Early disease infections will need prompt action in both wheat and barley this season, advises David Ellerton, technical director at Hutchinsons
Dr Ellerton is advising growers who are already seeing disease in their crops to consider earlier than usual fungicide applications to get on top of the disease as quickly as possible.
Yellow rust really seems to be taking off in many wheat crops at the moment and we have already received some reports where it is rampant in Oakley, he says. With the main T0 a couple of weeks away in some crops, consider applying a pre T0 fungicide along with iodosulfuron/mesosulfuron based products, to get on top of the disease as soon as possible and avoid chasing it for the rest of the season.
Once this is in place the standard spray programme (focussed on a good robust approach) can then be followed; for the T0 in these situations a further low dose rust triazole + chlorothalonil will be adequate and will also pick up on any early Septoria infections.
Barley crops may also be considered for an early spray this season, continues Dr Ellerton. Recent research by ADAS has shown the benefits of a T0 fungicide application at growth stages 23-30 on barley to give yield increases of 0.3 -0.5t/ha.
By managing disease early, youre in control at GS 31-32 and can save on eradicant activity at T1, he notes.
This increase in yield comes about through an increase in grain number/m by increasing ear numbers and to a lesser extent by increasing grain number per ear producing a thick crop which is vital to yield formation in barley. Disease of course can have a major effect on this.
So this season, on crops that are considered to be at risk of disease due to agronomic factors or high disease susceptibility, our recommendations will be for growers to go on between GS 23 and GS 30 to prevent early disease development, protect growth, support early tillering, and enhance ear formation.
Dr Ellerton adds that with high levels of net blotch already evident, possible options for this T0 spray will be centred around cyprodinil or flusilazole. However, where Rhynchosporium is a problem, chlorothalonil will work well as a protectant.
The subsequent T1 fungicide will then maximise tiller number and spikelet survival, while the T2 treatment will further aid spikelet survival and boost Thousand Grain Weight (TGW).
With turnover in excess of 150 million, the business has grown to become the leading national agricultural and horticultural input advice and supply company. Hutchinsons takes a dynamic, forward thinking approach to supporting grower clients in the production of quality crops and food in a sustainable and responsible manner.
Agriculture and horticulture have always faced fluctuating conditions and prosperity and the industry is once again experiencing a period of significant change. After several decades where food security has been low on government agendas and householders have enjoyed high quality food at relatively cheap prices, the current situation has seen the unit price of staple foodstuffs like bread, milk, eggs, vegetables and meat increase significantly.
At Hutchinsons, long term commitment to customers and staff continues to ensure that the business will be able to successfully meet the needs and improve profitability of farmers and growers in the future.
Hutchinsons recognises that the people working within the business are the essential ingredient in maintaining and enhancing the quality of service offered to their customers. This philosophy, allied to technological advances and continuity of management has proved to be a key strength.
Hutchinsons employs over 250 staff, of which more than half are directly involved with customer service and agronomic relationships. Behind the front-line agronomists are an efficient and dedicated team of stores personnel, delivery drivers and office staff who provide high quality customer support and service.