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Crop Crack 20.03.10
By Wendy Fearon
The approval of the Dow AgroSciences herbicide, aminopyralid found in FOREFRONT, has been reinstated by ministers on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The move lifts a voluntary suspension of approval for sales and use which the company sought in July 2008 after sensitive crops on some allotments and gardens were affected by manure containing traces of the herbicide.Aminopyralid is a highly effective weedkiller for professional users. It is valued by farmers seeking to control pernicious and poisonous weeds such as ragwort, thistles and docks in pasture.
Since sales and use were suspended, and farmers have campaigned for the product's return because of the high levels of long lasting weed control aminopyralid-based products offer. Those who have used the product since its launch in 2006 saw improved pasture and enjoyed increased output from their fields, compared to that offered by other products on sale to control weeds in grassland.
The active ingredient will be re-introduced with new recommendations and a stringent stewardship programme devised to prevent inadvertent movement of manure from farms. Key to this is the requirement that products containing aminopyralid are only applied to land that will be grazed by cattle or sheep; not land where forage will be conserved. This requirement aims to ensure manure generated from treated grassland remains on the pasture.
Supporting these new recommendations is an enhanced stewardship package which will require anyone supplying or advising on the use of aminopyralid to be re-trained in the details of product use. Those applying, or using, products containing aminopyralid are required to confirm in writing that they have been instructed on product use and manure management issues. These records form part of user traceability system.
Winter Cereals
All winter cereal crops are now under a lot of stress and the first fertilizer top dressing should now be going on. The warmer temperature experienced over the last week has quickly put the brakes on residual herbicide application. Winter wheat can be sprayed into April with Othello and Bio Power where grass weeds are a problem. Othello contains iodosulfuron and mesosulfuron.
These actives are contact only and therefore need the grass to be completely emerged and growing actively, and are very effective on larger AMG. In addition they also have activity on a range of Broad leaved weeds.Othello can be applied up to first node of the crop. Where grass weeds are a concern in winter wheat and the crop gets beyond 1st node Hussar may be applied up to GS32, this will also give control of some broad leaved weeds but is weak on fumitory, fat hen and chickweed.
Preparing For Spring Crops
The focus over the last couple of weeks has been on preparing ground for spring crops. Land intended for spring cereals should be sprayed off with glyphosate as soon as ground conditions allow. Roundup Energy is still the best value for money in the glyphosate market with all its additional benefits over generics. Roundup Energy has faster uptake and greater consistency in a wider range of weather conditions. It is important to remember when comparing glyphosate prices the amount of active it contains, Roundup energy contains 450gm/l compared to 360gm/l in most other glyphosate.
The increase in temperature over the last week will encourage pests such as wireworm, slugs and leatherjackets to resume feeding and should be closely monitored. Surveys carried out recently show leatherjacket numbers are significantly higher than spring 2009.Pre ploughing treatments with Dursban or Cyren are more effective than those applied once any damage is under way in the spring-sown crop.
It is essential to soil test prior to planting any crop, whilst it may seem expensive it is money well spent. Farmers must refer to the fertilizer manual to assess what fertilizer will be required. This manual was previously known as RB209 and the farm nutrient calculators online at www.ruralni.gov.uk will help provide you with the information required to work out nutrient requirements essential for optimum yield at a time when the economics of growing cereal crops are not very attractive.
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