Fears over wheat bulb fly risk

According to consultant agronomist, Bob Simons, the greatest risk is when sowing coincides with egg hatch in January/February.

In winter-sown crops the hatching larvae typically attack the emerged plant, taking out tillers and small plants, but in spring cereals they can cause complete plant loss.

“In spring cereals, larvae often burrow into the shoot before it emerges, killing the plant,” says Mr Simons. “Use the only remaining seed treatment - Austral Plus (fludioxinil+tefluthrin) - to protect the crop as it comes through the ground.”

Mr Simons suggests a wide range of spring cereal crops from the eastern counties to the north of England and into Scotland on traditionally susceptible fields could benefit from seed treatment protection this season.

“It has been a while since we have had a bad year, but ADAS sampling of potentially at risk fields in October suggested 50 per cent in northern England and 67 per cent in eastern England had moderate to high egg numbers.”

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