PROVISIONAL results from a MAFF-funded survey of winter wheat show that this was a bad year for disease. The percentage of stems affected by damaging lesions of eyespot at 22.1pc was the highest on record. In addition, levels of spetoria tritici, at 7.6pc of the area of the second leaf, were more than double the 10-year mean. According to the Central Science Laboratory, damage by these two diseases represents a cost of £50m.
Provisional results from a survey of winter barley show levels of rhynchosporium (5.1pc area of second leaf affected)as the second highest on record. Eyespot levels (16.9pc of stems affected by damaging lesions) were higher than last year and above the 10-year mean. The two diseases are estimated to have resulted in lost yield of £8m.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article