AN early warning that black-grass seedlings in later sown cereal crops are now emerging and in greater numbers than usual has been issued.

The evidence comes from a BASF monitoring site where the weed appears to have departed from the late and gradual emergence pattern normally associated with later-sown crops and instead is germinating rapidly and in larger numbers.

The unwelcome consequence is that cereal growers are now faced with the prospect of having to deal with black-grass seedlings in later-sown crops at the same time as they are trying to get on to the land to control the much-delayed emergence of the weed in earlier-sown crops.

"This is the worst possible scenario, two waves of black-grass emergence appearing late in the season and about the same time, and some very wet soil conditions to prevent getting on the land to spray," said Andrew Jones, of BASF.

He advised: "Don't put the sprayer away just because it's December. This year we are going to break with tradition and look for opportunities to spray if there is to be any chance of keeping on top of this late surge of black-grass."