Getting the best out of your cereal crop requires careful attention at establishment, so take your time to plan, be flexible and monitor your paddocks regularly.

• Sowing fungicide and insecticide treated seed gives the best protection from pests and diseases during germination and emergence.
• Pre-emergent herbicides will kill grass weeds that germinate around the same time as the crop. If not dealt with at this time, grass weeds can become difficult to control with a post-emergent herbicide.
• A pre-emergent herbicide is a great tool in most crops to minimise the effect weeds have on yield and can be sprayed at the same time the paddock is sown.
• Some challenging weeds may require a multi-spray programme to ensure good control and minimise any crop impact.

Read more about autumn cereal weed control >

When establishing winter crops or new pastures this autumn, give them the best start possible by regularly monitoring for developing pest pressure and treating where necessary.

• In high-risk crops like brassicas and clovers, stay vigilant and monitor emerging crops for slug pressure.
• Consider management options now, to reduce the current egg-laying population and the potential slug damage on autumn crop and pasture establishment.
• In autumn sown cereals, watch for aphids which transmit barley yellow dwarf virus.
• Monitor for grass grub populations by digging spade squares to approximately 10 cm depth and counting the number of larvae present.
• If large grass grub numbers are present, it may require a more intensive insecticide programme, depending on crop type.

Locating and Managing Slug Pressure

Controlling grass grub in new pasture crops

Monitoring forage brassica for pest damage