Crop Clinic

Assuming the stem extension treatments have been applied, the next key timing to protect crops will be booting to early ear emergence.  Rhynchosporium can develop on the upper leaves if this month is wet and unsettled. Alternatively, Ramularia, net blotch and brown rust could also develop. Ramularia has become more important in the winter crop in recent seasons. All current varieties are susceptible. Unsettled wet weather with sunny periods will result in high risk conditions. Hungry crops will also show syptoms earlier than green lush crops. The key trigger for disease is past flowering, but protection is required before the leaf spots appear.

Watch for net blotch following on from the development of resistance to strobilurin fungicides. It has been rare in recent years, but it may now become a greater threat.  Brown rust is only likely to cause damage in dry warm conditions.

For winter barley however, the key timing to control disease was earlier, so some savings can be made in protecting against disease on the upper leaves compared to the GS31-32 treatment.