crops, and flood damaged crops. Although higher market prices are very welcome it seems to make these decisions for re drilling more difficult!

Crops look well and, bar the most forward crops, have had there first top dressing of nitrogen with particular attention paid to the increased area of second wheat. There appears to be few signs of wheat bulb fly, which is probably due to the closure of the York Sugar beet factory and the reduced risk. A wet January has lead to a dry February and crops have all improved with the potential for good wheat yields. Cold snaps and drier weather have appeared to keep disease levels in check. T0 will be scheduled for the most forward disease prone wheats however growers not carrying out T0 will have to be aware of the importance of T1 timings to ensure that we do not open the proverbial Pandora’s Box of disease for the season.

Winter Barley crops look well but fields with mosaic virus are easy to spot and need recording to ensure suitable varieties are planted next time. Malting varieties will be receiving their final dressing shortly and with premiums approaching justifiable levels no extra will be applied.

At long last winter oil seed rape is moving forward and the army of pigeons that appeared determined to graze it to oblivion have started to retreat. I fear though that yields will not be top drawer!

Every new twist in commodity prices brings its long debate on to sell or not and in the case of fertiliser to buy or not! In my crystal ball this year looks good for commodity prices but harvest 2009 could be a different ball game!