Some wheat crops are at the T3 timing and while recent showers have helped save crops from the drought, this has coincided with flowering bringing the increased threat of fusarium.

Pests in pulses are another concern this week for two of the agronomists, with levels of black bean aphid and pea aphid being monitored in crops.

See also: How cultivation can control resistant Italian ryegrass

South

Alice Whitehead, Zantra (Essex/Kent)

Variable amounts of rain fell over the late May bank holiday weekend, with some luckier than others.

Since then, spray days have been few and far between, with breezy conditions zapping the moisture out of the ground yet again.

Saying that, crops generally look pleasing to the eye. A few grassweeds are poking their heads above the canopy in wheat crops, but far fewer than in the past couple of years.

Traditional T3 fungicides will not really feature this year, with the T2 fungicides having been applied recently with ears emerged.

Milling wheats may yet justify an application of prothioconazole, but we will play it by ear (no pun intended).

It is important to be aware of yellow rust creeping back into crops, so tebuconazole and any remaining applications of azoxystrobin may still be important in keeping crops green.

We are in black bean aphid season – an annual event at this time of year.

They are relatively easy to find in field beans, with the odd field having high enough numbers to treat with Aphox (pirimicarb) or Sivanto Prime (flupyradifurone).

They tend to cause havoc in salad crops, where even very low levels cause the supermarkets to reject crops.

Control is made more difficult by very quick growing periods and harvest intervals, and therefore limited product choice.

Combining peas are reaching flowering stage, and look surprisingly good given the limited rainfall. Pigeons have not really been much of an issue compared with the relentless pressure on oilseed rape over winter.

I always find pea aphids at this stage, and we are spoilt for choice for aphid control, with Aphox, Sivanto Prime and Insyst (acetamiprid) all approved.

Control is important due to the number of viruses pea aphids can transmit.

Pea moth needs to be considered, and will be controlled by a pyrethroid if trap thresholds are reached.

It is also important to check the Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) descriptive list to establish if powdery or downy mildew will be the main threat to your variety, and therefore the fungicide choice can be tailored towards this.

West

Jamie Armstrong, AICC/Wessex Agronomy (Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Hampshire)

Most winter wheat crops are now at mid-flowering and are receiving their final fungicide.

Whether you’ve called it a T2.5 or T3, the timing has hinged on how far ahead crops have pushed on and how much yield potential they still hold.

Recent rain, patchy as ever, has been a saving grace. However, in some cases this has coincided with the wheat flowering period, raising the threat of fusarium.

Where ear sprays have already gone on, a 75% dose azole with a strobilurin have been applied.

Crops on lighter soils continue to show variable potential, but don’t assume they’re clean. I’ve seen mildew developing in the lower canopy this past week, particularly in Crusoe and Astronomer.

Where needed, final fungicide applications have been tweaked accordingly – there are still options available depending on growth stage.

Spring barley is well into awn emergence. Most crops have now received fungicides.

Fields with a higher potential have had two applications at traditional timings, while thinner, less tillered crops will likely make do with one. With current disease levels low, there’s little justification for anything elaborate.

Winter beans

Winter beans are at the tail end of flowering. Most crops look clean, but don’t wait until it’s too late, especially in fields that haven’t yet had a fungicide. A protective approach still works best.

Aphids are present, but below threshold. In contrast, I’m finding more in peas, which are now flowering. If numbers rise above threshold, treatment will be needed.

Pea moth traps are also out. Any trap catching 10 or more moths on two checks in succession will trigger treatment. This will likely coincide with the first fungicide spray.

Maize has responded well to the recent sunshine and, where moisture was present at drilling, is now powering through growth stages.

Most crops are at the four- to six-leaf stage, so herbicide choices are narrowing. Be mindful of growth stage cutoffs – most products have a growth stage cutoff of eight leaves.

Where weeds have flushed – particularly fat hen, knotgrass and bindweed – it’s worth acting quickly.

Later-drilled crops and those sown into dry seed-beds are still emerging after the rain, so weed control may need to wait. Growth stages are now varying considerably, so keep a close eye.

Winter oats have now reached full panicle emergence, with spring oats only a few days behind. Most crops are clean and even.

Final fungicides are either going on now or have just been applied. Higher potential crops are receiving a more robust finish, while thinner crops are being wrapped up with a simpler programme.

Disease pressure remains relatively low, but crops are well ahead of schedule, and we all know how quickly things can change with a week of warm, wet weather.

North

Conor Campbell, Hutchinsons (Northumberland)

After much anticipation, we finally got some well-needed rain. Most areas received about 25mm over the course of the week, which has worked its way nicely into the soil profile.

Spray windows have been tricky to find between the gusty weather, so keeping on top of spraying hasn’t been straightforward.

I would say the last of the wheat T2s were applied last week and most were covered before the rain.

The yellow rust pressure hasn’t disappeared and has been a real battle this year. Our untreated variety trials haven’t looked this dirty for a few years and some of the untreated plots are all but gone.

Strobilurins have been essential this season in getting the protection, and I’m certainly planning to use my final one at T3, coupled with azoles for ear diseases.

We really need to keep the disease out throughout grain fill. Remember, we only get seven days out of full-rate tebuconazole.

The yield potential in the majority of autumn-sown crops looks good and hopefully this year, coupled with plenty of sunshine, will ensure a good grain fill.

There are some big oilseed rape crops out there, which is great to see after the past two years. I will be aiming for a pod sealant about three to four weeks out from desiccation, so towards the end of the month.

Over the past few years, I think this separate pass really pays dividends when it comes to protecting yield.

Spring crops are a mixture of both extremes, with some looking exceptionally well for the dry conditions they started with, while others have struggled.

There are spring barley crops 10cm tall with the awns peeping and a fresh flush of weeds appearing after the rain.

On the other hand, there are crops that are well tillered and don’t appear to have been too badly affected by the dry conditions. The latter will be grateful for the rain and have some potential.

It will be interesting to see grain nitrogen results on malting barley, as I’m sure there will be a big flush of nitrogen into the plant now.

I would like to wish everyone all the best for harvest. It has been a busy spring and it’s important we all take some time before another busy period.

There are plenty of local events coming up, from variety days to larger regional shows, and this is a great time to catch up with neighbours and friends.

East

Dan Ives, Agrovista (Herts, Beds, Cambs and Essex)

May feels like it passed in a flash. It is easy to forget how much field work has been completed in a timely manner, given the unusual growth habit of crops this year.

Most areas received an average of 20mm of welcome rain in the past week, so many acres of wheat have turned a slight corner.

Some varieties are showing signs of hanging on, but for others on lighter land I feel the rain was just a little too late.

Flag leaf and ear emergence was two to three weeks earlier than normal in some cases.

Given the dry weather, most growers applied a later flag leaf/early ear fungicide to keep top leaves protected from diseases, intending to return with a traditional ear wash, albeit within 10 days of applying the T2.

This maintains the correct timing to get the most out of the fungicides.

Rates have been adjusted according to crop potential, with suitable partner products chosen to keep control of yellow and brown rust, which remain a high threat to certain varieties.

OSR has generally had a prolonged flowering period due to the extended dry period interspersed with some showers, aiding pod size and fill.

Spring cropping

Spring crops came very well. Finding adequate moisture early doors and the recent rain will have just helped them through.

Spring barley on lighter land skipped through growth stages. T1 fungicides were applied early, allowing broad-leaved weeds to be tidied at the same time.

Awns are now emerging, so we will consider product choice and dose rate for ear sprays, depending on potential.

Sugar beet continues to be variable. Heavy-land crops are meeting within the row and look excellent, some achieving plant counts of more than 100. Lighter land crops have slowed due to the drought.

With less crop competition and row closure, weeds continue to emerge and gain size rapidly, so we have continued applying herbicides, sometimes within short intervals, to keep pressure down.

All crops received one aphid spray when numbers reached threshold. Recent rain and strong winds reduced numbers dramatically, but trap numbers were on the rise again last week.

Second applications have been made or are planned where thresholds have been met, especially on more susceptible backward crops.