All winter wheat crops will have received T2 fungicides and the early ones will shortly be at T3 as we get into flowering.

T3 is the big dilemma because triazoles are the main actives used in the hope of controlling ear blight and we would want to minimise their use to help in the septoria battle. Many may also apply a strobilurin at this timing to help with stress and green leaf retention. Who knows what lies ahead weather-wise but bright and sunny for the next 10 to 20 days would be a great help. Mildew may also need to be targeted with a morpholine where it is active.

Treatments at T3 need big rates to have any chance of being successful against ear blight. Fungicide options include triazole mixtures such as Prosaro or Gleam or Magnello, possibly with a half-rate strobilurin +/- chlorothalonil. The benefit of chlorothalonil is questionable at this timing but it may help reduce late-season septoria infection if there is resistance about and with earlier timings.

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Hold decisions on aphicides until just before spraying. Only spray if numbers are very high and use a systemic insecticide like dimethoate rather than a contact pyrethroid.

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