East Anglian farmers told not to delay wheat bulb fly control

UK - January 22, 2007

Dow AgroSciences’ PestWatch confirms that wheat bulb fly are hatching in East Anglia and prompt application of Dursban WG (chlorpyrifos) is needed to protect yields in high risk fields.  

Dow AgroSciences’ Jim Butchart explains: “Last autumn HGCA’s survey identified that 40% of fields were above the critical 250 eggs/m² threshold with levels being particularly high in fields sown after potatoes and sugar beet.  Our latest PestWatch results show that egg hatch has already started in the East of England.” 

Growers should take action now to avoid yield loss on high risk fields. These tend to be late drilled or backward crops with few tillers and poor overall establishment.  Dursban WG should be applied at 1.0 kg/ha to these fields.  If necessary, it can be applied to frosty ground but should not be tank mixed.” 

Commenting on crops in East Anglia, Ian Cook from Hutchinsons confirms that some fields were showing early signs of damage: “As soon as the ground is fit to travel, I will be advising my growers to spray their high risk fields with Dursban WG.”