Wheat growers are being warned not to economise on T3 sprays and risk exposing emerging wheat ears in such a wet high disease pressure year.

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Of all the main fungicides, the T3 treatment is one where growers might look to make savings, but in a season such as this, that could be very risky, says Hutchinsons head of integrated crop management, David Howard.

T3 (growth stage 63-65) is the main fungicide timing to protect wheat ears against fusarium, between ear emergence and harvest.

However, the weather this season has led to high levels of rusts and septoria in crops, which remain a threat to yield.

He says the T3 could also hold much greater importance for topping-up foliar disease control, notably septoria and rusts, thereby helping preserve green leaf area further into the summer growing season.

Timing for best control

David advises that T3 sprays should be applied as soon as ear emergence is complete and flowering is under way (GS63-65), but before florets are visible.

This will give the best control of fusarium in warm, wet conditions and microdochium in the cool and wet.

The unsettled weather of the past three months could lead to variable and protracted ear emergence, making it more difficult for growers to spray at the right time.

However, delaying the T3 spray will result in poor disease control. David says: “It is better to be a little early than a little late.”

Factors affecting choice of a T3 fungicide include varietal susceptibility, any diseases present, chemistry used at T2 (growth stage 39) and the weather forecast.