Knowledge Bank - Agriculture | Plant Health Centre

Knowledge Bank - Agriculture

The purpose of this page is to signpost plant health information from across sectors that is relevant to food production systems.

About This Page

Plant health information in these pages is aimed at practitioners in large scale food production systems such as grains, oilseeds, pulses, potatoes and other vegetables and fruit grown as a crop. Much information is available online and in print to help identify disease symptoms, the organisms that cause them, and to provide guidance on management and biosecurity. Here we have collected sources we judge to be generally reliable for information on these topics. You can use the Resource Type button to filter, search by keyword, or scroll through all together. The information on these webpages concerns the many common pathogens that are regularly encountered in food production systems as well as invasive non-native species (INNS) or those which have recently become problematic, possibly due to climate change. See Getting Started for good places to begin in identifying both common and INN organisms.

Getting Started

Good resources for identifying disease causing organisms include the AHDB Encyclopedia of Pests and Natural Enemies, AHDB The Encyclopedia of Cereal Diseases, AHDB Crop Walkers Guides and CABI Plantwise Diagnostic Field Guide. Detailed information on most disease causing organisms can also be found on the Plantwise Knowledge Bank Database (Plantwise fact sheets). Websites which provide searchable information to help identify disease causing organisms and provide information on management are listed under Treatment and Management or Field Guides and Self Diagnostics. For help identifying insects contact the Royal Entomological Society or SASA. Discussion forums can also be useful for advice from other practitioners. Whether the organisms are INNS or common pests and diseases, be sure to practice good biosecurity.

Reporting Notifiable Pests

Most plant health problems you come across will not be notifiable, but if you think you may have encountered a notifiable pest or disease it is important to report it quickly. In Scotland notify the Horticulture and Marketing Unit at SASA. Outwith Scotland, consult the Plant Health Information Portal for other UK reporting contacts.

Resource	Details
AFBI	Agrifood and Biosciences Institute provides diagnostic services and has some disease and crop protection information
Agricology	Organic farming website with plant disease and crop protection information
Agronomist and Arable Farmer news	Recent articles related to crop protection
AHDB advice sheets	Information sheets for pests and diseases of allium, cane fruit, carrots/parsnips and brasscias (pests and diseases)
AHDB Crop Walkers App	App version of the Horticulture Crop Walkers Guides for diagnosis and monitoring
AHDB Crop Walkers Guides	Crop walkers guides showing disease symptoms for many horticultural and agricultural crops are available by searching for 'guide' on the AHDB website
AHDB Encyclopedia of Cereal Diseases	AHDB Encyclopedia of Cereal Diseases
AHDB Encyclopedia of Pests	AHDB Encyclopedia of Pests and Natural Enemies in field crops
APHA	Animal and Plant Health Agency - UK Government plant health controls and reporting of pests and diseases; information on certification schemes
APS advice pages	American Phytopathological Society directory of very comprehensive plant disease information pages
BASIS	Provides crop protection courses and has role in the training and certification for pesticides and fertilisers
BBSRC food security news	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council - current crop protection issues and research in food security news
BCPC	British Crop Protection Council - UK Pesticides Guide Online, subscription guides to the pesticides and biocontrol agents registered for use in the UK
BSPP	British Society for Plant Pathology - news, events, and scientific publications related to plant pathology including new disease reports
CABI Plantwise	CABI Plantwise is an international organisation dedicated to reducing crop loss
CABI Plantwise field guide	Plantwise Diagnostic Field Guide a good guide for learning how to carry out disease diagnosis caused by pests and pathogens
CABI Plantwise knowledge bank	Comprehensive resource with searchable knowledge bank and diagnostic tool
CABI Plantwise pest alerts	Plantwise Knowledge Bank Pest Alerts are emails containing recent literature reports for a specified area
CABI Plantwise Toolkit	Plant disease advisory and diagnostic resources with UK and international capacity
CFE guidance	Championing the Farmed Environment guidance for crop protection while minimising environmental impacts
Crop Production Magazine	Crop Production Magazine provides some information on diseases and crop protection
DAERA Plant and Tree Health	Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland Government guidance for pests and diseases, pesticides, plant passporting, imports and exports, surveys and compliance
DEFRA factsheets	Detailed information pages on notifiable and non-notifiable pests and diseases
DEFRA reporting	UK-wide contact information for reporting notifiable diseases to authorities
DEFRA smarter rules for safer food	Government guidance on SRSF - a package of EU regulations to protect against plant and animal pests and pathogens
EPPO Don't Risk It kits	Downloadable posters from the EPPO Don't Risk It biosecurity campaign for plant movement with travel
Eurofins	Commercial provider of plant diagnostic services focussing on molecular detection (DNA and proteins)
Farm Advisory Service	FAS is part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme and webpages provide crop health information
Farmers Guardian	Weekly subscription magazine with some crop protection information
Farmers Guide	Magazine with some current disease and crop protection information
Farmers Weekly	Weekly magazine and website with 'Know How' section with crop protection information
Farming Forum	A discussion group with some crop disease and crop protection threads
FERA diagnostics	Fera provides diagnostic services for plant diseases including viruses
HSE Chemicals Regulation Division	The Health and Safety Executive Chemicals Regulation Division is responsible for regulation of chemicals such as biocides and pesticides in the UK.
HSE codes of practice	Government codes of practice for using plant protection products
HSE pesticides	Comprehensive information on the use and regulation of pesticides including the register of authorised pesticides from within the UK Health and Safety Executive Chemical Regulations Division
ISPI advice page	International Society for Pest Information - Pest Information Wiki listing many plant pests and pathogens
James Hutton Institute	Information about Integrated Pest Management (IPM) research carried out at JHI
James Hutton Institute diagnostics	Molecular (DNA and proteins) diagnostics for soft fruit, potato, barley and soil
NFU	National Farmers Union (England and Wales) - reports on current Crop protection information
NFUS	National Farmers Union of Scotland - crop protection and policy information for members
NIAB	NIAB is a crop science organisation which carries out research into plant pathology and entomology
NIAB diagnostics	Clinic with disease diagnostic services for agriculture and horticulture
Pest Risk Register	A searchable or downloadable database which records risks from plant pests and pathogens, and can be searched by host as well as pest
PGRO	Processors and Growers Research Organisation - monitoring and information on diseases and weeds affecting beans and peas
Plant Health Centre newsletter	The Plant Health Centre produces regular downloadable newsletters
Plant Health Solutions	Commercial provider of plant health research and diagnostic services for crops and horticulture
Plant passporting - DAERA	Government guidance on issuing plant passports in Northern Ireland
Plant passporting - DEFRA	Government guidance on issuing plant passports in England and Wales
Plant passporting - EU	New EU plant health rules with information on plant passporting
Plant passporting - SASA	Government guidance on issuing plant passports in Scotland
Plantix	An app for identification and treatment of plant diseases
Rothamsted Research	Non-profit research centre with crop protection section, that produces the free CROPROTECT app.
SASA	A division of the Scottish Government providing scientific services and advice in support of agriculture and the wider environment, including plant pests and diseases, crop protection, and diagnostic services
SASA diagnostics	SASA provides diagnostic services in Scotland including of viruses and insect pests
Scottish Government pesticides guidance	Government guidance on the use of plant protection products in Scotland
Scottish Government pesticides restrictions	Statutory management requirements providing guidance on the use of plant protection products
Scottish Government Plant Health	Overview of Scottish Government plant health policy, strategy and guidance
Scottish Government Plant Health Strategy	The Scottish Plant Health Strategy
SEARS biosecurity guidance	Scotland’s Environmental and Rural Services comprehensive biosecurity guidance
SRUC Crop Clinic	Excellent website with disease and crop protection information, advice, and some testing services
Stockbridge Technology Centre	Commercial diagnostic services for crop plants
The National Libraries for Agri-Food (NLAF)	Formerly known as Food and Farming Futures. News and information for farming and food production. Useful 'browse' feature for searching pest and disease control items.
The Scottish Farmer	Magazine with some information about plant diseases and crop protection
The Voluntary Initiative - IPM plan	Integrated Pest Management plan for all farm or nursery enterprises using professional pesticides
UK Government biosecurity strategy	Policy paper (2014) with overview of the measures that UK administrations are implementing to improve plant biosecurity
UK Government topical issues	UK Government updated news on issues relating to plant health
UK Plant Health Portal	The UK Government (DEFRA) Plant Health Portal is an online hub for plant health information, data and resources. It links to the Pest Risk Register which records and rates risks from plant pests and pathogens