A lot of spring barley is now at or approaching the time for its fungicide. Some earlier crops are gone passed this stage. Our Accompany the Agronomist survey two weeks ago placed some early crops at GS30.

Some may have applied fungicide with the weed spray and will need to keep an eye out for disease in these crops as low rates may have been applied as a holding spray.

Disease pressure is low, but there is net blotch in varieties like Planet which are rated a 6 for the disease. Wet weather is also on the way next week which will drive disease pressure.

A strobilurin is needed where net blotch is present. Proline and Comet will probably suffice in this weather. Add nutrition where needed and on stressed crops consider a bio-stimulant like seaweed.

Teagasc research shows that the average yield response from a two-spray fungicide programme is 1.3l/ha in trials. Teagasc advises two different active ingredients applied at half rate will give the best economic return.

However, watch out for this on certain products. With Proline for example the maximum individual dose is 0.8l/ha, but you need 0.5l/ha, not 0.4l/ha to give the best rate. To give effective control of rhynchosporium you need 125g/l of Proline when it’s the only triazole in the mix.

Disease pressure is low at present, but you might want to up the rate of this in order to ensure control and provide for situations where bad weather prevents spraying.

A strobilurin is needed for net blotch control. Comet is the most popular one here. The full rate of Comet is 1.25l/ha, so about 0.6l/ha of Comet is needed. Comet is available in a pack which includes new product Navura which contains Proline and Revysol and may be an option for some.

There are mixes available which may make spraying a bit easier. For example, Delaro Forte contains three actives in one can. Elatus Era is another one can mix that is a good T1 option.

Teagasc is advising early application of the T1, at about GS23-29, on varieties like Planet where net blotch is an issue. On other varieties they recommend applying the T1 before GS30.