Planting nearly complete: With many parts of the country now finished sowing spring cereals, attention is focused on maize, potatoes and spring rape. This past week has again been hugely variable in terms of rainfall, with parts of the south getting over 100mm – while other regions barely got any rain. The forecast for the week ahead is largely dry and much warmer. There is still some cereal sowing to be completed. Growth and development in winter crops has been slowed by recent cold and this has held back or slowed forward winter crops in particular. This could be very useful for the start of the fungicide season.

Virtually all winter crops are at or past GS31 and so the main split of N needs to be on. The more forward winter wheat crops have their third last leaf emerging or emerged. Most crops are not at the time for T1 fungicides yet.

Visible crop damage: Many crops suffered some degree of damage from spring spray applications. While some growth regulators presented the greatest risk, other sprays have caused problems with scorch and yellowing also. Weather conditions that gave big temperature fluctuations have frequently caused similar problems in the past.

Growth regulation: Wheat crops at GS31 need to have growth regulator applied. This can be as simple as CCC (1.2-1.5 l/ha) or a Moddus plus CCC (0.2 + 1.0 l/ha) mix or a Medax Max plus CCC (0.2-0.25kg + 1.0 l/ha) mix. The latter may be the safer option if cold conditions persist.

Where growth regulation is needed on later winter barley crops, similar programmes to the latter two for wheat can be considered.

Many winter oat crops are now at a strong GS32. Ideally treatments like Ceraide or K2 should already have been applied. For very soft crops that seem to have a real lodging risk a second treatment of either of the above or of Medax Max might be applied as the flag leaf is emerging.

Fungicide: Many winter barley crops have already been sprayed but others await their first fungicide. There are specks of mildew about, some bits of rhyncho and a lot of spotting. First sprays will be a combination of prothioconazole, plus an SDHI or a strobilurin. These might be premixed as Elatus Era, Siltra, Zephyr etc or Proline or Decoy or Protendo or Pecari plus a strobilurin or an SDHI.

Wheat crops should be sprayed once the third last leaf is fully unfolded. That is either now or in the coming days if we see warmer temperatures and real growth. Product options include Aviator, Elatus Era, Venture Extra or Cauldron or any prothioconazole plus an SDHI. All treatments need to have chlorothalonil included. Also use a bit of Phoenix at 1.5 l/ha to see how it performs as an alternative to CTL. If there is active mildew or yellow rust there may be a need to add Corbel or Midas.

Sprays on oats need to tackle mildew and crown rust. Products like Jenton or Tocata have long been successful in this slot.