T1 Planning in Cereals – Getting it right! A key timing to deliver effective baseline disease control in the season ahead.

Though not as problematic as last year, growers still face hard decisions in terms of disease control with a level of crop variability apparent due to wet weather and difficult field conditions coming out of the winter, so not all crops are in prime condition going into the main spring period. Growers are advised to carefully assess each field and in situations where yield potential is limited or where potential is good but pressures on cost input spend are high (exacerbated by pressures on farm budgets, margins and lower cereal prices), they should consider using cost-effective, generic fungicide products for the T1 timing.

Clayton research trials in 2024 conducted by Velcourt looking at  T1 responses to cost-effective fungicide programmes clearly indicated the real value of Clayton products, and co-forms in particular. Results showed that higher spend on newer SDHI chemistry fungicides at T1 did not result in any significant yield benefit (so negatively affecting margin over input cost at this timing). Better value, generic options delivered comparable yields but with lower overall costs, and in fact, the highest yielding T1 treatment was a combination of Clayton Tendril + Clayton Canyon, outperforming AscraXpro®.   

Even for higher yield potential crops and those coming into the spring in better condition, cost-effective triazoles will provide ideal ‘partner products’ for newer chemistry available, to optimise both disease control and overall input costs at T1.

• Carefully assess each crop ahead of T1 to tailor sprays accordingly.
• Consider T1 upgrades from single triazoles to more powerful co-forms based around prothioconazole for added disease control benefits at little extra cost.
• Use T1 as an opportunity to vary strategy and input spend across fields, based on soil and crop conditions and yield potential, to improve overall margins.
• Consider multi-sites e.g. Folpet at T1 as an important part of the overall disease control programme and to protect other chemistry for resistance management.

Deciding on the right disease control focus.

Septoria is usually the main focus for T1..

Disease pressure will be growing in some crops, so it is important to keep Septoria in check. With rainfall showers across parts of the UK, disease pressure will likely increase as we head through April. Inoculum spread can quickly accelerate with rising temperatures and rapid crop growth and development, especially in earlier sown crops, more susceptible varieties or areas where disease risk is higher. Folpet offers strong protection against Septoria and is a useful, cost-effective option to consider alongside triazole co-formulations or new chemistry actives.

Yellow rust & Brown rust another key focus at T1 over recent seasons..

With periods of milder temperatures this winter, this is conducive to the survival of rust pustules on leaves, and the infective footpeg of the disease may not have been significantly reduced, so disease could re-infect crops earlier and more rapidly, building disease pressure, so vigilance is key this spring. Several main varieties on the RL score 5 or less for Yellow rust resistance so are at more risk.

Ensuring a robust fungicide programme at T1 will help control the disease and a cost-effective, preventative triazole-based treatment is key to season-long control in wheat (and Brown rust control in barley especially hybrids). Partnering tebuconazole or other triazoles with new chemistry such as isoflucypram and fenpicoxamid can be a good way to balance spend and achieve good Yellow rust control.

T1 frontline options for Clayton fungicides:

Additional T1 options:

Information in this bulletin does not constitute a recommendation, it is for guidance only. Full information can be found on our website. Brand names used in this update are trademarks of

Clayton Plant Protection. Use fungicides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.