worth spending money to protect. Low cost epoxyconazole plus chorothalonil is worth consideration.

Septoria tritici can be seen in many September-drilled varieties, including Robigus where T0 and T1's have been employed.

Lincolnshire, which is usually a hot bed for yellow rust, is still free. Eyespot is quite prevalent, so field by field assessments may be worthwhile. Full nitrogen dose is underway.

Later growth regulators such as Terpal (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid + mepiquat chloride) must be applied before flag leaf ligule becomes visible. Many new varieties are quite weak and it may pay to play safe.

Include wild oat and cleaver control now.

Begin plans for Orange Blossom Midge prevention, such as ordering traps. Also prepare slug control for crops intended for direct drilling, e.g. in-crop or autocast OSR, before ear emergence.

Sugar beet weed control sprays are working well, although temperature swings are proving a challenge. Most beet looks healthy due to recent rains allowing 'cap' penetration followed by good growth.

Keep your eye on the ball as weeds can get away quickly and MACE aphids are already being reported.

Early potatoes are emerged, scab preventative irrigation will be starting soon and blight sprays needed.

OSR sclerotinia risk is generally low. Maybe a low cost spray can be used or omitted all together. Pollen beetle has disappeared, although the addition of a pyrethroid is usually wise if spraying at 'bee safe' times.

Peas, and spring beans, require early post-emergence weed control for best effect without crop damage. Blackgrass is emerging rapidly.

Spring barley looks good due to recent rains. Disease is low and costs need to be kept tight for this crop to perform.