Tillage
A Teagasc Advisory Newsletter
June 2011
Oak Park Tillage Crops Open Day 2011 is on the 23rd June
from 2.00 pm to 7.00pm.
This year the open day will focus on
agronomic practices with many trials
and demonstration plots on display.
Discuss the technical aspects with the
researchers, specialists and advisors on
the day.
Topics covered on the day include:
n Oilseed rape management
n Weed control in winter wheat
and spring barley
n Disease control in winter wheat,
winter barley and spring barley
n Nutrition management on cereals
n Soils and cultivations.
Oak Park Tillage crops open day June 23rd
Mark the day in your diary now. All are welcome.
Spring Wheat
Growth Regulation
For the majority of crops it is now too late for CCC application. If there is a danger of crops lodging
an application of Terpal 0.75 L /ha is the best option.
Disease Control
Most spring wheat is at flag leaf emerged and needs its main fungicide. Crops appear relatively
clean but mildew levels have increased significantly in recent days. Options include Bravo 1.0L/ha
+ Venture/Rubric/Gleam/Prosaro/Aviator at a 70-80% rate + Corbel/Tern for mildew control where
necessary. The final fungicide on spring wheat will be similar to winter wheat and will ideally be
applied at early flowering.
Late nitrogen to boost protein
The application of late nitrogen on milling wheat will generally boost protein levels by 0.15-1.0%.
Cross Compliance rules allows a maximum of 30 kg/ha of additional nitrogen on a milling crop.
Tillage | June 2011
(i) Apply the additional 30 kg/ha (25 units/acre) of nitrogen in granular form at the flag leaf stage
of the crop. This is a very effective method in damp conditions but less so if dry weather follows
the application.
(ii) Later application of foliar (liquid) nitrogen at the milky ripe stage is somewhat more effective,
particularly in dry conditions but there is also the risk of leaf scorch. Apply a 10% nitrogen
solution by dissolving 28 kgs of urea in 25 gallons of water, this will supply 25 units of nitrogen.
A black plastic tank full of water in warm sunshine will increase the water temperature thus
helping to dissolve the urea.
Winter Wheat
Wheat crops are headed out with advanced crops near
flowering.
Target the T3 fungicide application at early flowering, which
is normally 3 – 3.5 weeks after the flag leaf spray. The target
diseases at the T3 are Septoria (tritici and nodorum), fusarium,
smutty moulds and mildew.
Septoria levels have increased over the past two weeks.
Septoria timers indicate multiple periods which were conducive
to spread of septoria, especially further south. Keep the curative
part of the final application high. Options include: Gleam/
Prosaro or Caramba/Folicur + strobilurin at reduced rate.
Aphids: Keep an eye on numbers and apply a systemic aphicide
(Dimethoate, etc.) where aphid numbers exceed five per wheat
head. Contact aphicides (Topple, Cypersect, etc .) will not have
a long term control effect
Time last fungicide at start of flowering
(picture mid flowering)
Maize
Walk crops 3-4 weeks post the application of a herbicide to assess if a follow up is needed.
Post emergence spray: Black nightshade can often be a problem with second flushes of
growth emerging. Calaris has useful contact and residual properties and is very effective on black
nightshade. Use at 1.0-1.5 L/ha before the 8 true leaf stage of the maize. The lower rates can be
used before weeds reach the four leaf stage.
Follow up herbicides for difficult weeds include: Accent (grass weeds, v. cereals), Bromoxynil
(general weeds), Starane (docks, nightshade), Shield (thistles, potatoes)
Watch for Manganese, Magnesium and zinc deficiency at the four leaf stage.
Spring Oats
Most oats are from second node to heading.
Growth regulation is now a priority for crop between second and third node. Apply the PGR,
CCC 750 g/l at 1.5-2.0 L/ha to the crop between GS32-33.
Disease: Crops have been relatively clean but Mildew is active in many crops. Rusts and red
Tillage | June 2011
leather leaf disease can affect crops and a broad spectrum fungicide (½ rate Menara, Tocata)
should be added to the PGR at GS 32-33.
The final fungicide should be applied when the crop is starting to head out. Options include
a good rate (60-70% rate) of Strand, Menara, Folicur + Modem/Amistar or alternatively Furlong/
Tocata/Lumen/Jenton on their own. If fresh mildew is still present at the time of spraying then add
Corbel at 0.3-0.5 L/ha where a morphline not already included.
Spring Barley Disease Control
Most barley has received its first fungicide by now.
Disease progress
Cropton and Azalea are showing higher levels of Net Blotch than other varieties with Quench
occasionally showing high levels of Rhynchosporium and early mildew has been a problem in
Snakebite.
The T1 fungicide should give good coverage for about 3 weeks.
Standard Final fungicide
Typically the final fungicide will consist of Bravo 1.0L/ha + ½ - 2/3 rate triazole and 1/3 - 2/3 rate
strob. Most of the options outlined below will control low to moderate levels of all barley diseases
Wild Oat Control
Axial (0.2-0.3 L/ha) can be used up to flag leaf stage and offers excellent control of bigger wild oat
plants. An adjuvant Adigor must also be included at 1.0L/ha. Cheetah can be used on wheat only
up to flag leaf.
Spring Barley T2 Fungicide options include:
Chlorothalonil (Bravo) 1.0L
+
Siltra, Venture Extra, Bontima, Barley Pack, Fandango @ 2/3 - 3/4 rate
Or
Chlorothalonil 1.0 L
+
Triazole (Proline, Opus Max, Punch C, etc)@ ½ - ¾ rate
+
Strobilurins (Modem, Galileo, Amistar ) @ ½ rate
(Preformulated mixes of the above or other actives are widely available e.g.
Acanto Prima. Credo, Fandango, Jenton, Lumen, Amistar Opti, etc.)
Tillage | June 2011
Ramularia hasn’t been a large problem over the past two years but it can strike where crops were
previously under stress. Products used to control Ramularia are protectant in nature and should be
applied from flag leaf out to the awns peeping.
Ramularia in winter barley
Net blotch is more problematic (especially in Cropton and Azalea) this year and some growers
will find they have already spent more than expected. This is unavoidable given the disease pressure. Where net blotch still poses a significant problem use Bravo 1.0 L/ha plus either Fandango
1.25 L/ha or Proline 0.4-0.5 L/ha plus Modem/Amistar 0.5 -0.6 l/ha.
The addition of Corbel 0.3-0.5 L/ha will be needed where mildew is a problem at the T2 timing.
Rhynchosporium: Where Rhyncho is active at the time of spraying include a product containing
Prothioconazole (Proline, Fandango, Coyote, etc) plus a strobilurin and Chlorothalonil.
Teagasc Health and Safety Message
Put Safety to the top of your agenda. Farm deaths have
risen in recent weeks with 5 deaths occurring in the
April/ May period. As we go to print a total of 7 farm
deaths have occurred for 2011 which is almost 40% of
all workplace deaths this year (19 to date). Key areas to
look at on your farm include
(1) Prevent crushing by tractors/vehicles or
entanglement machines particularly PTO’s
(2) Always keep your eye on the Bull as they can
suddenly attack when threatened
(3) Watch out for heavy objects that could fall and crush, such as a gate or bales. Give the
health and safety of children and elderly farmers’ particular attention.
For further information on any issues raised in this newsletter, or to access other enterprise
newsletters, please contact your local Teagasc Advisor or see www.teagasc.ie.