Wheat bulb fly risk in 2006 as high as 2005

UK - December 22, 2005

Field sampling in Eastern England shows that 50% of fields sampled are at ‘high’ or ‘very high’ risk of attack from wheat bulb fly in 2006, warns Dow AgroSciences.

Of the 22 fields sampled across Eastern England by ADAS, 18% were in the ‘very high’ risk category; a further 32% were at ‘high risk’; another 27% were at ‘moderate’ risk and just 23% were ‘low’.  

“The autumn 2005 baseline survey shows similar egg populations to autumn 2004,” says David Roberts of Dow AgroSciences. “The risk of wheat bulb fly is as high as last season, with some agronomists already reporting signs of early damage.”  

The risk in Northern England is lower, although 42% of fields still showed a moderate risk of wheat bulb fly.  

The company’s advice to growers is to assess the risk each for each field. High risk factors include late drilling (eg after sugar beet) as well as backward or poorly established crops.  

Crops in the highest risk category should be sprayed with Dursban WG (chlorpyrifos) at 1kg/ha in 200-1,000 litres of water. Dursban WG can be applied to frosty ground, but should not be tank mixed.