Broken week: Broken weather over the past week made field work like spraying difficult but it has certainly helped drive crops on.

Spring crops seem to be growing really well and some winter crops now feel quite soft once again.

Assess the risk of lodging on the basis of the preceding crop, the variety, the density of the canopy and the total nitrogen level applied, especially the amount in the first application.

There was some spraying done in areas in the past week but more essential work remains to be completed.

Wet conditions will help delay the onset of trace element deficiencies but may not prevent them so high-risk patches and fields should be treated/sprayed ahead of symptoms appearing.

Most forms of trace element work to prevent symptoms but more expensive formulations may work faster to alleviate a problem where symptoms are evident.

Manganese is the most common problem but do not ignore magnesium and zinc deficiency on some soils.

Winter wheat: Virtually all crops, except for those sown relatively late, are at or past GS32 and so at third-last leaf emerging stage.

Third last leaf fully emerged on the main stems is the key timing for the T1 fungicide.

Very late-sown crops can often have one leaf less which can mean that the third last leaf will be emerging after GS31.

Leaf dissection is essential to know what leaf is emerging at this critical stage.

For crops yet to be sprayed, T1 fungicide options include Elatus Era, Venture Extra, Aviator, Ascra, Cauldron etc or a prothioconazole mix with an SDHI.

Add a contact fungicide in all instances. Consider adding Moddus or Medax Max or Terpal on very soft crops.

Winter barley: Crops vary between GS33 and GS41. Crops that got fungicide three to four weeks ago may now need an intermediate spray if they are still two to three weeks away from awns actively emerging.

This might be a triazole plus contact mix or a triazole plus a low rate or a strobilurin or an SDHI. For crops at active awn emergence, apply products such as Siltra, Ceriax or Elatus Era, along with a contact fungicide, to finish off winter barley.

If there are concerns about the softness of a crop products such as Moddus or Medax Max or Cerone might be considered.

Winter oats: More advanced crops are now at flag leaf emerging which is the latest time for any late growth regulation on oats.

The main options are Medax Max or Ceraide. A fungicide such as Tocata or Elatus Era might also be included at this point if not applied already.

Spring crops: Aphids seem easily found in crops so spring crops planted since late March will need to be treated.

Target a single full rate aphicide at the three-to-five unfolded leaf stage on the main stem – technically GS14. Herbicide might also be included with this treatment.

Beans may also need to be sprayed with an insecticide such as Decis, Karate, Karis, Lambda, etc, for weevil control as visible leaf notching is evident in many crops.