April drought affected late sown spring cereal crops

LATE sown spring crops suffered most from the April drought, which restricted growth and nutrient uptake, according to Teagasc advisers, who said rain should alleviate these problems. Many potato growers had to irrigate early and second early varieties, and weed control was been difficult in very dry soils.

Disease levels remained low in most cereals up to this week, except for septoria in September-sown winter wheat; some early signs of ramularia in winter barley; and active rhyncho and net blotch in spring barley.

Spring wheat and oats remained free of disease. There was active rhyncho and net blotch in barley, whereas spring wheat and oats remained free of disease.