The recent unsettled weather and localised heavy showers are beginning to take their toll on all crops. Blight has been reported over the last week and spray intervals should be kept to no more than 7 days with the current high risk weather. Very few winter barley crops have been harvested but hopefully a more settled spell will allow the remaining acreage to be cut. Fusarium is very pronounced in both winter wheat and spring barley this season.When weather conditions are wet during flowering, high levels of ear blight can occur.
Potatoes
Where crops have reached the end of rapid haulm growth and canopy growth has begun to stabilize good protection may be achieved with fungicides such as Invader, Infinito, Ranman and Revus. OPTION which is straight cymoxinil may be tank mixed with any of these products to achieve better kickback. Curzate has good curative activity and may be tank mixed if the spray interval is stretched. Where crops are at full canopy growers must pay very close attention to ensure water volumes, spray pressure and nozzle selection are correct to maximize spray penetration of the haulms and reduce spray drift.
Cereals
Winter wheat, spring barley and winter oats are all ripening quickly. These should be examined to decide whether or not they require pre-harvest treatment with ROUNDUP ENERGY for the control of annual and perennial weeds especially scutch, rough stalked meadow grass, thistles
etc.ROUNDUP should be applied when the grain moisture is below 30% which coincides with the hard dough development stage (GS.87). The safest time is 1-3 weeks prior to harvest leaving at least 7 days between spraying and harvesting. (DO NOT APPLY TO SEED CROPS).
Propionic Acid
As harvest begins the most widely used grain preservative, Propionic acid, will be in demand, especially if showery conditions continue. Propionic acid when applied to moist grain prevents moulds and bacterial activity. It also prevents deterioration, loss of dry matter, nutrition loss and removes the associated health hazard to grain handlers, livestock and the end user.
One tonne of Propionic acid on 100 tonnes of grain gives an additional energy value equivalent to 1.5 tonnes of barley. Therefore as well as preserving the grain it adds significantly to its energy value. The use of Propionic gives the grower greater flexibility at harvest, especially if the grain has a higher than desirable moisture content. If the weather is inclement at harvest Propionic acid offers a sense of security to the grower through its flexible application rates.
Grassland
Weeds are directly competitive with grass and in many cases reduce the nutritional value of the sward. Annual weeds are most commonly a problem in getting a reseed established but thankfully few persist once the sward has been grazed or cut. The most common weed that this does not happen with is common chickweed. Chickweed will reduce dry matter and slows wilting. This causes loss of soluble nutrients in the field and as, effluent from silos. Docks are a perennial weed and have large leaves and substantial tap roots which they can readily regrow if defoliated. Docks thrive in high nitrogen conditions and along with chickweed need to be treated every year to ensure good control.
Where possible weed infested grass fields should be treated as soon as possible. Forefront, Doxstar and Pastor will give good control of docks but will not check the growth the grass.Use high water volumes to ensure good coverage i.e. 300-400lt/ha. Gorse should be sprayed now. Use Grazon 90 and ensure good plant coverage using a knapsack or hand lance on a tractor mounted sprayer. Bracken should be sprayed late July or August when it is in full frond. (When leaves are expanded). Use Asulox and again ensure good coverage via a knapsack and where a conventional tractor sprayer is being used to treat large areas, use high water volumes at least 400l/ha