South East: All crops now range from green bud (Expert) to first flowers (Catalina/Castille). Many crops remain somewhat open and etiolated in appearance despite recent nitrogen applications - combination of dry and cool weather is delaying nitrogen uptake, hopefully recent rains will have been sufficient to wash in applied fertiliser and normalise canopy structure. A few crops on wetter and poorly drained soils which have been at field capacity since early February now looking very sad, with purple/brown patches showing due to impact of sustained waterlogging and restricted nitrogen availability. Stem cracking is notable in a number of crops - appears to be associated with situations where there is low basal fertility & crops have bolted during warm daytime weather, but then been "shocked" by big diurnal temperature variation. Pollen beetle: varying from very low numbers to not quite at threshold.

South West: Crops have recovered well from the cold snap and low-lying fields are now looking predominantly yellow as flowering begins. Some signs of stem splitting where growth has been very rapid.

East: Crops at green to yellow bud stage with a few fields coming into flower. Great variability still from field to field. Also quite a lot of variability in height of plants within a field. Crops improving all the time as they take up N. Crop heavy with dew in mornings so have been waiting for it to dry before applying solid N. Second N dose now being applied to most advanced crops and planned for the remainder soon. Spindly, poor crops have received trace elements Boron, Magnesium, Manganese. Growth regulatory fungicides being applied to several forward crops this week. Light Leaf Spot: odd foci of light leaf spot seen on variety Castille in several fields in west Norfolk. Pollen beetle: few present on sunny afternoons this week but nowhere near threshold levels.

East Midlands: Crops very variable - forward crops starting to flower but some later crops slower developing - cold of last week has had an effect with some crops till showing "drooping" flower buds where wind and frost has bent them over. Recent night frosts haven't helped. All crops have had first N and remainder to go on in about 10 days - aim is to leave until last possible moment when able to travel through the crop. Pollen beetle: levels remain low after the cold - backward thinner crops will have to be monitored carefully for pollen beetle damage as day temperatures rise giving increased numbers - however some rape flowering in forward crops.

West Midlands: Majority of crops showing rapid stem extension, crops now coming into flower. All first applications now made, some crops with autumn poultry litter will receive one application of N only, farmers using solids will have to apply final nitrogen application next week to ensure accurate spreading. Light Leaf Spot: trace levels on some crops. Pollen beetle: some beetles in crops which are flowering but well below threshold levels at present.

North East Earliest crops at yellow bud now, but most at stem extension green bud stage only. Fields will travel well. Crops picking up earlier nitrogen application now and most looking good, but where have compaction growth is impeded so have applied foliar feed. Final N applications going on this week. Pollen beetle: only very low numbers seen. None in most crops. Light Leaf Spot: some signs of new infection.

Leaf emergence: Indications this year suggest that early sown crops in sheltered fields are a leaf ahead of crops sown at the same time on more exposed sites. Crops sown in early September on exposed sites still have final leaf 4 emerging whilst crops in more sheltered areas have final leaf 3 emerging. This is much earlier than expected and may mean that this leaf will take longer to complete emergence than normal and hence be at risk to infection from Septoria for a longer period.

South East: September and early October sown crops are generally at GS 30-31, with the most advanced crops now at GS 31-32. Leaf 4 emergence is now well underway in these earlier sown crops (50-100% emerged). Tip of leaf 3 likely to emerge on main stem in the next 7 days on the more advanced crops (especially Einstein/Robigus/Solstice). Fluctuating temperatures causing crops to develop orange tipping on older leaves. Field conditions are mostly dry and firm now. Brown rust: widespread in all September sown crops of Alchemy, Claire and Solstice. Mildew: still very hard to find any active pustules and older leaves that were carrying infection now senescing. Septoria: lesions obvious on older leaves of all September/early October sown wheats - lesions can be found on leaf 5 of early sown Solstice. Eyespot: moderate stem based browning with some penetrating lesions can now be found in earlier sown second wheats and Solstice/Robigus as first wheats in particular.

South West: Crops moving towards GS 31, however, internode extension is still very slow. Lengthening days and increasing temperatures should trigger more rapid development. Surface feeding roots are only just starting to develop which will lead to more rapid growth as they take up applied nitrogen. Crops still have a brownish tinge as the highest leaf in the canopy is rather weather beaten. Leaf 4 continuing to emerge. Brown rust: no sign on newly emerging leaves although some overwintered leaves have been killed by this disease (Alchemy and Zebedee in particular). Mildew: seems to have freshened up a little. Septoria: frequent lesions on lower leaves. Eyespot: easily found in virtually all forward crops. First and second wheats. Drier weather means penetration from leaf sheath to stem has slowed down. Some infected leaf sheaths may well be sloughed off before stem attack can take place. Yellow rust: Severe in a crop of Robigus in Somerset.

East Midlands: Very little forward movement as crops mark time - the cold weather last week virtually stopped growth and this week the ground frost at night and cool foggy mornings have not helped although there have been warm afternoons. Most crops at GS 30 with forward ones close to GS 31. Later crops at GS 29-30. Soils very dry on top but like plasticine below top inch or so. Good travelling conditions. Mildew: last week's cold and cold nights this week is holding mildew down and is almost non existent, even on forward thicker crops. Brown rust: traces on Alchemy and Einstein, but less prevalent now than 4 weeks ago. Septoria: older infected leaves dying off and new growth clean so far. Yellow Rust: traces on Robigus. Eyespot: levels remain low even in 2nd wheat - helped by drying conditions with bases of plants very dry and older leaf dying off. Even where found on older leaves there is no penetration. Odd lesions can be found up the stem but again not penetrating. Blackgrass: new emergence on worst fields

West Midlands: Einstein at GS 32 on main stem, Alchemy at GS 31 with other crops ranging GS 21-32. Early sown crops of Alchemy, Robigus and Einstein have final leaf three just emerging but most early sown crops still at final leaf four emerging. It's worth checking as some mid-September sown crops have only final leaf 5 emerging. Cold weather and light dusting of snow has meant that it has been too cold to apply any growth regulator. Some crops showing a lot of leaf senescence. Hope for warmer weather over the next 10 days. Ground has been dry enough to cultivate and sow although some heavier fields are "sticky". Brown rust: readily found on lower leaves of early drilled Alchemy and Solstice. Mildew: held at bay by recent frosts and icy winds. Septoria: high levels on older leaves, especially Einstein. Eyespot: low levels on Alchemy, Einstein, Robigus and Solstice. Take-all : low levels showing on roots of some first wheats.

East: Most advanced between GS 30 and 31 - Robigus and Alchemy. Soil surface drying up in very cold winds wind. Disease levels less with many older leaves dried up. Effects of three very wet months showing up in poor growth in patches in many fields - generally 'min till' worst affected and second wheat worse than first but this is mainly down to timing of cultivation and drilling, notably using heavy equipment on wet soil. Brown rust: Still visible on forward Alchemy, Einstein and Solstice but no increase on last week. Mildew: much less evident. Septoria: no increase - lower leaves on most varieties have the disease - so what's new! Alchemy cleanest followed by Robigus. Clear pattern in disease levels with drilling dates - late October drilled crops almost completely clean. Yellow Rust: Essex: Robigus showing few pustules on some crops. Norfolk: none seen. Eyespot: Essex: at up to 10% level in early drilled Robigus, Solstice and Gladiator. Norfolk: low level in second wheats. Wheat bulb fly : low level. Very few fields needing treatment. Wild oats: first signs of emergence, over-wintered wild oats approaching second node.

North East: Despite low temperatures the longer days are encouraging growth and crops are developing quickly with most first wheats now at GS 31. Other wheats mostly GS 30, with Cordiale the exception which although a second wheat is also at GS 31. No rainfall this week, but some very heavy dews keeping ground damp but the land is firm now and all travelling well. Brown rust: mostly disappeared now after early attack. Mildew: as with Brown rust it has mostly disappeared now after early attack. Septoria: present in all crops with all susceptible varieties showing significant level. Eyespot: some stem discolouration easy to find in most early sown crops. Yellow rust: trace levels in some crops of Robigus.

South East: Earliest sown crops now at GS 30-31 with leaf 3 just emerging (Boost/Sequel), and remainder crops around GS 30. Brown rust: widespread, pustules can be found in all crops of Sequel/Boost in particular. Mildew: mostly browned pustules can be found on lower leaves Sequel/Pearl. Rhynchosporium: becoming more noticeable now as canopies begin to thicken.

South West: Still a huge variation in the most forward and backward crops. Poorer crops often linked with capping on heavier soils. Rhynchosporium: very high levels in many crops. Most I have seen for some years. Hardly surprising after the mild wet winter. Brown rust is readily detectable in many varieties. Mildew: at low level in most varieties.

Midlands: Generally GS 30-31 but some crops still showing signs of stress and need to put on some new leaf. Light land crops taking a while to respond to first nitrogen applications. Rhynchosporium is becoming more obvious. Mildew: levels very low again due to cold and night frost. Net blotch: new growth remains clean.

East: Largely GS 30. Often very yellow due to water logging or mildew. Mildew: moderate to high levels seen in Norfolk. Net blotch levels vary from trace to significant levels on some crops.

North East: All crops at leaf sheath erect stage now, and some GS31. Good for travelling, but crops looking stressed despite first N application. A little more sunshine needed to get them going. Mildew: significant level in Carat and Pict but Saffron very clean. Net blotch: significant level in Carat and Pict but Saffron only very low level. Aphids present in crops treated in early autumn.

South West: Early February sowings emerging vigorously and evenly. Sitona weevil notching now showing up.

Midlands: Spring beans planted now and pre-ems applied. Generally seedbeds for spring beans have been difficult to create.

North East: Crops have only recently been sown.