Further south in Midlothian, many cereal fields are also showing signs of stress, due to the dry weather, but with the SRUC site at Boghall, Edinburgh, boasting medium soil types, mildew is more of a problem.
Septoria and rhynchosporium is also an issue, although there was no sign of yellow rust in the trial plots.
Notably, Professor Burnett said potential for winter crops is good, with double figure yields in winter barley and up to 11t/ha in winter wheat having been seen here in the past. Spring barley crops have recorded yields of up to and 8.0 t/ha.
“The disease risk here has only been slightly reduced by the dry weather. It now depends on the rain up to T2 sprays,” she said
Looking at winter wheat, Professor Burnett said septoria is the key concern, not just here but also at Oldmeldrum too. 
“When you compare leaf four here at Bog Hall it is carrying much more septoria. Quite a large part of the leaf is infected, and the lesions are noticeably bigger.
“These crops were drilled in good conditions and the weather since has been particularly favourable. It is also less exposed than the Saphock site.”
She was also concerned with fusarium. “You have the double whammy of fusarium and microdochiums. Microdochium likes cool wet summers which of course we do ‘big style’. It affects yield and also the germination of the following crop. 
“The fusariums also reduce yield but have the sting of mycotoxins. Our sampling has picked up both in previous seasons. 
“Again, it’s a protective thing. People try and hang on but if you miss that early-mid flowering spot for fusarium control there’s no way back.
Awns are just starting to peep out in the winter barley crops at Boghall, which coupled with thicker canopies are a breeding ground for the disease.
“I think ramularia is more likely here at Boghall than at Oldmeldrum, as it tends to be a more humid site and, therefore, a good site in terms of trials. The dry weather, though, has probably reduced the risk at both sites. 
“Again I would endorse a three-way mix based around azole + CTL. But you might not have the same dose flexibility as at Oldmeldrum.”
Grant Reid agreed adding that the wheats at Bog Hall are much lusher than at the Oldmeldrum site.
He said timing is critical for all sprays and advised dissecting winter wheat plants prior to spraying to check leaf emergence rather than just going by the nodes. 
“You have to stay in a protective position. We’ve seen in some of the untreated plots plenty of septoria and mildew. If that is the position you find yourself now, even with this weather, it is going to be difficult to control.
“Even with prothioconazole T3 timing is important. We’ve done trials and if you are just a little too early or late we see a drop off in control and in some cases yield. You must hit that early – to mid-flower window when the anthers are visible from the middle florets,” said Mr Reid.
“If the weather picks up, it could see a short gap between T1 and T2 but I’d always advise growers stick with GS39. You have to go at the right time. These crops could pick up the fertiliser and move very rapidly. Just because they have been checked by the dry weather it doesn’t mean that that will remain so. T2 could be going on earlier than some expect.’
“Growers are almost spoilt for choice with winter wheat T2 options. But we would always endorse a prothioconazole approach where septoria is the target. All the evidence is that the gap between prothioconazole and epoxiconazole has widened. 
“Epoxiconazole has the edge against yellow rust and products like Ceriax (epoxiconazole + fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin) and Adexar (epoxiconazole + fluxapyroxad) are good choices. But where septoria is a greater concern, then it is Skyway (prothioconazole + bixafen + tebuconazole), Boogie (prothioconazole + bixafen + spiroxamine) or Ascra Xpro (prothioconazole + bixafen + fluopyram).”
On winter barley with more mildew, Grant said: “Ideally you want the mildew out at T1 but given the conditions and the density of the crop it’s not surprising that mildew has reared its head again. 
“I think a typical T2 mix will hold it but we do have eradicants such as Corbel (fenpropimorph) and Torch (spiroxamine), and protectants like Talius (proquinazid).’