All land must have a recent soil test to guide fertiliser application. Tests results that are more than four years cannot be used to justify P rates above the allowances recommended for Index 3.

Tests must be representative of the different areas within a field, so more tests could be very beneficial. Use your knowledge to do this. You can take samples now, even if crops are already planted, providing no fertiliser has been applied. Lime remains the most important input.

Spraying

The two main targets on cereals are herbicide and insecticide. Weed sprays will involve the use of either IPU or PDM plus DFF or Defy, or both. PDM is best used pre- or very early post-emerge. The use of PDM (Stomp types) is essential where sterile brome is a target and Broadway Star is being used as a follow-up for that purpose.

Most early-sown crops were treated with Redigo Deter and this will give approximately six weeks post emergence cover in high-risk situations. Some of these crops will need an aphicide spray now shortly. Crops planted early October without Deter should be sprayed at the two- to three-leaf stage. Aphid pressure on crops being planted currently can only be judged in time. Low temperatures may help contain aphid movement, but make sure all cereal crops are covered in some way against BYDV in the early stages.

Check forward rape crops for leaf miner. This is reported to be bad in places and may need treatment. Salsa (25g/ha) plus a wetter may also be needed for weeds like charlock, chickweed, shepherds purse, hedge mustard and poppy.

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Tillage management: Ground conditions disimprove following recent rain