Attack of the aphids threatens cereals and beet
Sugar beet is also under threat, from slugs and leatherjackets, which are causing significant damage.
All crops should be checked at two to three day intervals. Nutritional problems in spring cereals have eased, following rain.
Fungal diseases are widespread in winter crops, septoria tritici on winter wheat, rhynchosporium is very active on winter barley, and mildew is reported in Claire winter wheat and in winter oats.
Some Winter Wheat crops are very lush, and may need extra growth regulation. In spring cereals, leatherjackets are reported, but most crops are too advanced to warrant control.
Weeds are now advanced in early sown crops and will need a higher rate of herbicide to achieve acceptable control.
Advisers estimated last week that 60 to 70% of maize was planted, and set a deadline of May 7 for sowing medium-early varieties for maximum yield potential.
Last week early-sown maize under plastic was peeping through and main crop potatoes were emerging.
Met Éireann has commenced its Blight Warning Service for 2003.
When weather conducive to the spread of potato blight is forecast, a Blight Warning will be issued to all recipients of the service by email and fax, and broadcast on RTE radio during the 0755 broadcast, on RTE
Television during weather broadcasts, on relevant local radio and on Met Éireann’s www.met.ie web site.
The warning will include forecasted duration of blight conditions and conditions suitable for spraying.
