Latest news with #BarleyYellowDwarfVirus
Agriland
29-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
AHDB: International grain and oilseed prices on the rise
International grain and oilseed prices rises have risen in line with a strengthening oil market, according to analysts with the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB). There are also indications that crop concerns and short covering by speculative traders have supported cereal prices over recent days. In the US, heavy rain has delayed the winter wheat harvest, while spring wheat crops have improved after a dry start. Meanwhile, conditions continue to look generally positive for maize and soya bean crops with planting almost complete. Limited rainfall is also a concern in Canada. According to AHDB, planting is complete in the top grain and canola (rapeseed) growing province, Saskatchewan. However, rain will be needed to support crop development. In France, ongoing dry weather has meant declines in crop condition scores. The winter barley harvest is now underway in that country. Where spring barley is concerned, the proportion in 'good or very good' condition has fallen from 71% to 67% over recent days. Dry weather is also impacting Russia, particularly in the country's main winter wheat growing areas. However, the Russian government currently forecasts the 2025 crop at 90.0 megatonnes (Mt), up from last year's 82.6Mt. In addition, the grain harvest is also underway in southern Ukraine, which has likewise felt the effects of dry weather. The country's farm ministry expects a wheat crop of 20.0–22.0Mt, compared to almost 23.0Mt in 2024. Irish cereals harvest The Irish winter barley harvest is expected to kick-off in a few days' time. The forecast yields for all winter cereal crops grown in Ireland during 2024/25 remain strong. In contrast, many spring crops sown out in April came under considerable stress on the back of the very dry conditions across the country during the entire month of May. The winter oilseed rape harvest will follow on at the end of July. And here again, yields look to be promising despite the significant damage caused by pigeons grazing many crops back in February. Disease pressure on crops remains low at the present time. However, bucking this trend somewhat has been a late season impact of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus on spring barley crops. Teagasc research scientists are currently investigating the reasons for this. Meanwhile, Met Éireann is forecasting somewhat changeable weather for the first week of July. However, there is the prospect of drier and warmer conditions prevailing as the month progresses.
Agriland
14-06-2025
- Science
- Agriland
The potential impact of yellow rust disease on Irish wheat production
The threat posed by yellow rust disease to Irish wheat crops has been characterised as both complex and evolving by Goldcrop cereal variety manager, John Dunne. He explained: 'Up to this point, yellow rust has been a disease with a very clear geographic footprint in Ireland. It impacts, for the most part, on crops grown along the eastern seaboard. 'And there is a very clear rational for this. The attacking fungus prefers regions that are slightly cooler with relatively higher humidity levels. 'In addition, crops grown on these coasts are more predisposed to windborne fungal spores coming across the Irish Sea form Great Britain. 'If sand can be carried by prevailing winds from the North Africa to Ireland then the challenge of fungal spores making their way across the Irish Sea can be put into perspective very easily.' Higher relative temperatures recorded over seven of the last eight months can also partly explain the rise in the threat posed by yellow rust to Irish wheat crops in 2025. Dunne said: 'I have been monitoring three weather Irish stations since last October, and the data generated clearly shows that – January apart – monthly temperatures have been on the rise, year-on-year. 'This set of circumstances has facilitated yellow rust. And it has also increased the Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) threat impacting on cereal crops.' Yellow rust-resistant genes Adding to all of this has been the confirmed breakdown of the Yr15 gene, which up to this point had been delivering a high degree of protection against yellow rust in a number of winter wheat varieties. The issue was first identified by Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) scientists in north-east England earlier this year. Dunne said he has been monitoring that 'fast-evolving situation' ever since, as Goldcrop grows a number of new crop varieties for AHDB at its Irish trial sites 'We now know that the issue of the Yr15 gene breakdown is now a reality in the UK, Ireland, Denmark, and The Netherlands,' Dunne said. 'But this is a very complex issue. Disease resistance can be provided by a single gene or a number of specific genes working in association with each other. 'Plant pathologists at the UK's National Institute of Agricultural Botany are striving to identify what has actually happened with regard to Yr15's interaction with new yellow rust variants.' According to the Goldcrop representative, these recent developments will be of direct interest to plant breeders and the wheat development programmes they follow into the future. 'The yellow rust issue was a major talking point at our recent open days,' he said. Dunne added that as the situation is still rapidly evolving, it is 'still too early to gauge' how it will impact on Irish wheat production. 'But one thing is already clear. There will be an elevated number of yellow rust spores in the Irish environment over the next two years. 'And Irish tillage farmers will have to take full note of this reality as they plan their future crop protection programmes,' the Goldcrop representative added.
Agriland
30-04-2025
- Health
- Agriland
Yellow rust and mildew an issue in winter wheat crops
Up to this point, yellow rust had been identified in winter wheat crops, growing in the north-east of the country. But now the problem has been tracked south with growers in the midlands confirming the presence of the disease. 'And we can add mildew to the list of disease challenges now confronting wheat growers across the country,' Teagasc tillage specialist, Shay Phelan confirmed to Agriland. 'At this stage, Teagasc is advising growers to inspect all of their fields now and to manage each on a bespoke basis. 'Taking a blanket approach and treating all winter wheat crops in the same way is not the way forward under current circumstances.' According to Teagasc, outbreaks of yellow rust occur occasionally in certain prone varieties of wheat. The disease can be controlled at the Leaf 3 timing with triazole-based and SDHI fungicides. Mildew is most evident in dense, susceptible varieties of wheat on older leaves. It appears as white pustules on the leaf. Mildewicides are very active on wheat mildew. Growth phases Turning to spring barley, Phelan confirmed that most crops are going through their growth phases at a fair rate of knots. 'Magnesium and manganese deficiencies are now apparent in many crops. Growers should take steps to address these issues with immediate effect,' Phelan continued. 'With the month of May beckoning, spring barley crops will be striving to reach their maximum growth potentials.' Later sown crops of spring barley will also be prone to Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV). Teagasc research is delivering new insights into the challenge posed by BYDV for Irish tillage farmers. Specifically, the work is confirming that extremely complicated processes are at play, all of which are associated with the relationship that develops between aphids, the virus they carry and the host cereal plant. And each link in the chain has a number of factors that can work through to the final impact – if any – that BYDV can manifest within a crop. E.g., there are different forms of the BYDV virus, with differing capabilities of interfering with crop growth patterns. In addition, the timing of the initial infection and the stage of plant growth can have a key impact on subsequent crop performance. This is why sowing times are so critical in terms of the disease pressure that cereal crops are exposed to. But in terms of practical advice to farmers, the route one BYDV prevention measure comes back to sowing date. 'March-sown spring barley crops will not need an insecticide to control BYDV; it's too early in the season,' Phelan advised. 'On the other hand April-sown crops, will, invariably, require an insecticide to control the issue. 'Where autumn sown crops are concerned, the late-early scenario also kick-in, but this time in reverse. Later sown crops are less exposed to the threat posed by aphids. 'And, of course, all of this comes down to grower choice. Some farmers may not wish to use an insecticide under any circumstances,' he added.
Agriland
28-04-2025
- Health
- Agriland
Complicated interaction between aphids and BYDV
Teagasc research is delivering new insights into the challenge posed by Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) for Irish tillage farmers. Specifically, the work is confirming that extremely complicated processes are at play, all of which are associated with the relationship that develops between aphids, the virus they carry, and the host cereal plant. And each link in the chain has a number of factors that can affect the final impact – if any – that BYDV can manifest within a crop. For example, there are different forms of the BYDV virus with differing capabilities of interfering with crop growth patterns. In addition, the timing of the initial infection and the stage of plant growth can have a key impact on subsequent crop performance. This is why sowing times are so critical in terms of the disease pressure that cereal crops are exposed to. BYVD All of these issues were profiled by Teagasc tillage specialist, Shay Phelan, in detail at a recent crop walk in Co Louth. But in terms of practical advice to farmers, the route one BYDV prevention measure comes back to sowing date. Phelan said: 'March-sown spring barley crops will not need an insecticide to control BYDV: it's too early in the season. 'On the other hand, April-sown crops will, invariably, require an insecticide to control the issue.' Phelan also said that where autumn sown crops are concerned, 'the late-early scenario also kicks-in: but this time in reverse'. 'Later sown crops are less exposed to the threat posed by aphids,' Phelan explained. 'And, of course, all of this comes down to grower-choice. Some farmers may not wish to use an insecticide under any circumstances.' Teagasc research has also confirmed a number of general trends where BYDV is concerned. First off, fields with a history of the problem should be identified. All cropping areas should be inspected for aphids prior to planting. Before applying an insecticide, it is important to walk crops and search sheltered spots, particularly near headlands. The best control of BYDV is achieved from a single aphicide application at growth stage 14. It has been shown that two applications at leaf two and leaf four, or at leaf four and first node, are not significantly different, in terms of their overall impact relative to a single application of insecticide at the leaf four stage.
