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• Future of crop protection debated
• HGCA Agronomists’ Conference to investigate input management
• Yields hold up despite difficult season
• Survey shows good quality harvest
• Managing cabbage stem flea beetle without neonics
• Pymetrozine approved for aphid control
• Aphid News service recommences
• New information sheet on integrated slug management
• New guide on when and how to sample grain

Future of crop protection debated

Around 170 representatives of the agricultural industry discussed combating pest, weed and disease threats to UK agriculture at the AHDB Crop Research Conference on Wednesday 25 September.

Throughout the event, speakers emphasised that crop protection is an evolutionary battle with an enemy that can rapidly evolve overcome control measures.

“We are in react mode too often, we need to get more proactive and use genomic techniques to try and work out what the pathogen will do next”

Professor John Lucas of Rothamsted Research

The Agri-Tech Strategy was discussed and is seen as a great opportunity to turn cutting-edge science into a practical reality.

HGCA will assess how approaches discussed at the conference can be incorporated as part of its 2015-2018 research strategy.

A PhD poster competition also showcased the work of 23 up-and-coming researchers. The competition was won by Rachel Goddard of the John Innes Centre for her work on an alternative dwarfing gene in cereal crops, which may offer improved disease resistance.

Full presentations from the conference are available online.

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HGCA Agronomists’ Conference to investigate input management

The HGCA Agronomists’ Conference 2013 will explore the latest advances in agronomy to help cereal and oilseed agronomists maximise client yield and quality in 2014 and beyond.

Taking place at Peterborough Arena on 10 December, this full-day technical conference will focus on recent developments from HGCA’s research programme.

In particular, the 2013 conference will focus on managing farm inputs to optimise crop yield and quality.

The programme, which will be unveiled in October, will feature:

• First analysis of HGCA’s independent fungicide performance trials in wheat and barley.
• Advances in phoma and light leaf spot control in oilseed rape.
• Developments in phosphate management.
• The effect of variety, agronomy and weather on crop quality.
• Grain market prospects for 2014.

The conference includes a resistance management session looking at how plant protection products (PPPs) can best be managed to counter the combined threats of a reduction in PPPs and resistance in pests, diseases and weeds.

Results from an HGCA-funded desk study modelling the possible economic and environmental implications of both adoption and non-adoption of GM technologies in the UK will also be announced at the event.

Attendance costs £45 (including conference papers, lunch, refreshments and VAT).

For further information, or to book a place, visit www.hgca.com/events. 

BASIS and NRoSO points are available for attendance.

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Yields hold up despite difficult season

Results from HGCA Recommended List trials have seen yields for control varieties around the average, as shown in the table (figures correct as of 26 September 2013).

For more details, go to www.hgca.com/harvestresults

The 2014/15 HGCA Recommended Lists will be launched on 2 December 2013.

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Survey shows good quality harvest

Dry conditions at harvest have resulted in some of the highest Hagbergs recorded in the past few years, according to the provisional AHDB/HGCA Cereal Quality Survey estimates (released 9 September).

So far, overall GB wheat quality analysed by AHDB /HGCA, from 17,720 samples collected up to 30 August, shows large improvements on the poor quality 2012 crop, with average Hagbergs of 334 seconds and an average specific weight of 77.8kg/hl.

Find out more at www.hgca.com/markets

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Managing cabbage stem flea beetle without neonics

A one-year trial looking at managing cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) without neonicotinoids has started. The research has been commissioned by HGCA in response to the neonicotinoid restriction, which will affect oilseed rape plantings from 2014, and is being conducted by ADAS.

Rothamsted Research is also carrying out tests to establish whether populations of CSFB carry resistance to pyrethroids in the UK. If you strongly suspect that you have CSFB resistance on your farm this season and are interested in providing samples for analysis, please contact caroline.nicholls@hgca.ahdb.org.uk

For information on neonicotinoids, visit www.hgca.com/neonics

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Pymetrozine approved for aphid control

Pymetrozine has gained full label approval for use against aphids, which transmit turnip yellows virus in oilseed rape.

Pymetrozine is tested as part of the AHDB aphid resistance work (HGCA Project 3768) and, as aphids carry no known resistance, could provide a useful spray option in 2014.

Spray timing is critical, as the active ingredient persists for around two weeks and can be applied only once against aphids in the autumn. HGCA's weekly 'Aphid News' provides vital information on aphid migration to help time spray applications.

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Aphid News service recommences

HGCA’s Aphid News service (Project 3475) has recommenced in time to help protect vulnerable newly emerged crops.

The first autumn aphid migrations are picked up by the service and can aid decision-making on whether to spray against vectors of turnip yellows virus (TuYV) and barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV).

The first weekly bulletin shows:

Oilseed rape

• Most winter crops have been sown and the most forward crops in the south have reached the four-leaf stage.
• The peach–potato aphid was caught in low numbers at three sites.
• The cabbage aphid was also caught at three sites, with a hotspot at Hereford.
• No field reports of aphids on emerging oilseed rape have been received.

Winter wheat

• Numbers of cereal aphids flying are slowly increasing, particularly in northern and western areas.
• Early drilling of winter wheat has commenced throughout much of the country.
• Field reports have concentrated on aphids found on volunteer cereals, particularly in eastern England.

This week's edition will be available here later today.

To receive Aphid News directly to your inbox, email subscriptions@hgca.ahdb.org.uk (include ‘sign me up to Aphid News’ in the ‘Subject’ line).

For further information on aphids, visit www.hgca.com/pests

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New information sheet on integrated slug management

As newly drilled crops and autumnal weather conditions can lead to slug problems, HGCA and Potato Council have issued a new Information Sheet to assist with integrated slug control in oilseed rape, cereals and potatoes.

Because slug pellets must be applied with caution to prevent contamination of water supplies, the publication also includes the latest information from the Metaldehyde Stewardship Group.

Download the publication here.

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New guide on when and how to sample grain

The HGCA Grain sampling guide will be published in time for the UK Grain event on 6 November in Peterborough.

The guide highlights best practice across the supply chain from harvest to commercial intake.

Since HGCA’s last grain sampling publication, advances in technology and knowledge have placed additional demands on sampling. The new guide covers recent developments in industry protocols as well as the essentials of when to sample and how to do it. 

To register to receive a copy, email subscriptions@hgca.ahdb.org.uk or pick one up at UK Grain.

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