Cereals
There has been a lot of yellow rust in cereals this year, pressure has been high in the East of the country.
This is probably due to the YR15 gene that has broken down in accordance to AHDB’s report in the spring this year. Growers were warned in early April of this finding and to not rely on the yellow rust disease resistance information which is printed in the recommended list (source; AHDB). However, where robust fungicide programmes have been used, disease control in general has looked good this year.
Weed pressure
Blackgrass and ryegrass pressures are lower than usual. Pre emergence and post emergence treatments have worked really well.
The situation is very similar with broadleaved weeds, emergence has been later in the season, largely due to the very dry weather that we have had here.
Sugar beet
Sugar beet has been varied across the region. Beet leaves are starting to meet across the rows which signals an end to herbicide programmes.
It has been a difficult year for fat hen, largely due to the dry periods we have had, followed by rain. Fat hen is a waxy weed and has been difficult to control. This has been even more difficult to manage as sugar beet size has varied across the field making it tricky to get timings and mixes right.