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Crop Crack 9.01.10
By Wendy Fearon
Welcome to the first crop crack of the New Year. I have not been in any crops since before Christmas as it would be impossible to identify any problems with the constant blanket of white over the last couple of weeks. There have been some reports of crops being grazed and I would think it is most likely rabbits but slugs should not be ruled out.
The weather forecast is predicting continued bad weather for the next week or two and it is unlikely any fieldwork will be done. Market gardeners are experiencing very trying conditions at present and those crops not covered will almost certainly be lost. Mechanically operated machinery cannot work in current conditions making each trip to the field slow and not very productive.
New! Information on the lifting of the suspension of aminopyralid approvals
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. In specific formulations it also has the potential to control invasive weeds, such as Japanese knotweed, in amenity areas and industrial sites. Since sales and use were suspended, 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.
Dow AgroSciences, however, has always insisted that it would not seek to reintroduce aminopyralid before ways were found that minimised the risk of any repeat of the unfortunate incidents of the past two seasons. 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.
Problems have arisen when conserved forage from treated pasture was fed to housed livestock and manure created in large quantities.
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. The new stewardship requirements are stringent. It is believed they will mitigate against manure leaving farms where aminopyralid has been used and so help to safeguard against repeats of sensitive crops being affected.
Hedgerow weed control
Now is the correct time to apply KERB. December and January is the best time to control weeds around young hedges and trees. Season long control of grasses and most broad-leaved weeds is possible by applying KERB GRANULES.Kerb is a pre- and post-emergence residual herbicide that provides selective, broad spectrum weed control.
KERB can be applied to all soil types, therefore allowing its use in many areas where weed control is needed.KERB is the ideal herbicide for forestry and woodland (including farm forestry), ornamental shrubberies and rose beds, hedges, fence lines and gravel pathways.
Young trees can all too easily be lost to the choking effect of weeds. Conifers and Norway spruce grown for Christmas tree production can be treated with KERB without any risk of phytotoxicity.It is safe to apply over the leaves of all popular tree species without risk of damage.
KERB requires soil moisture for root uptake to take place. The best residual action is therefore achieved in moist, cold soils. Although KERB can be applied in all weather conditions, application on top of snow, or to severely frozen ground should be avoided if there is any risk of surface run-off.
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