Weather: It’s hard to know where to start on tillage farms at present.

There is a lot of work to be done, but in the coming days some pressure will ease off once winter barley is sprayed and herbicides go out on spring cereal crops. Rain was welcomed in parts over the weekend.

It was very heavy in the south and left some ground untrafficable, but it might be very welcome if not too much more comes in those parts. Some areas still need showers of rain to help spring crops along in particular.

Winter barley: Many winter barley crops are due their final spray now or in the coming days. Some have been applied. While some are targeting the awns out about an inch, more will be applying when the head is emerging.

To prevent ramularia you should be targeting the awns. All crops should receive folpet, up to 1.5l/ha, but discuss the rate with your agronomist, you may apply lower depending on what went on already and what is being applied.

For the final spray, you’re looking at something like Macfare Xpro or Revycare plus Imtrex. You might apply some magnesium to help keep the crop green and heap with grain fill or some potash for straw strength.

Winter wheat: Crops are mainly under control, but some early crops will be due their T2 quickly. You are targeting the leaves and not the distance between the sprays. There is a nice bit of septoria in crops so it needs to be kept under control. The T2 should be applied to the flag leaf. All crops should receive folpet for resistance management. The other components will then depend on what else was applied. You cannot apply a product with Inatreq twice. This is actually illegal. So if you applied Inatreq (Aquino, Peacoqat, Jessico One) T1 then you are looking at Ascra or Revystar at T2.

Spring crops: All fertiliser should now be out on spring cereals. Aphicide would be recommended, but its up to each individual farmer. Barley yellow dwarf virus can really hit crops, so apply an aphicide at the two- to four-leaf stage. If you have not applied an aphicide at this stage, then apply it with your herbicide and before GS30, but earlier application is best. Discuss herbicides with your agronomist, make sure any problem weeds are looked after and don’t miss late emerging weeds, make sure they are up. Beet crops are still being planted, but some are emerging. Early targeting of weeds is essential so keep an eye on crops. They should be at the cotyledon stage. Make sure you wash your sprayer out between Conviso beet crops and conventional beet crops.

Sprayer cleaning: Sprayer cleaning is essential between herbicides for different crops at this time of the year and it is easy to forget. There are a lot of break crops to receive herbicides and graminicades at this time of the year so make sure you are washing out with water, washing the tank with a tank cleaner and rinsing with water again. It’s also good practice to clean the sprayer after products like folpet and a tank cleaner is good practice after applying Inatreq.