Linseed flea beetle

[Tractor Boy]

So this is what half the linseed I started this thread now looks like. I completely wasted my time with two applications of hallmark and probably killed loads of beneficials.
This was drilled on 17th April at 80kg/ha seed!!
The other half is better but still only a half a crop at best but this bad half is a disaster. The flea beetle just hid under the snapped off spring barley stubble and chewed everything off under the trash!

 

[teslacoils]

Wow that's a shocker. I don't care what they say, the removal of Chinook was a bloody stupid idea.

 

[Brisel]

Ouch. So much for direct drilling

 

[Flat 10]

View attachment 805846
So this is what half the linseed I started this thread now looks like. I completely wasted my time with two applications of hallmark and probably killed loads of beneficials.
This was drilled on 17th April at 80kg/ha seed!!
The other half is better but still only a half a crop at best but this bad half is a disaster. The flea beetle just hid under the snapped off spring barley stubble and chewed everything off under the trash!

No likey. See my thread on insects taking over.

 

[Tractor Boy]

No likey. See my thread on insects taking over.

Just read it. I really can’t understand where all this bull£&&t about insects disappearing is coming from.

 

[B'o'B]

Just read it. I really can’t understand where all this bull£&&t about insects disappearing is coming from.

Just because there are more crop pest insect problems does not mean there are more insects in general (in fact it may be an indication of the reverse or it may be completely unrelated).

 

[cambsfarmer]

What’s the general consensus? My direct drilled linseed has been in about 14 days and has been coming through the last 4. It’s into wheat trash and only coming in areas where it was drilled into a little moisture at about 18-20mm deep.
What it could really do with is 12mm warm rain but it’s not going to get that and the cotyledons are taking a chewing from flea beetle moving around in the trash.
Question is, I haven’t sprayed insecticides on most of the farm for around 5 years and don’t really want to. Also will they do any good or not even hit the flea beetle under the trash and just kill anything beneficial?
What’s anyone else doing? The last two years my linseed hasn’t been bothered by them.

Father in law said before the war when there was no insecticides they dragged sacks soaked in paraffin over turnips to stop flea beetle. Wonder if a paraffin spray could be used.

 

[Badshot]

Father in law said before the war when there was no insecticides they dragged sacks soaked in paraffin over turnips to stop flea beetle. Wonder if a paraffin spray could be used.

Think it's definitely a deterrent required, something really stinky.

 

[Brisel]

Father in law said before the war when there was no insecticides they dragged sacks soaked in paraffin over turnips to stop flea beetle. Wonder if a paraffin spray could be used.

I've heard this before too. Pest attack isn't just a symptom of the last 30 years @Clive

 

[Exfarmer]

Parrafin was also widely used to prevent damage from carrot fly. You could taste it after use though.
Insecticides have been with us for a lot longer than many imagine, arsenic was replaced by the much safer nicotene, which in turn was replaced by the first properly manufactured insecticide DDT

 

[teslacoils]

much safer nicotene

Sigh. If only they could create some new, or perhaps neo, nicotine-type chemical. And then if they could create a way of getting it into the delicate seedling to avoid having to spray whole fields and predatory insects too. Just imagine the savings and insecticide reduction.

 

[Exfarmer]

Sigh. If only they could create some new, or perhaps neo, nicotine-type chemical. And then if they could create a way of getting it into the delicate seedling to avoid having to spray whole fields and predatory insects too. Just imagine the savings and insecticide reduction.

Why not just use Bt bacteria it is harmless , their chemical exudate kills all insect and so safe , some organic producers use it!
Then with a bit of imagination , perhaps it could be added to the seedling perhaps by introducing it into the seed.
Oh some one has already done it!