Field walker

Cereals

Disease: Winter wheat – yellow rust is sporulating actively on untreated Robigus in the east. New lesions of septoria tritici are developing on leaf 3 of more susceptible varieties. Brown rust remains at low levels in Alchemy and other susceptible varieties and is mainly on leaf 3.

Eyespot is being reported very widely in first and second wheats. There are some very severe lesions causing damage to the lowest green leaves on some tillers. Fusarium is causing browning of leaf sheaths and some sharp eyespot is present, particularly in first wheats. [ADAS]

Oilseed Rape

Disease – sclerotinia activity is increasing and first germination has now started. Light leaf spot is common in all regions on a range of varieties. Higher levels are being found in the north and west than in other regions. Phoma leaf spotting is common and the first stem cankers are now appearing. [ADAS]

Pests – the cold weather has limited pollen beetle activity. Some crops are now beyond the susceptible stage and will not require an insecticide treatment. Once the crop is in flower, beetles will be attracted away from the buds to the flowers where they do no harm. [ADAS]

Field Beans

Pests – warm and wet conditions proving ideal for slugs. Pea and bean weevil active in some crops of winter and spring beans. Some reports of the lower leaf pair being totally removed by the pest. [ADAS]

Potatoes

The extent of early crop damage from recent night frosts still being assessed in Cornwall. Open ground crops cut back to the ridge, although most had only just emerged. Lifting dates put back, with volume supplies not likely until at least the middle of May.

In other southern regions, emerged crops have been cut back, but are expected to recover.

In the east some early planted fleece crops in Lincolnshire were caught by frost. In Pembrokeshire recovery of early crops affected by frost is slow, with setbacks estimated at 7-10 days.

In the north, crops planted at the beginning of April have made little growth, other than limited root development.

Total planting to April 18 was estimated at 38,500ha, compared with 88,615 ha last year. [Potato Council].