Early Aphid Flights Pose High Risk for Spring Barley: Experts Urge Vigilance

As we venture into April 2024, the agricultural community faces a looming threat that could severely impact spring barley yields across England. Dr Bill Lankford, a respected herbicide and insecticide technical specialist at ADAMA, has raised alarms over the potential for an early aphid migration coinciding with critical growth stages of spring barley. This migration, propelled by the unusually mild and wet conditions experienced in the first quarter of the year, could set the stage for widespread infections of the barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV).

Rothamsted Research’s latest models predict the first wave of Bird cherry-oat aphid flights to begin in early April, significantly earlier than the usual timeline. This will be closely followed by migrations of Grain aphid and Rose-grain aphid, with aphid numbers expected to be among the highest in recorded history. The concern is that these early arrivals could infect barley plants as they emerge, with later migrations further spreading the virus.

Typically, spring barley crops would be past their most susceptible stages by the time the first aphids begin to appear. However, the mild winter has not only facilitated a larger aphid population but also delayed the planting and growth of barley, leaving it vulnerable to early attacks.