Rapid development: A few weeks ago we were waiting for crops to begin stem extension. Now winter barley is nearly finished flowering, heads are well out on oats and coming out on winter wheat. Early spring barley has run past second node and most spring crops are in stem extension.

Spring crops are under a bit of pressure in places that did not receive much recent rain. Who knows what June will bring, but dryness is always a concern following a very long wet spell.

Trace element deficiencies are common and some form of multi-element stimulant should be considered. Manganese and magnesium will tend to be the most prominent problems.

Winter cereals: Winter barley crops should now be finished, but keep an eye out for rust. All winter wheat crops will have received their T2 spray and most are now booting to ears emerging. T3 fungicides will be going on in seven to 14 days. This should be a strong (full rate) triazole mix such as Prosaro or Gleam or Magnello, possibly with a half rate strobilurin +/- chlorothalonil. Target timing at early flowering. Hold decisions on aphicides until closer to the time. Apply final sprays on oats once the ears are out. This will be based on a strobilurin such as Modem or Amistar along with a triazole such as Folicur. If you still need a mildewicide, products such as Jenton are useful.

Spring crops: Many crops have already received their first fungicide, but many others have not. Early crops will soon have flag leaves appearing. Many crops would benefit from some sort of tonic to bring them back into health.

Crops to be sprayed need a triazole plus strobilurin or SDHI combination, +/- a mildewicide. Bontima is useful where there is a little mildew present. All sprays should include two different actives to help against resistance.

Final sprays should be applied between flag leaf fully emerged and awns visible. It is important to keep all foliage clean as this can act as a buffer for growth in times of stress.

Crops still need robust protection against rhyncho, net blotch and fusarium – there is no guarantee that the weather will stay fine. Final sprays should include a triazole, an SDHI or/and a strobilurin and a multisite. SDHI options include Siltra, Bontima, Ceriax or triazole + Treoris mixtures. Some fields may need a specific mildewicide also. Where straw breakdown is always a serious problem, use of Venture or Ceriax should help.

Check early sown spring rape for pollen beetle once flower heads are formed. If there are a lot of beetles present spraying with a contact insecticide will be necessary.

There is a lot of serious weevil damage on spring bean crops and application of a contact insecticide may be warranted. There is also early evidence of chocolate spot on some crops and a spray of Rover will help slow early disease development at minimal cost.