Wheat
Getting the most from your wheat crop means making smart decisions throughout the season to get the best control of threats to your yield from diseases, weeds and pests.
Posted 8 months ago
Getting the most from your wheat crop means making smart decisions throughout the season to get the best control of threats to your yield from diseases, weeds and pests.
Posted 8 months ago
April
Spring is finally here but the impact of the previous wet weather has left its mark on wheat crops, and this could hinder disease control this season. As fields got drilled at some point between September and late February, the diversity of growth stages seen in the surviving crops poses a challenge in finding the right timing for fungicide applications.
Identifying leaf 3 emergence is crucial to get T1 timing right. With the later drilled crops racing through growth stages and plants dropping the odd leaf, leaf 3 could emerge earlier than you might expect looking at nodal development.
It is always important to avoid compromising T1 protection – but especially in those crops that have not received (and will not receive) a T0 application. Although directly dissecting samples in the field to assess growth is extremely challenging, identifying leaf 3 emergence in crops is crucial to ensure they are fully protected. Richard Cromie, an independent agronomist, shows the 5 key steps to identifying leaf 3 in this video.
T1 sprays this April should consider the crop susceptibility for diseases based on drilling date and disease rating. Even though late drilled crops are likely to be under reduced pressure from Septoria, other threats such as yellow rust, mildew and eyespot should also be considered.
In the current scenario, a flexible, all-rounder product like Ascra (bixafen + fluopyram + prothioconazole) can be ideal where any of those diseases are a concern, but especially Septoria or yellow rust. Ascra’s dose flexibility means it is easily matched to suit varying crop development and disease situations.
For the most resilient Septoria varieties, there is still a place for Proline (prothioconazole) + chlorothalonil but the gap to GS39 must be kept short.
Priorities this April (location dependent):
March
The impact of autumn and winter wet weather is still evident, with a good proportion of the season’s crop area not planted. As we enter March the likelihood of those fields being planted with winter wheat diminishes further.
Perhaps the one small silver lining in this year’s weather is that if and when ground conditions improve, there should be a good opportunity to get on top of black-grass with Roundup in the fields that will now be destined for spring cropping.
For those who have managed to drill winter wheat, consider the scenario you face. If you have any grass-weed concerns, coupled with broad-leaved weeds, then Pacifica Plus is an ideal partner, new for spring 2020. If black-grass is the primary concern then Monolith remains the tried and trusted specialist.
When planning disease control programmes for this season, consider how delayed drilling will influence disease pressure. Any late drilled crops are likely to be under reduced pressure from Septoria however, other threats such as rusts and mildew may be more prevalent.
This combined with the considerable variability likely to be seen in crops this season, means fungicide control and timings could be difficult to judge, and flexibility in dose will be key. An excellent all-rounder, such as Ascra will be ideal in these conditions, and ticks all these boxes.
Priorities this March (location dependent):
February
The impact of autumn’s wet weather is still in full force, with much of the season’s crop area still to be planted. It’s not too late to drill winter wheat in February, but consider carefully variety choice (subject to seed availability) as not all varieties will be suitable to drill this late.
Perhaps the one small silver lining in this year’s weather is that if and when ground conditions improve, there should be a good opportunity to get on top of black-grass with Roundup in the fields that will now be destined for spring cropping.
For those who have managed to drill winter wheat, consider the scenario you face. If you have any grass-weed concerns, coupled with broad-leaved weeds, then Pacifica Plus is an ideal partner, new for spring 2020. If black-grass is the primary concern then Monolith remains the tried and trusted specialist.
During February, also begin to consider how the season will impact disease pressure. Any late drilled crops are likely to be under reduced pressure from Septoria however, other threats such as rusts and mildew may be more prevalent.
This combined with the considerable variability likely to be seen in crops this season, means fungicide control and timings could be difficult to judge, and flexibility in dose will be key. An excellent all-rounder, such as Ascra will be ideal in these conditions, and ticks all these boxes.
Priorities this February (location dependent):
December/January
While in recent years, conditions have been favourable for good autumn black-grass control, it hasn’t worked that way this year. A handful of dry days scattered throughout November has led to further delays to winter wheat drilling.
Far less flufenacet being used in the autumn means there is likely to be a greater grass and broadleaved weed burden in spring 2020. This poses a real risk of big seed returns from a wide range of weeds, if control programmes are not tailored to this different challenge. As a result, it will be vital to frequently assess fields for weed germination and plan to utilise spring herbicides to minimise seed return.
Delayed drilling will have reduced the threat from Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) in the first season without access to Deter (clothianidin). But it is still worth monitoring the AHDB’s Aphid Bulletins, familiarising yourself with BYDV aphid vectors here, and utilise the t-sum calculation to guide when you may have to spray.
Priorities this December (location dependent):
November
The heavy downpours towards the end of October will have caused concern for those growers who were looking to delay winter wheat drilling to capitalise on weed control opportunities. Any significant break in the rain is likely to now result in drilling as much winter wheat as possible, in order to get the crop in the ground. Those with heavier land in particular, may have to consider a spring crop instead in some circumstances.
For those who were able to drill winter wheat it is also been challenging for applying pre-emergence herbicides. Our commercial technical manager Ben Giles has highlighted 7 tips on how to use Liberator safely and effectively in these challenging conditions.
Delayed drilling will have reduced the threat from Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) in the first season without access to Deter (clothianidin). But it is still worth monitoring the AHDB’s Aphid Bulletins, familiarising yourself with BYDV aphid vectors here, and utilise the t-sum calculation to guide when you may have to spray.
Priorities this November (location dependent):
Closely monitor crops during establishment and watch out for BYDV-carrying aphids.
