Crop updates: 24 April 2025
Oilseed rape crops are now flowering. Although a few pollen beetles are being reported (below) once the crop is flowering these are no longer damaging.
Our regular round up of the issues affecting crops around Scotland, summarises how crops are developing and what weather and other issues are affecting them. The update provides information on the progress with key field work activities as well as news on the pest, weed and disease problems being noted in crops. The health issues being seen in crops are a key part of the topical update and lets growers and agronomists adjust management practices appropriately. You can see more details on what is affecting crops in your local area at https://adoptacrop.sruc.ac.uk/.
24 April 2025
General Comments
The rain, although cautiously welcomed, will likely cause an uptick in disease levels but at the moment levels remain fairly low. We have a lot of rhynchosporium at our winter barley trials near Lanark where conditions are conducive but in commercial crops there are only occasional reports. Mildew is present across wheat, barley, rye and oats and some specific mildewcides are being used to manage where the severity is high. Septoria levels in wheat are still at trace levels but there are more reports of yellow rust in wheat in coastal areas of Fife and Lothians and occasional reports from further inland in the Borders. Oilseed rape crops are flowering and a few pollen beetles are being reported but these are no longer damaging once the crop is flowering.
Regional Comments
ORKNEY
Virtually no rain has fallen during the month of April which has come as a welcome and surprising boost to all farmers. This is in stark contrast to last year when much of the land was still largely waterlogged. A huge proportion of the spring barley has now been sown - much of it 3 weeks earlier than 2024 - and into good seedbeds. The earliest sown crops are well through the ground. Grass hasn’t really taken off yet as the temperatures are still cool but the dry weather and firm ground has been a dream so far for the outdoor lambers.
CAITHNESS
It’s great to say it’s more of the same in this period! More or less all spring crop is in the ground in excellent conditions. Localised showers in the past week have also aided germination of the later sown stuff. Winter crops are looking fantastic. Grass growth has been slightly slower but quite a lot of cattle are now out to grass.
MORAY
The good weather of spring 2025 continues and despite lower temperatures last week, crop growth has been somewhat rapid, no doubt helped by the weekends much welcomed rain. Newly sown spring barley crops have emerged well and are already well established. Winter cereals, both barley and wheat are now into stem elongation stage with barley crops (GS 32) a little further ahead than wheat (GS 31). T1 spray applications have been going on in good time which should take care of reasonably widespread rhynchosporium and septoria outbreaks. Oilseed rape is now in full flower and again flowering sprays have been applied. Pollen beetles can easily be found but levels are not critical at the moment. Anecdotal evidence suggests grass growth had been a little slow but also seems to have picked up now. Potato planting is also well underway, again ground conditions are near perfect. Now that most crops are in the ground, we need some rain!
INVERNESS
We have seen mostly sunshine with warm and dry conditions, showery spells in the last few days. Most spring cereal crops have been sown and are establishing well. Little diseases present apart from a minimal presence of septoria tritici in winter wheat. Oil seed rapes are flowering. Winter cereal crops are in the stages of elongation. Pre-emergence sprays are mostly completed. The expected mild, damp weather should see crops continue to develop.
ABERDEENSHIRE
The wee showers of rain this last week have been helpful to encourage spring barley emergence and let top dressings of fertiliser to be incorporated. There is still some late sowing of barley occurring, but most crops are in the ground now and emerging. Top dressings of fertiliser have been applied to winter wheats with T1 sprays getting applied during weather windows. Although there has not been a lot of rain recently the warmer weather is also fostering some septoria in the lower wheat leaves so fungicide rates need to be adjusted accordingly. Winter barley is growing at pace with 2nd top leaf emerged and flag leaf emergence not far away. There does however appear to be some disease showing in lower leaves (mainly rhynchosporium), with mildew seen in some crops too. Oilseed rape is now in flower and consideration to the sclerotinia risk (early flower sprays) need to be given – one spray or two? Potatoes are also getting planted now and cattle are getting put out to grass as it starts to grow away too.
BANFF & BUCHAN
The fantastic spring continues and most cereal growers in the area are in the unusual position of being up to date with many having finished sowing several weeks earlier than last year. The countryside is also changing colour with the browns of the sown fields slowing transforming to green as crops emerge. Top dressing is starting to be undertaken as tramlines become visible and with crops racing through the ground, thoughts will also turn to weed sprays. Winter crops are also contributing to the patchwork of colours as oilseed rapes are starting to flower and winter wheats are taking on their dark, deep shade of green. Oilseed rapes are still some way off mid flower and winter wheats have had their T1s and remain mostly clean. Winter barleys have rocketed through the growth stages in recent weeks with flag leaf emerging in many crops with decisions around T2 sprays soon to be made. Once again crops are fairly clean and like the wheats are looking very well. Potato planting is continuing at pace with grass fields filling up with livestock. Sheep farmers, in particular, have benefitted from the dry spring with lambs getting off to a great start.
ANGUS
Days can be warm, but many nights have seen frosts continue and whilst disease levels have largely been low some yellow rust has been seen on untreated areas of wheat crops around the coast even in varieties with fairly good resistance scores for yellow rust. Oilseed rape is now well into flower with sclerotinia sprays being applied. Early sown spring barley crops are now tillering with herbicides being applied and whilst there are still a few fields being sown; most spring barley is rowed up and has been top-dressed with nitrogen.
PERTHSHIRE
Spring barley is now all sown and most has emerged well although some capping was seen in some areas when heavy rainfall followed soon after rolling of new sown crops. Winter wheats are at T1 or beyond with relatively low disease levels seen so far. Winter barleys are into stem extension having had T1s applied. Autumn herbicides have persisted well this winter with significantly less rainfall compared to last winter which has resulted in low levels of broadleaved weeds appearing in winter crops.
FIFE
Spring barley seeding is coming to an end for most people, with early sown barley starting to tiller. Some later sown barley on heavy ground is rather patchy but should even up with some rain. Winter wheats have mostly had T1 fungicide, and a weed tidy up applied, where T1’s are delayed due to rain, yellow rust can easily be found. The winter barley crop is looking very clean and even this year with just low levels of Rhyncosporium and some spots of Net Blotch on the lowest old leaves. WOSR crops have low disease pressure but will be requiring a mid flowering spray for sclerotinia protection in the next week to 10 days. Some nice light rain over night for the next few nights would be very welcome.
STIRLINGSHIRE
The recent spell of warmer weather has been welcomed in Stirling, although it has been mixed with rain, cold winds, and occasional overnight frosts. Spring barley has now fully emerged, with most March-sown crops reaching the second leaf stage. Ground conditions are generally good across all soil types, allowing for easy travel and timely top-dressing of winter crops. Where nitrogen has been applied adequately, crop growth looks strong. Disease pressure is starting to build, with septoria showing in winter wheat and rhynchosporium present in winter barley. In contrast, winter oilseed rape remains the cleanest crop, while winter oats are showing only minor signs of mildew. Grass growth has now begun to pick up momentum, aided by the improving temperatures.
LOTHIANS
A couple of rainy days around the 14th have given most areas 12-13mm so far this month, a complete reversal from April last year when most areas had in the region of 90mm by the end of the month. Despite the exceptionally dry conditions spring sown cereals have found sufficient moisture to germinate evenly and are tillering well. Spring consolidation of soils will have helped autumn and spring cereals alike. Despite the dry and often sunny conditions, soil temperatures, typically currently 9-10 degrees, have been slow to lift, not helped by frequent overnight frosts. Wheats particularly have been correspondingly slow to advance through the growth stages (typically now with leaf 3 emerged). Potato planting is well on, albeit there are instances where irrigation has started and growers with forage grass for both stock and AD will be grateful for rain to help bulk crops ahead of 1st cut.
BORDERS
To date April temperatures and rainfall (11mm) have been well below average affecting development in crops and grassland. Winter crops are extending with barley now at GS31, oats are not far behind with wheat ranging from late tillering to GS31 depending on sowing date.
Levels of septoria T. are falling in wheat as the lower infected leaves die-off and new growth emerges. Stem base mildew can be found in some varieties and there are many reports of yellow rust, particularly nearer the coast with reports of rust in varieties with a 9-resistance rating. Rhynchosporium levels remain low in barley with active mildew present in many oat crops. Winter oilseed rape is approaching mid-flowering; disease levels remain low as are pollen beetle numbers. Early sown spring crops are now starting to tiller with even emergence. With the continuing dry conditions later sown crops are seeing more uneven emergence. Potato planting has been progressing well throughout April and this year many produces will have finish planting before they started last year.
LANARKSHIRE
The sunny dry weather has finally broke in Lanarkshire last week leading to a few days of rain.
Many are thankful for the rain as winter crops were beginning to look a bit thirsty, thereby the rain has perked them up as well as allowing them to absorb the fertiliser recently spread. However, this boost in growth may also lead to the emergence of weeds. Spring crops are beginning to germinate throughout the district the majority are looking well thanks to kind weather conditions during and after sowing. Similar to winter crops the recent rain has helped boost grass growth, with many taking advantage of this growth and putting cattle back out to fields.
AYRSHIRE
The spring barley is starting to emerge with recently drilled fields varying from about 40% to 80% emergence across the county with the furthest-along plants reaching about 7cm of growth above the soil surface. The weather has been warm with light showers over the past fortnight. The average temperature has risen to 9°C with a high of 17°C and a low of 2 °C. The winter barley has progressed on to GS32 with the second node detectable about 1-2 cm above the soil surface. The crops are mostly green but with some yellowing of the older leaves in patches of the field. Disease is starting to be visible on the older leaves also, most prevalent of which, is ramularia. However, the incidence is no more than 4% of the total plant leaf area.
Posted by SAC Consulting on 02/05/2025
