According to ADAS plant pathologist, Dr Faye Ritchie, yellow rust is already being reported, as well as the odd report of brown rust.

Such an early appearance is probably unsurprising given the mild autumn, she says. But it does serve as a warning for growers to check crops, she notes, so that the disease can be halted promptly with a suitable fungicide.

“We’re starting to get reports of yellow rust on susceptible varieties,” explains Dr Ritchie.

“The fact that it’s out there and people can find it is something to be aware of for next year. We rely on frosts to reduce yellow rust and need to be monitoring fields ahead of the T0 spray timing,” she adds.

Syngenta field technical manager, Simon Roberts, says he has heard of rust reports from southern England and the Midlands, and has seen rust in trial plots in East Anglia.

“Clearly, it is early days yet,” says Mr Roberts. “But if rust levels look threatening, it will be important to treat promptly at the appropriate time, and to ensure that the fungicides you plan to use have adequate rust activity.

“For example, we suggest growers think about including the fungicide Cherokee in programmes in early spring for the T0 spray timing.

“The triazole content of Cherokee offers both curative and protective activity against rust, and its chlorothalonil ingredient brings protection against early Septoria tritici.

“Yellow rust can reduce yield up to 50%, and brown rust up to 20%,” he adds.

For T0, Dr Ritchie agrees with the approach of using a suitable triazole fungicide against rust. Chlorothalonil is important for control of Septoria tritici, she notes.

In the event that rust levels look likely to threaten yield before the usual T0 spray timing, Mr Roberts says growers may need to consider treating earlier.