High levels of rhynchosporium are now evident in a significant number of winter barley crops, according to Co. Down agronomist, Richard Owens.
“This is particularly the case in crops that were sown out last September and this was to have been expected. The crops in question are very thick; they have wintered well,” he told Agriland.
“But because they are so dense, it has not been possible for light to penetrate down to the very base of individual plants. This, in turn, creates the conditions that allow rhynchosporium to get a foothold.
“Disease issues are not as prevalent in October-sown crops, this is because they are that much thinner,” he added.
Rhynchosporium in winter barley
The good news is that rhynchosporium infections at this time of the year will not impact on final crop yields, the agronomist explained and added that a first fungicide treatment will quickly sort out any problems at that stage.
Owens is also actively encouraging growers to get first nitrogen applications on to winter barley crops as soon as possible.
“This is already happening in some parts of the country. Applying nitrogen now will help encourage tiller growth and maintain those that have already developed,” he said.
Significantly, Owens has confirmed that later-sown winter wheat crops are not looking as well as is the case with winter barley.
“Here again, it’s a case of getting some nitrogen applied as soon a s ground conditions permit,” he explained.
“Wheat crops that have come through a difficult winter will need a fair bit of TLC [tender loving care] over the coming weeks.”
Growth regulators
Getting plant growth regulators on to both wheat and barley crops over the coming weeks will be critically important in determining their future levels of performance.
“These products cannot be applied until air and soil temperatures start to warm up later in the season. However, growers should be working out now when to best apply growth regulators to both their winter wheat and barley crops,” Owens continued.
Last autumn saw winter cereal planting levels return to normal levels after the disaster that was the autumn of 2023.
Crop production accounts for approximately 5% of total agricultural output in Northern Ireland. There are growing expectations that the Stormont Executive will act to encourage the scope of the crops sector over the coming years.
Driving this approach is the recognition that arable farming can act to reduce the carbon footprint of agriculture as a whole.
