PGRO Pulse Crop Bulletin
Becky Ward, PGRO senior technical officer, advises: Frost damage Some crops of peas, particularly vining peas, are showing signs of frost damage following low overnight temperatures over the last few days. Symptoms are yellowing, bleaching and browning of foliage. Damaged tissue will wilt but usually young plants will recover. Late frosts can affect developing flower […]
Rape variety Bohemes light leaf spot resistance gives it extra boost in Scotland
A candidate oilseed rape variety for the North is defying disease and weather conditions in Morayshire, showing a significantly better performance than its neighbours so far this season. Boheme has dominated vigour and winter hardiness scoring in Frank Thomsons oilseed rape field variety trials, which he puts down the varietys light leaf spot resistance. Rape […]
Hot humid conditions raise blight risk
Recent heavy rain showers onto warm soils will quickly create hot and humid conditions that are highly conducive to blight, according to Syngenta Potato Fungicides Manager, Stephen Williams. As soon as crops reach a stage of touching between rows growers must ensure they are using a highly robust fungicide programme and maintaining spray intervals, he […]
Extra care for drought stressed beans
Winter bean crops have suffered intense drought stress over recent weeks, with many crops flowering profusely weeks ahead of normal, and when plants are only 15cm high or less. The unprecedented situation will have implications for the crops agronomy over the rest of the season. PGRO agronomist, Becky Ward, reports that whilst crops are flowering […]
Seed weevils and bladder pod midge a joint conspiracy against oilseed rape
Seed weevils are attacking OSR crops across the country, NIAB TAG has warned, pointing out that with many reports of infestations well above the take action threshold, crops are being left vulnerable to the far more yield-penalising bladder pod midge. High numbers have been reported particularly in central and eastern regions, says Ben Freer, agronomist […]
Seed weevil and pod midge follow pollen beetle into oilseed rape, warns entomologist
High numbers of pollen beetle have been found in a high proportion of the UK oilseed rape crop, prompting growers to spray. The worry is that seed weevil and pod midge will follow, putting yield under further pressure. It was the high temperatures early on that brought large numbers of pollen beetle out from the […]
New Emergency Approval of thinning agent in apples
Apple growers will welcome the news that the plant growth regulator for the chemical thinning of apples, Maxcel has been granted a 120 day emergency SOLA approval in the UK, starting on the 5th April 2011 and valid up to 2nd August 2011. According to fruit specialist Mike Hutchinson of Hutchinsons, this emergency approval will […]
Intense weed competition for emerging potatoes
Many potato crops are now emerging alongside intensive weed competition, with continued dry weather conditions having significantly reduced the efficacy of all residual herbicide treatments. The prospect of some limited rain showers this week (26 29 April) will trigger a surge of weed activity that could further delay crop growth. Syngenta Potato Manager, Tom Whitworth, […]
Next step in R&D cooperation between AVEBE and BASF Plant Science
The potato starch manufacturer AVEBE and the plant biotechnology company BASF Plant Science confirmed today the next step in their cooperation to develop genetically enhanced amylopectin starch potatoes. BASF Plant Science assumes ownership for the genetically enhanced amylopectin starch potato Modena. Modena was developed by AVEBE and is currently in the approval process for commercial […]
