Watch for high disease levels in winter barley

According to Syngenta Seeds cereal product development manager Simon Phillips, high levels of net blotch are present in early-drilled winter barley crops around the country, with some also succumbing to patches of mildew.

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“The problem has probably been exacerbated by wet weather in November and December,” says Mr Phillips.

Syngenta Crop Protection technical manager, Iain Hamilton says that growers should be prepared to spray with an early fungicide if necessary.

“Keeping disease out before it escalates is especially important in barley because lower leaves can contribute even more to yield than they do in wheat, and because diseases such as net blotch and rhynchosporium can be difficult to eradicate once established.”