Weather: There is some rain in the forecast, not a whole lot, but we won’t ask for rain. Although some crops could do with it, particularly some of the earlier sown crops and crops emerging now.

Winter wheat: Many crops are due their T2 in the coming days. You are aiming for the flag leaf to be fully emerged and should ensure all flag leaves or the majority are out. The flag leaf is the most important leaf for yield so you need to keep it clean and aim the fungicide at it.

You’re T2 will depend on your T1. Remember you cannot apply Inatreq twice so if you used Questar, Peacoq, Acquino, Jessico One or a product with Inatreq at T1 then you cannot apply it again at T2. In reality most farmers are using Inatreq at one of the timings and the other timing is Ascra or Revystar. Include a multisite. This should be folpet at this timing and add in any nutrition that is needed. If crops are stressed consider a bio-stimulant. Some growers will use a bio-stimulant like seaweed to try and improve fungicide uptake.

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We filmed another Yield Watch video last week. You can view it by scanning this QR code with the camera on your smart phone. Farmer Isaac Wheelock is happy with how the crop is turning out and is trying a few different things with agronomist George Blackburn.

Spring barley: Many are applying a herbicide or waiting for some rain before they apply it. Make sure any nutrient deficiencies are looked after early and apply with the herbicide spray. April-sown crops should receive an aphicide to reduce risk of barley yellow dwarf virus, particularly where there was a green bridge in place up to sowing.

Some crops are thin from the harsh conditions. If conditions are appropriate when spraying you might use a growth regulator like CeCeCe to help with tillering and make the crop more even.

Some farmers are still growing some older varieties like Planet and Laureate. You should consider some early fungicide to keep disease at bay. Net blotch is an issue with Planet and is in some winter barley crops at present. Keeping the crop clean from the start will be key.

Beans: Grass weed control is one reason that we grow beans. It provides an opportunity to use a different product for weed control. Falcon should be used before flowering, while Stratos Ultra can be used after flowering. Maybe wait for another shower of rain to drive weeds up on later-sown crops, but don’t miss the opportunity to spray and get it done when you can. Make sure to clean the sprayer moving from cereal herbicides to beans and back again.

Bees: I’ve had some bee keepers in contact to urge tillage farmers to spray crops like oilseed rape and beans in the morning or the evening where possible as the bees will be out in crops during the day.