The first hint of warmth has flushed the crops and lead to the tell tale signs of Manganese. Winter Wheat crops following potatoes are now showing dead hearts from Wheat Bulb Fly. Although samples showed low egg numbers the backward crops are very vulnerable due to the low tiller numbers. Dimethoate is the preferred treatment and needs to be applied as soon as possible for best effect. Atlantis recommendations are now being made and, with co-operation from the weather, will be applied in the next two weeks.

Due to the autumn weather, the later drilling of cereals has meant weed populations in general are low and may not be too difficult to control. But, I am concerned that tank mixes could be a problem in the spring with a multitude of chemicals to put on in a short period of time.

It would appear that my monthly notes tend to be dominated by tales of woe about Oil Seed Rape! This month will not be any different as the relatively small amount of Rape remaining struggles to survive. Constant Pigeon attack, frost heave and vanishing plants have contributed to a miserable sight. The use of fungicides with a growth regulator action would be the ultimate definition of optimism!