In conjunction with Bayer we will be keeping track of winter wheat crop development this season as emergence is likely to be variable following the challenging conditions.
Growers urgently need to check their fast-developing varieties for flag leaf emergence.
Extended day length usually means the differences seen in winter wheat leaf emergence at GS32 iron out by GS39. But not in this strangest of seasons. At Hinton Waldrist in Oxfordshire leaf three emergence ranged widely across variety and drilling date, and flag leaf emergence is likely to vary considerably too.
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October-drilled fast developers have continued to ‘romp on', in particular Extase plots drilled on October 21. Despite T1 sprays only being applied on April 27, the flag leaf was almost fully emerged on site manager Ben Giles's visit on May 8.
"If the T2 spray is going to fully protect the most important leaf of the pack, then it will be going on within the next few days."
That is a gap from GS32 of just over two weeks, which is incredibly short, he says.
"Growers need to be vigilant as those expecting a four-week stretch from T1 will apply their T2 well beyond the optimum timing, with the risk of disease already established."
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October drilled Gleam and Diego are a whole leaf behind, but later drilled Extase plots are catching up.
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"Leaf three emerged in November drilled Extase around the turn of the month. Flag leaf emergence isn't that far away, again the gap to GS39 will be short."