PGRO Crop Update Number 1: 10th May 2024

PGRO Crop Update: CB2401

Aphids
To control virus infection, applications should be made when aphids are first observed in peas and beans, particularly if this occurs before flowering. Otherwise, apply treatment to control feeding damage in combining peas when up to 20% of plants are infested, in vining peas when up to 15% of plants are infested with colonies, and in field and broad beans when 10% of plants are infested.

Aphid activity has been low, although a few pea and black bean aphids were recorded in Rothamsted Insect Survey suction traps in mid-April. Further information can be found at https://insectsurvey.com/. Peach potato aphids have been recorded at low levels during April. Late drilled crops may be more susceptible to virus infection as aphids move into crops at early growth stages, especially as temperature increases in the next week.
Pyrethroids may give partial control of aphids prior to flowering. Flonicamid is available before flowering in vining peas, French beans, runner beans, edible podded peas and picking peas, to manage early virus infections. Insyst (acetamiprid) is available in combining peas, vining peas, French beans, runner beans, edible podded peas and picking peas from enclosed bud stage. Pirimicarb is available in all legumes for aphid management from first flower stage.
 
Pea moth
Order pea moth traps now ready to be put in place by mid-May.
 
One set of traps is required for a block of peas, i.e., a farm having all the pea fields within a restricted area need only purchase one set of traps, but in fields of 50 ha or more two sets are required.
Traps must be placed in the pea crop by the middle of May and examined at two-day intervals. The number of moths caught by each of them is noted on each occasion. Traps can be suspended on pheromone trap pole kits or fence posts in the field and should be placed at canopy height, moved upwards at intervals as the crop grows. No pea moths have been reported in crops so far this year.

Dr Becky Howard explains the process here: https://youtu.be/uuS9ggywlpA , in her masterclass video.

Traps are available from the following suppliers:
Dragonfli, Unit 4 Rippers Court, Sible Hedingham, Halstead, Essex, CO9 3PY, UK
Tel: 01376 563322
www.dragonfli.co.uk
Andermatt UK, 47 Compton Road, Brighton, West Sussex, BN1 5AL, UK
Tel: 07939 395059
Email: contact@andermattuk.com 
www.andermattuk.com
Koppert UK
https://www.koppert.com/challenges/caterpillars/pea-moth/
 
Peas – Post-emergence rolling:
Peas are brittle after emergence and where post-emergence rolling is required wait until the plants are around 3 to 4 node stage.  At this stage the plants will be less susceptible to snapping off but try a strip first and assess the damage before proceeding with the rest of the field.  Some crushing damage will occur and if a post-emergence herbicide is required check the leaf-wax first before application.
https://www.pgro.org/downloads/TU36-PeaLeafWaxAssessment3.pdf
 
Winter beans diseases
Winter bean crops are likely to be flowering and fungicide applications may be required to manage chocolate spot. There are several active substances available in beans that will reduce further chocolate spot development.
Azoxystrobin (e.g., Amistar), benzovindiflupyr + prothioconazole (e.g., Elatus Era), boscalid + pyraclostrobin (e.g., Signum), metconazole (e.g., Sunorg Pro) and tebuconazole (e.g., Folicur) will provide good protection against chocolate spot, and growers should check earliest growth stage restrictions for some of these actives.
 
Post-emergence herbicides
Some growers may have missed the opportunity to apply pre-emergence herbicides due to difficult conditions. Bentazone, a contact-acting post-emergence herbicide, works best on small, actively growing weeds. It performs best in conditions of high light intensity and warm, humid conditions. If conditions are too hot (more than 21°C), damage to the crop may occur and application should be delayed until evening or early morning. A split dose may improve control and reduce potential crop damage, giving an opportunity to target small weeds effectively, including a second flush. Avoid spraying crops that are stressed and ensure that there is adequate leaf wax formation. Applications can be made from 2 leaf pairs and must not be made when flower buds are visible. Winter beans may be past the latest growth stage for applications (7 leaves unfolded stage). Remember there are water stewardship guidelines in place when thinking about using bentazone. Better Bentazone Together Group launch new Stewardship Campaign | Voluntary Initiative
 
For any information about crop management please contact PGRO at 01780 782585 or becky@pgro.org.

Pea and Bean Yield Enhancement Networks (YEN)
YEN membership is open, and available to anyone including farmers, agronomists, and researchers.
These are not competitions. Each crop starts with a different potential and the YEN intensively monitors the crops and evaluates the relative achievement of each crops potential. Benchmarking against crops in each year and across years indicates factors strongly  associated with yield, and by comparing different approaches gives growers clear indications of what they can do to optimise their own potential in the future. As the data set grows this approach will become an ever more powerful tool for growers. Open to all crops ( the good the bad and the ugly), there really is nothing to lose and a huge amount to gain and PGRO will support you through the process. There is a lot to be learned from participation!

Sponsorship is available on a first come, first serve basis.
2024 Harvest Membership includes:

• One entrance into the annual Pea or Bean YEN benchmarking network (Members can enter multiple fields; additional charges apply).
• One free Soil analysis (Details and restrictions to be confirmed).
• A comprehensive report on your crop’s performance.
• One ticket to the Annual YEN Conference.
• PGRO Foot rot risk (peas).
• Lancrop leaf tissue and seed nutrition*.
• Askew and Barrett Ltd grain sample market quality assessment (peas)*.
• PGRO grain bruchid beetle damage assessment (beans)*.

 
*Analysis may be subject to limitations on crop development stage, date, or availability (enquire via email at peayen@adas.co.uk for more information).
The link for registration is https://yen.adas.co.uk/networks-projects