Oilseed rape varieties to choose now and candidates coming up >More in
© Tim Scrivener
Five hybrid winter oilseed rape varieties from three plant breeding companies were added to the AHDB’s Recommended List 2021/22, joining a strong existing line-up of high-performing varieties.
Two of the newcomers were given a UK recommendation, with the other three approved for the East/West region only.
Just having hybrids as the new additions is unusual, says Colin Peters, break crop specialist at crop consultant Niab, who adds that the conventional types didn’t perform as well as expected last year, albeit from a limited number of trials.
Why a new Group 3 variety will appeal to feed wheat growers
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Cornish growers trial septoria test to target fungicide use >More in
© MAG/Emma Gillbard
For two neighbouring Cornish farmers, septoria control forms the fundamental basis of wheat production in the high-risk region, which has prompted them to trial a new disease detection test to track in-field infection levels.
With fungicide decisions primarily made on variety resistance ratings, drill date and weather conditions during key growth stages, the new rapid disease detection test from agrochemical firm Bayer aims to tailor fungicide applications to specific disease levels.
This season, growers Oliver Bromley and Jason Chapman, together with their Agrovista agronomist Richard Tresidder, are sampling new emerging leaves for septoria and yellow rust on their Graham and Extase winter wheat.
First virus yellows-tolerant sugar beet set for drilling in 2022 >More in
A strip of the virus yellows-tolerant variety Maruscha in a sugar beet field of non-tolerant beet © KWS
The first sugar beet variety with tolerance to two forms of the virus yellows complex will be available for drilling next spring, along with another five newly approved beet varieties.
The variety Maruscha from breeder KWS has shown tolerance to beet mild yellowing virus (BMYV), as well as a positive response to beet yellows virus (BYV), two of the three viruses in the virus yellows complex.
Virus yellows caused big yield losses last year, in the second season sugar beet growers grew the crop without neonicotinoid insecticide seed dressings – which used to control the aphids that spread the virus.
Crop Watch: Rust and septoria on the rise in wheat crops >More in
© Tim Scrivener
Autumn-sown cereals are coming out of winter in a better condition than last season. However, there is plenty of septoria and yellow rust foliar diseases to be found in winter wheat crops as the T0 fungicide timing approaches.
Nitrogen fertiliser has been applied to many winter crops, but in the current cool weather, crop responses have been slow and warmer conditions are needed for crops to show good growth.
Spring drilling is well under way on lighter, well-drained land, but heavier soils are taking a while to dry out, and growers have to be patient and not go too early and damage soil structure.
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