Struggling south east spring crops only tillage problem
Advisers last week reported some high levels of mildew in early sown spring barley. Late sown barley needed urgent aphicide treatment.
Winter Wheat was generally at flag leaf stage, Growth Stages 37 to 39. Dry weather over the last week has slowed the advance of Septoria. Most October sown crops were due to receive the T2 main fungicide around last weekend.
Septoria tritici was widespread at moderate levels on lower leaves. Some lesions were found on the fourth last leaf on earlier sown varieties. Mildew was reported on Richmond, Claire, Option, Trust.
Winter Triticale was also looking well, with most crops at flag leaf stage, and disease free; all nitrogen should have been applied by now.
Winter Barley was at the heading stage last week. Crops were generally satisfactory, with low levels of disease, but Take-all and wet weather diseases, Rhynchosporium and Net Blotch, were “problematic”.
Winter Oats had improved over the previous two weeks. Most crops were at flag leaf to booting stage. Mildew is the main worry, but Crown Rust would need attention in southern and coastal counties.
Winter bean crops are flowering. Low levels of Chocolate Spot are reported. Spring crops are at the 4 to 6 leaf stage. Some Chocolate Spot is reported at low levels in Cork, and there is some bean weevil notching.
Winter Oil Seed Rape was also at the flowering stage last week; disease levels were low.
In spring cereals, early sown wheat and barley were at first to second nodes, with later sown crops at emergence to tillering, Growth Stages 11 to 25. Leatherjacket and slug damage was reported.
Dry weather was affecting crops toward the south east, struggling to take up enough trace elements.
Most sugar beet crops were looking well last week, said advisors. T1 herbicide was completed, and T2 was due on most crops. A number of cases of leather jacket and capping damage had been reported.
Main crop potatoes were emerging; second earlies were growing well, and most maize was above the ground and growing well last week; weed control was needed where no pre-emergence control was used.
Tillage farmers were reminded in last week’s crops bulletin that the closing date for Area Aid Amendment Forms is Monday, May 31.
