Unseasonal heat wave brings first reports of blossom midge
Temperatures in the high twenties have encouraged crop and weed growth after a long cool spring. Flag leaves are out in most winter wheat crops, with reports from the south of boots splitting and wheat orange blossom midge taking advantage. Many oilseed rape crops are setting pods as the flowering phase passes. Lack of rain is the new problem, however, with many crops still waiting to take up significant amounts of applied fertilisers.