Farmers and agronomists across the UK are being urged to take part in a new survey aimed at tackling barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV).
The survey will be led by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) in conjunction with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), in order to “build a regional picture” of the areas most affected by the virus.
The AHDB says that the survey will also be used to highlight practises and approaches that can help control the virus.
The survey was announced at the AHDB Agronomists’ Conference on December 5 by Charlotte Rowley, pest research manager at the Board, who said: “Our BYDV work will get the industry ready to grow cereals without neonicotinoid seed treatments.”
The survey is part of a wider research project, funded by the AHDB, that was commissioned last year, the results of which will be seen next autumn, when cereals will be drilled without neonicotinoid seed treatment, which has been largely banned in the European Union.
The development of BYDV management tools, including those based on aphid monitoring, such as the use of risk forecasts and in-field sticky traps, will be shaped by the survey results.
The survey has been compiled by agronomy service providers Agrii, and will remain open until January 31, 2019.
For further information on the survey and the project, go to: cereals.ahdb.org.uk/aphids.
