Winter Crop Planting Rises Despite BYDV Risk

Irish farmers are planting significant numbers of winter barley and wheat crops, but this trend comes with a risk. The current dry spell and excellent ground conditions are encouraging the move, but they also bring near-record air and soil temperatures that increase the threat of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) infection.

According to Teagasc tillage specialist Shay Phelan, aphid populations are exploding at present, which enhances the BYDV risk. While some winter barley varieties have tolerance to the disease, their ability to cope with the current threat will be pushed to the limit.

Winter wheat, however, is not as fortunate, with no commercial varieties available that offer BYDV tolerance. Crops planted this week will therefore be fully exposed to the disease.

The fall-back situation when the risk of BYDV is high is to spray newly emerged crops with a pyrethroid insecticide twice, Phelan advised. The first spray should be applied at the two-leaf stage, which for crops sown out before the weekend means emerging around the middle of next week.