Now is the time to try RGT Grouse
“The further north you get, away from the hotspot areas in the south, the less farmers are aware of BYDV,” he says. “While there is no major pressure in this part of the country, most fields probably have a few percent infection.
“Certainly this year some growers have mentioned to me they have had more BYDV than ever before.”
This suggests sub-clinical infection, which is likely to go unnoticed but can still cause hidden yield losses, is also likely to be more prevalent.
“We may not have the volume of BYDV that I would have expected last autumn, probably because most aphids drowned, but the disease is becoming more of an issue, and we will at some point have a major problem with it.
“Pyrethroid sprays have to be managed and are subject to the weather. Over the past two autumns a lot of growers didn’t manage to get any BYDV spray on at all.”
To avoid getting caught out, Nigel has been advising growers to try an area of RGT Grouse so they can learn how to manage it under their systems.
“BYDV-resistant varieties are gaining traction. Growers in high-pressure areas are turning to the variety – there is no doubt that in those areas BYDV pressure on conventional varieties will bring up the Grouse yield-wise.”
The SFI payment (CIPM4) for growing no-insecticide crops is another good reason for growing RGT Grouse, he adds. “You get £45/ha and you aren’t spending anything on insecticides, because you don’t have to, and you are protecting the environment and simplifying autumn management – it’s a very good reason to look at BYDV-resistant wheat.
“And there are plenty of growers who don’t want to use insecticide on their land, so Grouse fits the bill very well.”
Check out our feedback from Stephen Mason on RGT Grouse; https://ragt.uk/yorks-farmer-quadruples-area-of-rgt-grouse/
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