Now I like to think I'm quite an enlightened chap (ok maybe not that enlightened) but I try very hard to minimise my insecticide usage, I adopt a decent rotation and try to avoid too much recreational tillage. Anyway its hardly ground breaking but I think its a small step in the right direction. However there's a big but. Insects seem to be an increasing problem not one that's getting better.
OSR- basically destroyed by CSFB larvae. Scratch tilled into a field that had had no insecticides for 4 years. No OSR on farm for 5 years. No OSR on adjacent farms for 2. Did apply 1 pyrethroid when the small osr was really struggling, probably shouldn't have bothered. Pollen beetle doing a lot of damage during the extended flowering, (more like a spring osr crop) but not sprayed. Anticipate a yield of 15cwt ish. Not sure I can grow next year.
Linseed- Lost a crop last spring to FFB despite spraying once. Drilled some in a multi species cover this spring in an area well away from any previous crops and thats made zero difference, its all been eaten by FFB. Same with the kale and osr in the mix due to CSFB.
Beet- Struggled due to BeetFB. Didn't spray. Have been scared into applying aphidicide at threshold due to Virus Yellows risk. If BFB population increases at the rate CSFB and FFB have post neonics I can see I won't be able to grow sugarbeet.
Beans- Never seen so much weevil notching as this year. Didn't spray. Then got mullered by thrips- did spray as know insecticide works and nearly lost a crop before. Crop lousy with Bruchids- won't spray. Some patches of Black bean aphids. Don't want to spray but may have to if the population explodes. Also think we have some land infected with nematodes.
Barley- Didn't use deter this autumn as knew we were only 12 months away from no choice. Sprayed late sep barley once as could find significant numbers of aphids and were over HGCA calculator even though i don't like doing it. Clearly should have followed up again in mild autumn as agronomist recommended as have big patches of BYDV.
Wheat- Grow mainly OBM resistant varieties as one less thing to worry about. Significant damage last year even in these but worst of all was Lemon blossom midge that cost us probably 1t/ha. Nothing you can do to control really but fudging annoying and often mentioned in books as 'minor' pest or of no significant economic effect.
So when i come on here and read that its all my fault and everything will come back into balance I have serious doubts!
Anybody else have similar experiences or am I the only one/doing something wrong.
OSR- basically destroyed by CSFB larvae. Scratch tilled into a field that had had no insecticides for 4 years. No OSR on farm for 5 years. No OSR on adjacent farms for 2. Did apply 1 pyrethroid when the small osr was really struggling, probably shouldn't have bothered. Pollen beetle doing a lot of damage during the extended flowering, (more like a spring osr crop) but not sprayed. Anticipate a yield of 15cwt ish. Not sure I can grow next year.
Linseed- Lost a crop last spring to FFB despite spraying once. Drilled some in a multi species cover this spring in an area well away from any previous crops and thats made zero difference, its all been eaten by FFB. Same with the kale and osr in the mix due to CSFB.
Beet- Struggled due to BeetFB. Didn't spray. Have been scared into applying aphidicide at threshold due to Virus Yellows risk. If BFB population increases at the rate CSFB and FFB have post neonics I can see I won't be able to grow sugarbeet.
Beans- Never seen so much weevil notching as this year. Didn't spray. Then got mullered by thrips- did spray as know insecticide works and nearly lost a crop before. Crop lousy with Bruchids- won't spray. Some patches of Black bean aphids. Don't want to spray but may have to if the population explodes. Also think we have some land infected with nematodes.
Barley- Didn't use deter this autumn as knew we were only 12 months away from no choice. Sprayed late sep barley once as could find significant numbers of aphids and were over HGCA calculator even though i don't like doing it. Clearly should have followed up again in mild autumn as agronomist recommended as have big patches of BYDV.
Wheat- Grow mainly OBM resistant varieties as one less thing to worry about. Significant damage last year even in these but worst of all was Lemon blossom midge that cost us probably 1t/ha. Nothing you can do to control really but fudging annoying and often mentioned in books as 'minor' pest or of no significant economic effect.
So when i come on here and read that its all my fault and everything will come back into balance I have serious doubts!
Anybody else have similar experiences or am I the only one/doing something wrong.