A return of colder conditions with overnight frost is putting the brakes on field work. Potato growers will be hoping it will have passed by the time early planted crops emerge above the plastic.

The colder conditions are also set to delay spring herbicide sprays, when there are enough frost-free days and there is active growth of the weed.

See also: Can we continue to grow milling wheat at under 13% protein?

South: Oliver Bennetts

Zantra (Kent)

Down in the south-east corner, we’ve had a vast range of weather conditions so far in 2023, with heavy rain in the first half of January and less than 5mm in the seven weeks since.

These dry conditions, coupled with a few days of near 20C temperatures in early February, allowed the creation of some excellent seed-beds and encouraged spring drilling to proceed at a pace.

Having got crops in, the weather has retreated back to winter again with daytime temperatures no better than 6 or 7C and frosts most nights, with little change in prospect until at least the middle of the month.

Much of the oilseed rape took a beating from the frosts before Christmas, with some fields just stalks and a growing point.

However, the warmer weather at the start of February plus some nitrogen moved crops on, with some fields now at stem extension and flower buds visible. Their first fungicides are planned for a couple of weeks time.

Much of the winter wheat has also had its first top dressing and is relatively forward and leafy.

Decisions on nitrogen rates are interesting with residual N testing showing soil levels about 20-50kg/ha down on this time last year, irrespective of manure or other organic applications.

This is due to warm, dry soils through the autumn, which then experienced monsoon-like conditions during November that will have leached substantial amounts of N.

With so many crops in this area destined for milling, we need to make sure that rates applied are sufficient to meet the end-market requirements without wasting any.

Both environmental and bank balance implications are at the forefront of our thoughts.

Wheat fungicides

While T0 treatments may come sooner than anticipated in early drilled wheat crops, experience has shown that March can be a long, slow and relatively cold month.

In terms of disease, I have seen some low levels of brown rust in a couple of varieties, but I am yet to see any yellow rust, perhaps as a result of the cold in December. 

While crops look clean, I am keeping a lookout for signs of eyespot and take-all.

However, winter barley crops are showing signs of rust and net blotch. These crops will be getting their T1 fungicides before the end of the month.

With spring drilled cereals due to emerge in the near future, I’m also monitoring aphid movement locally, especially crops in warmer areas near the coast – low numbers of aphids are already visible in winter cereal crops.

Some early potatoes have been planted in the past couple of weeks to go under fleece for early lifting.

While frosts now are a pain, they would be far more serious if they hit once the early crops are through and establishing.

West: Gavin Burrough

Pearce Seeds (Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire)

On the whole, most winter crops have emerged from the winter well. Unfortunately, frost heave on some select soils/fields are making crops struggle.

Where possible these fields will be rolled when conditions are suitable and given some early nitrogen to try and help encourage growth.

Rooks have caused problems on some late-drilled wheat crops, where plants have been slow to emerge from the ground.

It’s always disheartening to see perfectly good plants pulled up and lying on the surface. Hopefully, original seed rates were high enough to help compensate for some losses.

The majority of winter cereals have received their first nitrogen applications except where crops are very forward.

There will be a bit more head scratching involved when working out rates of nitrogen to apply to crops this year, considering the range of market values of nitrogen fertiliser over the past six months.

I plan to be tissue testing more during the spring season to make sure that crops are growing well and so that any inputs can be put in the right place. 

Grassweeds

Plans for spring grassweed control are taking place, but applications will be made when there are enough frost-free days and there is active growth of the weed.

On the whole pre/early post-emergence herbicides applied last autumn have done a good job.

It is not difficult to find disease in the majority of cereal crops.

Thoughts will soon turn to T0 options and applications, whether this timing requires a fungicide or just a plant growth regulator with/without a herbicide.

The forecast at the time of writing this article looks to be turning unsettled from a relatively dry spell.  

OSR crops are looking well. Where required the herbicide Korvetto (clopyralid + halauxifen) will have been applied from 1 March to control cleavers and poppy. 

I have been impressed with how disease-free some OSR varieties with strong disease resistance scores have remained through out the winter.

Spot-check samples and results have backed this up. This helps make the crop easier to manage, especially if it is struggling for whatever reason.

Spring cereal drilling has made good progress.

Where there is enough moisture present and in blackgrass situations, a pre-emergence herbicide containing flufenacet and diflufenican will be applied.

North: Patrick Stephenson

AICC (Yorkshire)

Field conditions have been ideal for drilling and the first fertiliser applications. Although I tried to stop all my clients from applying nitrogen too early, I had to admit the field conditions were near perfect.

Winter wheat crops look remarkably well and full of promise and as if on cue, yellow rust has already been seen in the usual varieties.

At this point my response tends to differ from the pathologists who would say treat as you find. I will try and resist spraying until later in the month at a more traditional T0. 

Just reviewing the price list for products this spring has made me sit down and gasp. Some products have seen price rises of nearly 40% and that takes some swallowing for a Yorkshire man.

I’m not sure everyone is ready for this level of input inflation. On a more positive note, the nitrogen price is falling fast.

Spring tidy up

Autumn herbicide programmes have worked well, and it certainly has been a good year for the new actives. We are now approaching the time to start the spring tidy up.

Burr chervil and brome will be the ones needing attacking as soon as possible, but unfortunately, the “polar vortex” may scupper plans for an early start.

Winter OSR crops have started to sit up and flower buds can be seen. The pigeons appear not to be suffering from bird flu and are causing serious damage in some fields.

The continual battle with cabbage stem flea beetle seems more like a war campaign as despite a promising autumn, damage can clearly be seen.

Despite all these woes, many crops will be receiving a growth regulator, particularly those sown in July.

I have little faith now in the effectiveness of azoles against light leaf spot, certainly in an eradication mode.

However, as a protectant I think there is still some mileage and where the disease is clearly active we will apply a fungicide to protect new growth.

Winter barley crops still look very well and will be the focus of attention in the coming weeks, as we apply the main fertiliser dressing before the month end.

Mildew and lush growth are certainly an issue, so the first fungicide and growth regulator will be applied, hopefully, before the end of the month.

The availability of cost-effective generic products certainly makes the barley programmes more interesting and good disease control maybe achieved without breaking the bank.

Spring drilling is well under way and even some of the heavier fields have been drilled into good conditions. 

East: Marcus Mann

Frontier (Essex)

Crops have overwintered exceptionally well and with soils in good order, most are now moving in response to increasing day length and the need to start scavenging for key macro and micro-nutrients.

In view of the exceptional conditions, field work has started at pace, with all crops receiving varying levels of nitrogen, sulphur and compound fertilisers, as well as the establishment of spring crops, much of which is now completed on the lighter soils.

With much of the East still in soil moisture deficit following the dry spring and summer last year, a decent rain would be welcome to keep what are high potential crops moving forward.

The usual nutrient deficiencies are not difficult to find and it is important that these are corrected to maximise nitrogen use efficiency this year.

Any crop stress symptoms and nutrient shortfalls should be corrected before applying spring herbicides and plant growth regulators in order to minimise the risk of any crop effects. 

Warmer temperatures and active growth are required to get the best from both of these inputs.

Septoria can be found in most, if not all, autumn-sown wheat crops, including some with high septoria resistance ratings.

Highest disease levels are apparent in those crops drilled earlier than perhaps they should have been.

It is important to remember that drilling two weeks earlier than the standard sowing date (original RL rating) can drop its genetic resistance score by 0.6. 

Yellow rust

Similarly, milder than average winter temperatures can also significantly affect resistance ratings. With regards to yellow rust, disease levels even on susceptible varieties are generally low. 

OSR in the South East has struggled through the winter.

In extreme circumstances the frosts, combined with cabbage stem flea beetle, have led to increased damage, thinning the overall plant population.

Crops that have survived are now requiring warm weather to help protect the main crown, as pigeons are becoming increasingly active.