This spring winter wheat growers with blackgrass must tackle both established and newly-emerging weeds, according to Stuart Jackson, cereals specialist at Dow AgroSciences.
A dry autumn meant residual treatments ran out of steam. The lack of an extended cold snap over winter meant many blackgrass plants have become well-rooted whilst others have recently emerged. The result is an urgent need to press on with spring treatments.
’As weather conditions improve, spraying sooner rather than later will mean better levels of control and subsequent yields for farmers,’ says Mr Jackson.
’Who knows what might be around the corner in terms of the weather? Whenever growers hold off spraying blackgrass will continue to grow, become more robust and harder to control,’ he adds.
For spring blackgrass control Dow AgroSciences recommends growers choose its pyroxsulam-based products ’ either Broadway Sunrise (pyroxsulam + pendimethalin) or its new product GF-2070 (pyroxsulam + flupyrsulfuron-methyl) introduced last autumn. Both products are targeted at blackgrass with the decision on which product to use being driven by any additional weed issues in the field.
’Broadway Sunrise has stronger residual element,’ explains Mr Jackson. ’Therefore, it is ideal where more grass weeds ’ including wild oats, bromes or meadow grasses ’ are expected to emerge.
’GF-2070 has the additional benefit of controlling poppy and red dead nettles.’
Both products have the same optimum timing for spring control ’ active growth up to, and including, early to mid tillering of the blackgrass.
In the battle against blackgrass, both Dow AgroSciences herbicides have proved every bit of effective as mesosulfuron-methyl and iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium-based products in trials in key blackgrass areas, including Huntingdon and ADAS Boxworth, plus excellent feedback from extensive on-farm use last autumn.
’In essence, it’s time to crack on with blackgrass control,’ says Mr Jackson. ’March is beginning with record temperatures, which is ideal to spray with active blackgrass growth and warming soils. The odd frost at night following a very mild day with the soil temperatures we’re seeing at the moment will not stop active growth.’
