Crop Health

Eyespot risk A mild winter suits eyespot so the risk is potentially greater this year. Sow date is actually quite a small influence, so the proportion of late drilled crop…

Residuals that weren’t applied in the autumn can be applied in early spring, but generally not beyond the end of March, and weeds needed to be very small. So, we…

Planning ahead With wheat bulb fly egg underway and slugs increasing their activity, these and other pests are potential threats to crops yet to go in the ground. Leatherjackets will…

Pests Wheat bulb fly can attack early-sown spring barley, particularly crops sown after potatoes, field vegetables or fallow.  Egg hatch is now underway but may carry on until late March…

Forward planning – pest monitoring With strict treatment protocols being demanded by supermarkets and consumers, the role of pest monitoring in determining whether an insecticide treatment is justified is an…

Spring oilseed rape could be a prime target for slugs this season, especially if there is a wet spring. If it is dry, then flea beetles will be ready to…

Raspberry growers will need to get batteries for their torches and begin checking plantations at night for double-dart moth caterpillars and clay-coloured weevils. Double-dart moth caterpillars are 2-2.5 cm in…