Syngenta Crop Protection UK Ltd
Treat Spring seed to counter high WBF risks advises agronomist
25/11/2009
On the back of high autumn egg counts, spring cereal growers are being warned to protect seed against the threat of wheat bulb fly.
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Wheat bulb fly could be a serious issue in spring cereals this season if growers fail to use Austral Plus to minimise damage
According to consultant agronomist Bob Simons, the greatest risk comes when sowing coincides with egg hatch in Jan/Feb. In winter-sown crops the hatching larvae typically attack the emerged plant taking out tillers and small plants, whereas in spring cereals they can cause complete plant loss.
“In spring cereals, larvae often burrow into the shoot before it emerges, killing the plant,” he says. “Best protection is to utilise the only remaining seed treatment available – Austral Plus – and so protect the crop as it comes through the ground.”
Mr Simons suggests that a wide range of spring cereal crops in the eastern counties through to the north of England and into Scotland on fields that traditionally suffer from wheat bulb fly attack could benefit from Austral Plus seed treatment protection this season.
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You’ll need to protect spring crops in at risk regions, says agronomist, Bob Simons
“It has been a while since we have had a bad year, but ADAS sampling of potentially at risk fields back in October suggested that 50% of those in northern England and 67% of those in eastern England had moderate to high egg numbers,” he says.
Syngenta Seeds’ product development manager, Simon Philips, says that the greatest risks come from early drilling of spring crops in January.
“Where crops are under threat, then it will pay to maintain a robust seed rate and utilise Austral Plus,” he says. “Stick with a standard drilling rate of around 325-375 seeds per square metre depending on and variety and region.
“Optimum spring barley yield and grain quality are achieved in crops with 700-800 ears per square metre, so it is important that growers establish an effective plant population to secure this.”
