Flowering weather

Hopefully, the recent good weather has produced conditions for flowering that will minimise the risk of ear blight infection in wheat crops. The weather has also been quite favourable to slow potato blight and let’s hope that continues.

We are due a break in the weather and while some fields would really benefit from a drink, it would be great if it was just showers with good drying in between. The last thing we need now is a prolonged spell of damp muggy weather as crops appear to show good potential if we can secure good grain fill. This applies to spring crops as well as winter wheat.

With winter barley filling rapidly and some very heavy showers about, it is sensible to put in a pre-emptive strike against crows. There are already bits of lodging about.

Many spring crops are suffering to various degrees from the dryness. Yellow leaves are again common in spring crops – some of this may be BYDV but stress factors are also likely to be involved in many fields. There are reports of crops thinning out as they grow. But most crops are likely to recover well once we get rain. If you don’t get much rain then something like a Wuxal Multiplant might help greatly.

Final sprays

Most winter wheat crops are now at or almost finished flowering – T3 timing – even though some T2 sprays are not long on. It was not easy to know whether it was best to spray at early flowering when conditions were good or to spray ahead of a break in the weather when infection may be more likely to occur.

Final sprays will be triazole mixtures like Prosaro, Gleam or Magnello. Chlorothalonil or strobilurins might not be included this year as disease infection is generally low. Some wheat crops are now suffering drought but they tend to recover better than barley.

With awns appearing on spring barley, it is time for the T2 fungicide. Some crops are sprayed – others are still a bit away. Fungicide options include Bontima, Ceriax, Elatus Era, Fandango and Siltra or triazole combinations with Treoris or a strobilurin. All T2 treatments must include a contact (Bravo or Phoenix) for ramularia.

Early spring oat crops are booting, with some ears breaking through. Target final oat sprays when the heads are out. This will be a triazole plus strobilurin or SDHI, possibly with a morpholine. If mildew is not a problem, consider epoxiconazole or Folicur at 0.7 l/ha, plus half-rate Modem or Amistar. Elatus Era has been very successful on oats.

There are a few aphids on some wheat crops but treatment may not be worthwhile unless numbers are very high. More often than not, numbers are beaten back by predators and if you kill them you can end up with a second big problem.

Weeds

The challenge from blackgrass and other grasses continues to expand. It is essential to know the grasses you have. You will not contain a problem if you do not know about it. Walk crops thoroughly to know what is in your fields. If you don’t recognise a grass or a weed, get advice.

Read more

Dry weather takes toll on crops across the world

From the tramlines: dry weather a concern in parts

Dryness a factor in many spring crops