In well-established crops it is better not to put the nitrogen on too early, mid-March should be time enough. Any P+K not applied in the autumn should be applied as soon as possible.

Sulphur deficiency is becoming a bigger problem and if you are in sulphur deficient area sulphur may be applied along with the nitrogen applications. Check all crops, especially those on continuous cereal ground or after recent liming, for manganese deficiency symptoms. Treat where necessary with chelated manganese as soon as possible.

Rhynchosporium lesions are showing up on many forward crops of winter barley and septoria is also present on winter wheat .The best time to apply fungicide is early stem elongation (G.S. 31-32). Aim to apply growth regulator as soon as possible after pseudo stem erect stage (G.S. 30).

Where weed control has not yet been carried out, there is still the possibility of using post emergence residual weed killers such as Encore, Panther, and Fieldgard which can be used up to first or second node (G.S. 31 or 32): see individual labels for latest timings. It is essential however to also make sure that the target weeds are within the growth stages at which they will be controlled by the product, usually 2-6 true leaves for broad leaved weeds and early tillering for Annual meadow grass, depending on which product is used.

It is important if at all possible to apply these sprays as they provide the only effective means to control annual meadow grass.

GRASSLAND
Now that phosphorus regulations are effective it is important that phosphorus fertilizer is not applied unless absolutely essential. A soil test must be carried out to establish if this is the case.

Fields should be inspected for presence of leatherjackets. The most economic returns are obtained from early treatment of fields with Dursban before visible damage appears.

Autumn re-seeds should be inspected soon for the presence of weeds. Chickweed grows well in the early spring and needs to be controlled to prevent the young sward being choked out. Alistell will give good control of chickweed (up to 15cm) and will work well at low temperatures provided there is some active growth.

SPRING CEREALS
Fields intended for spring crops should be identified as soon as possible. Soil testing should be carried out at least every 4 years. Fields not yet sampled should be tested as soon as possible.

Leatherjackets have been a problem in many winter cereal crops. Fields intended for spring cereals should be inspected now for leatherjackets. Where numbers are found to be above the threshold limits, of 0.3-0.5 million Larva per ha the best control is achieved by applying Dursban WG prior to cultivation. Highest risk situations are fields coming out of long term ley or stubble fields with good grass cover.

As temperatures begin to raise, Round-up Gold should be applied as soon as possible to clean up weedy stubbles and to control scutch grass in fields intended for spring crop.

Get the bulk of your spring seed requirements ordered early to ensure you get the variety you want. If you intend to use home saved seed get it germination tested now and arrange to have it cleaned and treated with seed treatment to control net blotch, leaf stripe and fusarium which can delay emergence or kill of young seedlings especially in damp cold seedbeds.