Varied drilling dates could add to regional disease risks

That's the message from Syngenta's regional technical manager, Joe Bagshaw, who argued that drilling dates had varied widely this season, mainly because of the impact of the summer drought, especially in England and Wales.

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But, come spring, this could create a ‘double whammy’ effect as the legacy of these drilling dates combines with the usual disease risks experienced in these regions, he argued.

“We know that early drilling increases risks from the key wet weather disease, septoria tritici,” said Mr Bagshaw. “And many of this season’s earlier-drilled crops were in wetter regions, such as the North and West [of England], where the pressure from septoria is already traditionally high.

“Similarly, we know when winter wheat is planted later, smaller plants tend to be hit harder by yellow rust. And this season’s later-drilled crops tend to be in the drier East of the country, which is traditionally a yellow rust-prone region," he added.

“Clearly, the weather in spring will also affect how diseases develop, but these effects of drilling date should not be overlooked. The T1 fungicide, which is typically applied in April and which begins the process of protecting the first of the top three yield-building leaves, will be pivotal for keeping diseases at bay.

"Factors to consider when planning an effective T1 fungicide strategy will include strong activity against rust, good preventative activity against septoria tritici, and long-lasting protection. An appropriate dose of the SDHI fungicide Elatus Era at T1 can meet these criteria,” he said.

Where septoria tritici is a concern, Mr Bagshaw said inclusion of a multi-site fungicide in the programme will also be important to manage resistant strains.

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“Prevention is better than cure. It is generally much easier and more cost-effective to minimise disease establishing in the first place rather than trying to get on top of it once it’s built up. It will be important to remain vigilant and use the correct fungicide strategy.

“Winter cold snaps will suppress yellow rust and other diseases, but will not remove the risk completely,” Mr Bagshaw concluded.