The continued spell of settled weather has been welcomed across all farms with ground in great condition allowing for spring drilling and the timely management of winter cereals as they approach key yield building growth stages.
Winter Barley
Winter barley crops have tillered well and are now at GS30/31, the onset of stem extension. Management should focus on maintaining tiller numbers and reducing crop stress to keep ramularia under control for as long as possible. Fungicides targeting rhynchosporium, net blotch and mildew have been applied at T1 along with plant growth regulators to reduce lodging risk, especially important in hybrid varieties with lower lodging scores. Mildew has also been prevalent in many thicker crops and will need knocked back with products with specific mildew activity. Manganese deficiency symptoms have been visible across many crops especially in fields which were not rolled after drilling. These should be rectified by a foliar application of manganese as soon as possible. Large swings in day and night temperature can cause stress in barley and care should be taken not to over complicate tank mixes at this time.
Winter Wheat
There is considerable variation in wheat development across the country with final leaf four just emerging in later drilled crops while early drilled crops on more fertile sites will be at T1 mid-end April. Early drilled crops on fertile sites are tall and will need careful plant growth regulation now and at GS31/32 to increase stem strength and reduce crop height. Following a mild winter and with leaf wetness from morning dews, active septoria is visible in many crops and any April showers will splash infection up through the crop and infect upper leaves which are important to yield formation. T0 fungicides applied early April have helped knock back disease and will put less pressure on disease control at T1. Where T0 fungicides have not been applied attention should focus on planning for a well-timed T1 application targeting final leaf 3 using products with strong protective and eradication properties. Should weather remain dry and become warmer be vigilant for yellow rust especially on varieties with young plant susceptibility like Graham, Extase and Bamford.
Winter Oats
Winter oats are well into stem extension at GS30/31 depending on variety. In general crop are looking good, mildew is present along with physiological spotting brought on by swings in day and night temperature. At this stage oats should have received the first split of growth regulator, a fungicide to knock back and prevent further mildew infection and foliar nutrition to rectify manganese deficiency.
Spring Cereals
There has been a fantastic start to spring drilling with seed sown in excellent conditions, keeping the adage well sown, half grown in mind let’s hope the weather plays ball and maintains momentum in growth through the season. Where annual meadow grass is an issue in spring barley land, it is best to apply a residual herbicide based on flufenacet and diflufenican immediately after drilling. As with winter barley encouraging rooting and tillering is key to yield, aim to apply a tiller promoting plant growth regulator, manganese and zinc along with a phosphite based functional biostimulant such as Calfite Extra by the three-leaf stage. Earlier drilling with cold night temperatures should slow aphid movement and help reduce the risk of BYDV, however continue to monitor crops and treat with an insecticide should risk increase.
To find out more about prioritising cereal management please contact your Fane Valley agronomist or call 02892610485.
