South: 7 agronomic tips for growers this November
Rozzi Martin offers growers some advice on OSR disease control and establishment and grassweed control in winter wheat this month
Posted 7 years ago
01/11/2019
This month’s key messages
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Combat high disease pressure in OSR with a broad-spectrum fungicide Proline
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Where possible aim for good seed-bed conditions when drilling wheat
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Use good quality glyphosate formulations at robust rates on stale seed-beds
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Factor in crop safety when applying large residual herbicide stacks to wheat
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Monitor BYDV risk in cereals, particularly if temperatures remain mild
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Consider impact of two key product revokations for next season
Crop progress
Autumn 2019 is shaping up to be one that farmers will be telling their grandchildren about. The only consolation is that we are all in the same boat (no pun intended).
On average, about 30% of oilseed rape crops have been lost to cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) damage so far. There have even been reports of adult activity in the last week of October. Remaining crops fit into two camps: Early drilled crops are up and away, but larvae is now present and later drilled crops are very small due to lack of sunlight in September and October.
Growers are snatching every opportunity to get wheat in the ground, with some drills operating 24 hours a day in dry spells. By the last week of October, about 30% of planned wheat area was in the ground, although this varied across the region depending on soil type and drilling equipment.
Rozzi’s agronomy tips for November:
1. Tackle OSR diseases phoma and light leaf spot
After heavy rain through September and October, phoma pressure has increased in oilseed rape and some agronomists report the worst symptoms they have ever seen, with up to 20 lesions per leaf. Thresholds are dicated by leaf size, with larger plants less susceptible to infection moving into stems and causing stem canker. If 20% of plants are infected in larger crops a spray is necessary, while smaller crops that is closer to 10%. Severity also varies depending on a variety’s resistance rating and this should be taken into account before treatment.
Where thresholds are reached, consider using a robust 0.46L/ha rate of Proline (prothioconazole), which has the best fungicidal activity on phoma and also protects against light leaf spot.
Given the high pressure, it might be appropriate to use a two-spray strategy. Where applying two sprays, apply 0.32L/ha of Proline as soon as possible and repeat five or six weeks later, which which may coincide with Kerb (propyzamide) applications when the soils are cool enough.
2. Focus on optimum seed-bed conditions for late-drilled wheats
Whilst it is tempting to just get crop in the ground as soon as possible whatever it takes, remember that a well drilled crop is a half grown crop. When we previously had similar conditions in 2012, some growers managed to get respectable yields from March-drilled winter wheat crops where they went into good conditions. Focus on correct drilling depth, good soil to seed contact and use an appropriate seed rate, aiming for 200 plants/m2.
3. Use a good quality glyphosate product at robust rate
The good news is that the late drilling has allowed an opportunity for stale seed-beds. However, where applications of glyphosate are planned ahead of drilling, be aware that efficacy may be compromised in the cooler conditions where there is less active growth. Use a good quality formulation such as RoundUp and a robust dose delivering at least 540g active/ha.
4. Beware pitfalls of delayed resisual herbicide applications in wheat
Applying residual herbicides to wheat pre-emergence is the safest and most effective way, as long as there is sufficient soil cover and should be attempted where conditions allow. When the crop is just poking through at peri-emergence, this is the most risky time to apply big mixtures of residual chemistry as it can cause crop effect. Finally, applying at 2-3 leaves will reduce the risk of crop effects, but weed control will be compromised.
This autumn, many crops are going into rough, cloddy seed-beds at a variable seed depth and fields are unlikely to get rolled, so crop damage is more likely from residual herbicides.
5. Adjust pre-emergence mixtures to crop and ground conditions
Liberator (flufenacet + diflufenican) is a good base to any pre-emergence mix for grassweed control. When crops are stressed or drilled into poor seed-bed conditions it is likely to be safer than Crystal (flufenacet + pendimethalin). Consider soil type, seed-bed quality, soil moisture levels and crop stress when deciding on stacking partners. Also factor in the following for crop safety:
- An additional 60g of diflufenican is highly immobile once bound to the soil and can cause halos on emerging leaves, especially when applied peri-emergence.
- An extra 120g of straight flufenacet is a possible option and is a lower risk of damage than some.
- Defy (prosulfocarb) is at the hotter end of the spectrum and likely to be safer at a post-emergence timing although efficacy will have reduced.
- If Avadex (tri-allate) granules are applied, seed must be adequately covered, so be careful with drilling depth. If rolling is not possible, clods may leave seed more exposed than normal and increase the risk of crop damage.
In addition to product choice, focus on good spraying to maximise pre-emergence efficacy. Angled nozzles and appropriate water volume helps with coverage. Also, keep sprayer forward speed sensible and maintain a low boom height.
6. Be alert to BYDV risk in winter cereals
Wet weather through October has not been favourable for aphid flight, so risk of BYDV spread is relatively low. However, it is still important to calculate daily T-Sum day degree accumulation over 3C, as there is still potential for aphid flight through the winter if it remains mild. When calculating T-Sum, start from the date of crop emergence and be aware that it may take up to 26 days for winter wheat to emerge when drilled in November.
7. Note important product revokations this year
There have been two notable Bayer product revocations this autumn. Insectide Biscaya (thiacloprid) will no longer be available from next year. The official timeline for withdrawal is yet to be finalised by CRD, but we anticipate final use by April 2020.
In addition, sales of potato seed treatment Monceren (pencycuron) have ceased due to an uncertain regulatory future.