Farmers in Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire should not ignore their spring clean up of broad-leaved weeds despite challenging conditions across the counties. Late May is typically the last opportunity to take out key problem weeds while fungicides are applied to tackle any disease pressures. A very dry April across the three counties has slowed crop growth and patchy rain is now reducing the number of spraying days available. Winter wheat crops are looking thin in places,” said Caroline Smith, commercial technical manager for the north at Dow AgroSciences.

Farmers in Eastern England should spring clean their fields of broad-leaved weeds despite dry conditions posing challenges for cereals growers. Late May is typically the last opportunity to take out key problem weeds while fungicides are applied to tackle any disease pressures.  But one of the driest Aprils on record is slowing progress for some of the region’s cereal growers. “The lack of rain has led to thin crops of winter wheat,” said Rob Suckling, commercial technical manager at Dow AgroSciences.