Crops

Where crops have been planted into cloddy seedbeds, slug risk will be high and potato producers are urged to protect against the pest as soon as tubers reach golf ball size.

Maize and fodder beet growers are being urged to complete a survey about the impact of the loss of important seed dressings.

Government needs to act swiftly to extend parallel imports and permits for plant protection products until a proper regulatory process is in place, with the NFU warning the industry is running out of time.

With weather constraints making T0 applications challenging across the country, Hutchinsons provide some key take-home messages for barley growers.

Increased disease pressure, but also an increase in fungicide prices will mean growers need to carefully consider T1 programmes this season.

Growers who have delayed spring drilling due to wet conditions are advised to use vigorous varieties, increase seed rates and tailor crop nutrition to optimise late spring crops this season.

Met with one of the wettest springs for many years, sugar beet growers have been making slow progress with drilling.