Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) once again poses a threat to newly planted cereal crops in Northern Ireland, according to College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) senior crops advisor, Robin Bolton.
“Weekly information on grain and other aphid numbers is available on the AFBI website. This data is generated from aphids caught in suction traps located at Crossnacreevy in Co. Down.
“Cereal growers can use this as a reference point when deciding whether or not to use an insecticide on newly emerged cereal crops,” Bolton said.
“As a Leaf-accredited farm, CAFRE does not blanket recommend the use of an insecticide when it comes to the management of the threat posed by BYDV.
“This is because the products used kills both the virus-carrying aphids and those beneficial insects that actually prey on them.”
Bolton explained that “aphid numbers tend to recover faster than those of the other insects in the proximity of the cereal crops that are treated with an insecticide.
“The fact that insecticide use has come back into the management tool of cereal growers is a direct consequence of the decision to ban neonicotinoid seed dressings a number of years ago.”
The CAFRE crops specialist is also aware that a number of cereal growers in Northern Ireland have planted a selection of BYDV tolerant varieties over recent weeks.
BYVD
“A crop of BYDV-tolerant barley has been established at Greenmount College. So, it will be interesting to see how it develops over the coming weeks.
“BYDV tolerant seed is more expensive than that of more traditional varieties but has the benefit of saving the cost of insecticide and application of it,” the crops advisor explained.
According to Bolton, “the varieties do not offer complete protection and may still need a late aphicide application in very high risk situations”.
Meanwhile, the planting of winter cereal crops continues apace across Northern Ireland.
“Ground conditions have held up well. There was very heavy rain last Friday and a fair bit of lying water is now evident in some places.
“But, up to now, water seems to be draining away if dry conditions return to any extent. However, all of this may change as October progresses.”
“Late harvested potatoes and maize may hold up the drilling of some winter wheat crops this autumn. The harvesting of maize crops is only getting underway now. That’s two to three weeks behind than would normally be the case,” Bolton outlined.
It has been estimated that the area of forage maize grown in Northern Ireland in 2024 is 30% up, year-on-year.
