Spring cereal crops are at risk of gout fly and blossom midge warns Agrovista
Its agronomists are seeing an increased prevalence of gout fly, affecting not only spring wheat but also spring barley. This aligns with earlier predictions of higher incidence of gout fly in winter crops, heightening the risk of damage from the spring generation.
Gout fly eggs are becoming a common sight in cereal crops, and the impact depends heavily on the crop’s growth stage at the time of attack. “If eggs are laid early, affected tillers often become stunted, swollen, and “gouty” – and may fail to produce an ear altogether,” says Mark Hemmant
Damage is typically less severe at later growth stages. Poorly developed ears will emerge with immature grains spoiled on one side – resulting in yield potentially being halved (if gout fly was in all tillers).
The company is also advising growers to monitor barley from the boot-splitting stage for signs of blossom midge. Unlike orange blossom midge, lemon blossom midge has no varietal resistance and, although it’s historically infrequent, its incidence has been rising in recent years.
Blossom midge is most likely to be an issue in the few areas with moist soils. Drier regions may not see the same levels of threat, but early vigilance is key.
