Promising outlook on both spring and winter crop yields

WHAT a difference a few weeks of dry weather makes. Grass and crop growth is back on track generally except for beans and some very late spring-sown crops.

We have just come through one of the most difficult springs that I can remember for field work to be undertaken. Up to the end of May we were receiving phone calls from growers who were still changing their cropping programme.

These had to be notified as an amendment to the Department for their BPS applications. It is likely that some of these crops will spend the shortest growing period ever in the ground and yields will, no doubt be impacted.

Early-sown spring cereals, particularly barley crops, were doing well despite the spring. However, in the last two weeks crops were struggling due to drought stress.

Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) is now very evident and despite many of these having received an aphicide there are significant population of aphids still present.

This may be a further indication of the resistance to pyrethroids which is a major cause for concern. If a pyrethroid has already been used and aphid populations are high there is little point in using another pyrethroid.

It is difficult to quantify possible yield penalties from the presence of aphids at this stage. Unless there are at least 5 aphids per ear or 30 aphids on the flag leaf damage may be relatively limited. However there is very little that can be done to control them in spring barley.

A new aphicide, Transform (Sulfloxaflor), can be applied from GS 39 to GS 87 and may be worth considering if populations are very high. The application of translocated insecticides are not approved for spring barley.

The good news in relation to spring corps is that they are clean and relatively free of disease. This should minimise the spend on fungicides. However, all crops should be monitored and watched as there is no point in leaving disease to develop.

In the fields that I am walking Net Blotch is the most apparent disease present.

Varieties that are more prone to this disease such as Mickle, Propina and Planet may benefit from treatment. The product chosen should include a Strobilurin and/or Fenpropimorph.

The other good news in general for cereals is grain prices have risen and there are reasonable offers from merchants for green grain prices for between €155 and €165 at 20pc moisture for barley.

This is a significant improvement on 2017 and given the current indications on price this could still improve further.

WINTER CROPS

Winter crops also remain relatively clean and have recovered well and look very promising.

Winter barley and oat management decisions are now completed except for possible scutch control pre harvest in barley and has remained clean generally all season, with even reduced fungicide usage. The yield potential looks reasonably good.

Winter wheat is generally into grain fill and again is very clean compared with other years,. However, the final T3 spray should now be applied as most crops received a T2 more than two weeks ago and there could still be up to eight weeks to harvest.

While aphid levels in the head are still low it is quite likely that this week or next week will see an increase in aphid infestation and these will also need to be treated.

Translocated herbicides such as Dimethoate can be used and included with the T3.

There are a range of fungicides available for the T3, however, if crops have already received a robust fungicide programme and remain clean this may be an opportunity to control your fungicide spend.

Fusarium (especially on Lili and Lumos) and sooty mounds are likely to be the main disease pressure to watch if weather turns wet and your programme should include a triazole (principally Metconazone or Tebconazone) with a mildewicide and an SDHI added if warranted. Keep an eye out for mildew particularly on Avatar and JB Diago and yellow rust on Garrus and Lili.

Winter oil seed rape also appears to have caught up on growth stages and appears to have reasonable potential, with all treatments likely to be finalised at this stage. Spring rape is developing fast through the stages and some crops have matured well.

BEANS

Beans have been slow to make progress. A graminicide may be required for volunteers or wild oats. Include a fungicide for chocolate spot.

Typically, the use of Signum or Amistar products will give good control. With the weather of the last few weeks chocolate spot is less likely to be a major problem unless weather conditions change so the use of Chlorothalonil (as Rover) may give good control. If Downy Mildew is present Mancozeb should be applied at the start of flowering.

MAIZE & BEET

Late-sown maize has struggled to take off and preemerge weed control is very variable. A follow up with Calaris will be required in many cases. Please note only one application per season is allowed.

Fodder beet development has been slow and germination uneven. This has made weed control difficult. Using recommended rates of a typical beet spray programme of Debut + Betanal Maxx Pro + Venzar/Goltix and Oil at a reduced rates of 50-70pc followed five days later with a further 50-70pc of the same mix has given good control generally and is very safe on delayed emerging beet.

However, typical weeds that escape like lambs quarter will need to be treated fairly quickly to ensure they don’t get out of control. Products like Goltix at high rates of up to 1.5 litres per hectare should be used in conjunction with Betanal Maxx Pro and a vegetable oil.

Finally, today is the last day that changes can be made to your BPS if you have received a preliminary notice about dual claims or over claims.

Acting on this today allows amendments to be made without penalty and will minimise payment delays.

Pat Minnock is a Carlow based agricultural consultant and a member of the ACA and the ITCA. www.minnockagri.ie