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Crop Crack 6.03.10
By Wendy Fearon
The cold conditions over winter have meant weed growth has been slow but as temperatures improve clods will begin to break down increasing the weed problem. Once spring growth commences properly however, contact herbicides give more reliable control, but their efficacy is critically linked to improving soil temperatures and active weed growth having begun.
Where grass weeds are a concern in winter wheat 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. A better alternative for winter wheat which has not yet been sprayed is Othello and Bio Power. 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 BLWs.
As soil temperatures rise, so the Nitrogen will quickly be needed, and a growth regulator may need applied soon after. The most notable disease in crops at present is Rhynchosporium in barley and low levels of septoria in wheat. Incidences of eyespot last season were low which should reduce the risk for this season .It is important to monitor closely for leatherjackets as numbers are significantly up on spring 2009. Some of the more advanced barley crops are already looking for nitrogen.
Farmers often ask me what the total cost of production is for a particular crop and whilst you can give a rough guide, it is not an exact figure. There are many hidden costs which are never taken into account and I urge all growers to take the time and work out exactly what a crop costs to grow.
Potato growers are now planning for the season ahead and there is a real need to assess the best means of weed control. I urge all potato growers to ensure when taking conacre to ask the question has aminopyralid been applied onto the land or has it been manured or slurried with product that has been treated with aminopyralid i.e. Forefront or Pharaoh.
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.
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