We are still receiving reports of mice damage, especially on headlands and then spreading into the field - ensure coverage of the seed by soil and clear up spillages of seed. No reports of slug damage at present, but keep watch on emerged and emerging crops for signs of damage. One report from Suffolk of large numbers of dead slugs in fields treated with slug pellets pre-drilling. In many situations, large weeds are present and the crop is about to emerge. In some cases it is safe to apply a contact herbicide close to drilling, but check with your herbicide supplier or adviser.
Weeds are sensitive to herbicides at the moment.
28 Feb. The above figures suggest that the risk of virus infection will double for sowing dates delayed until mid May if no pest control measures are used. However, since most crops in the three regions will be treated with Gaucho or something else at drilling, the risk remains low, even for very late drilled crops. It is likely that seed sown now into warming seedbeds will not suffer from much soil pest damage because the seedlings will grow much faster than normally. However, the condition known as Docking Disorder caused by these nematodes only occurs on sandy soils, such as those in the Breckland, Yorkshire dales, and Shropshire sands. Leatherjackets have been active in lawns, but are now reaching pupation stage, in which case sugar beet crops sown after grass or grassy stubbles may avoid damage.