Emma Gillbard

Sutton

Deputy Arable Editor and Reporter at Farmers Weekly

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Articles

Crop Watch: Dry weather prompts T2 fungicide queries

3 weeks ago | fwi.co.uk | Emma Gillbard

The T2 flag leaf fungicide spray is now the focus for winter wheat crops. Dry conditions over the last month have kept disease pressure low, so much so that product choice and rates are being tweaked accordingly to get the best return from crops. Our Crop Watch agronomist keep us updated with progress around the country. See also: Wheat rusts an added threat at Crop Doctor site for T2 sprayNorthWhat I wouldn’t give for a drop of rain.
Velcourt trials reveal distinct benefit of new fungicide at T2

1 month ago | fwi.co.uk | Emma Gillbard

Independent trials carried out by farming company Velcourt have revealed a distinct benefit from including the fungicide RevyPro at the T2 timing in winter wheat. Initial trial work in 2023 on a crop of Skyfall highlighted the formulation benefits of RevyPro. Now partnered with Inatreq, the tank mix forms a key part of the T2 programme across much of Velcourt’s 107 farm businesses, extending across the UK from Scotland to Devon and Kent.
'Mosaic' cropping system helps cut winter barley costs

2 months ago | fwi.co.uk | Emma Gillbard

Cranborne Farms in east Dorset grew a malting winter barley crop for just £65.36/t variable costs last season, some £10.85/t lower than the UK average (Yagro UK). Farm manager Dan Moore puts the achievement down to a “mosaic” approach to field blocks, targeted nutrition and strong data analysis. His ultimate aim is to reduce artificial inputs and create as much habitat as possible on the farm – all while maintaining production.
Why one farmer believes calcium is king of soil nutrients

2 months ago | fwi.co.uk | Emma Gillbard

Tim Parton © Richard Stanton Calcium forms the foundations of good crop nutrition, according to farmer and independent regenerative agriculture consultant Tim Parton. “Calcium is the juggernaut of elements, driving nutrition around the plant. Available calcium is critical to a healthy crop. It is essentially the glue which binds plants together – nothing functions without it,” says Tim.
Strip-till cultivator brings big maize establishment savings

2 months ago | fwi.co.uk | Emma Gillbard

The use of a strip-till cultivator has halved the number of maize establishment passes and more than doubled work rate at a Hampshire arable farm – all while maintaining yields. Father-and-son duo Peter and Will Cheyney were looking to step away from traditional maize cultivations and move to a lower disturbance system.
Sowing date determines plant protection product use this spring

Mar 7, 2025 | fwi.co.uk | Emma Gillbard

Growers are reminded that the sowing date of late-drilled winter cereals will determine the eligibility of certain plant protection products that can be applied this spring. Rules set out by the HSE’s Chemicals Regulations Division (CRD) state that winter cereals sown after the end of January can only be treated with products approved in spring cereals. The CRD defines a winter cereal as one that has been sown on or before 31 January.
6 steps to achieve correct sprayer setup this spring

Mar 5, 2025 | fwi.co.uk | Emma Gillbard

A well-maintained sprayer is essential for accurate applications. We offer six handy tips to help achieve this. The busy spring spraying season is just around the corner, which means sprayers will be out in force across the country to kick-start crops into action. As the weather warms up and soils begin to dry, ensuring sprayers are properly prepared can help to reduce the risks of downtime once things get busy.
Agronomists advise T0 winter wheat spray to ward off rust

Mar 3, 2025 | fwi.co.uk | Emma Gillbard

Higher levels of brown and yellow rust inoculum are cycling in winter wheat crops, which may prompt wider-scale use of a T0 spray to hold off disease pressure. Following a combination of milder winters and wet spring conditions, rusts are cycling more quickly over winter. This is leading to higher levels of rust inoculum in crops at T1 says Mike Thornton, head of crop production, at agronomy group ProCam UK.
Plans to revitalise wheat after wet winter on Somerset farm

Mar 1, 2025 | fwi.co.uk | Emma Gillbard

Crops are off to a soggy start at the Doble family farm in Somerset, after yet another wet winter which saw annual rainfall exceed the farm’s 10-year average. Last year, marked the second consecutive year in the past decade to reach more than 1,000mm of rainfall (see graph below). A total of 1,053mm of rain fell in 2024 and 1,082mm in 2023 – that’s about 200mm more than average.
Fungicide tips for variable wheat this spring

Feb 24, 2025 | fwi.co.uk | Emma Gillbard

With winter wheat at a wide range of growth stages coming out of winter, extra care will be needed to manage crop development and disease pressure this spring. Such variability in wheat can prove a challenge for fungicide timings, highlighting the importance of applying treatments according to relevant growth stages, rather than calendar date.