Midges move in wet
Midges move in wet
WHEAT blossom midge hatch is set to continue apace after rains last weekend, which will have stimulated the development of adult midges, says insecticide supplier Dow AgroSciences.
Sampling suggests pest levels are almost three times higher than last year, with adults emerging at crop-damaging levels earlier this week from Lincs to Kent and across to Wilts and peak activity expected this Friday (June 15). In other areas peak activity may be up to two weeks later.
Crops should be treated if adult midges exceed threshold levels when ears are emerged, with thresholds of one midge/six ears for seed and milling crops and one per three ears for feed.
To aid decision making Dalgety has developed the Midge software programme with Dow AgroSciences, which can be downloaded from the internet at www.dalgety.co.uk *