With winter barley and oats approaching growth 31/32 and wheat at or around growth stage 31, some key applications are either happening or are imminent.

Wild oats

Wild oats that have not already been treated, should get priority.

According to Billy Cotter of Syngenta: “Wild oats are better controlled at earlier growth stages. It is important to get herbicides, like Axial Pro, on to the tillers as well as the main stem before crop shading becomes an issue. Avoid spraying when the wild oats are not growing actively, keep to recommended rates and follow sequencing guidelines around broadleaf herbicides to get best results.”

Barley

Rhynchosporium has been reported in some winter barley crops. Prothioconazole containing products will be first choice.

“Elatus Era is a great option for the first fungicide on barley as it contains prothioconazole and the SDHI, SOLATENOL™. Both actives are very strong on Rhynchosporium and other key diseases at this timing, including brown rust which is reported in some six row varieties,” says Billy.

Wheat

Yellow rust is the headline disease on wheat at the moment. Billy suggests that “while Septoria remains the primary target, yellow rust can actually be more damaging to yield and programmes need to be designed to effectively control both yellow rust and Septoria”.

He adds: “T1 is a key timing for controlling both diseases and Elatus Era fits the profile. SOLATENOL™, the SDHI component of Elatus Era is very strong on Septoria, while offering the best available activity on yellow rust.”

Billy also advises to always add a multisite at T1 to provide additional activity against Septoria and yellow rust, and to slow the rate of resistance development.

Syngenta recently launched a new app to help growers improve their spray application.

The Spray Assist app combines local weather data with a grower’s spraying equipment to suggest the best spray window to optimise performance and minimise drift.

Tom Gartland who leads this project for Syngenta says: “Setting up an account is very straightforward and once operational, growers can enter their sprayer model, boom width and available nozzles.

"The app will allow you to input your preferred water volume, the crop being sprayed and the relevant growth stage. It will then combine this information with predicted weather forecast over the following five days to indicate the best time to spray. Along with easier spraying forecast guidance, it will also select the most appropriate nozzle and pressure to use.”

Tom concludes: “Having undergone rigorous testing, the app has proven to work very well. Test users have found that it allows them to better plan their spray operations and deliver better all-round results. Given the unpredictable nature of our weather, this app should be a great help to Irish growers.”

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