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Crop Crack 23.01.10
By Wendy Fearon
Growers should be making the best of this quieter time to assess the performance of last season’s crops and plan for the incoming season. Fields which are going to be cropped early should be identified and an up to date soil analysis carried out.
Routine machinery maintenance should be carried out at this time of year to prevent unnecessary breakdowns during the busy season. All sprayers should be thoroughly checked after the recent frosty conditions to ensure all pipes and pumps are fully functional.
WINTER CEREALS
Most winter cereal crops are progressing well. Some crops sprayed very early in the autumn when temperatures were still pretty high may not have had the weed kill expected and a spring herbicide application may be necessary. The time has now passed for the use of most autumn herbicides.
HEDGEROW CONTROL
Season long control of grasses and most broad-leaved weeds is possible by applying Kerb Granules at this time.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.Kerb requires soil moisture for root uptake to take place.
If warm, dry conditions prevail after application then weed control may be reduced. 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.
VERMIN CONTROL
The very cold temperatures experienced recently have driven all vermin to take shelter wherever they could. Farm buildings should be checked and sealed to prevent access by rats and mice who will be seeking shelter. Make buildings as impenetrable as possible by sealing off possible entry points, and set traps to gauge whether any vermin have managed to already gain access to buildings.
STORM bait should be placed close to runs and holes where rats are active. If the bait is covered with boards or lengths of pipe it gives the rat a feeling of security when feeding and also protects the bait from the weather and hidden from other animals, children or livestock. Ideally use a specially designed bait box.
Mice do not move far from their nests which are usually indoors. Place smaller quantities of bait within a few metres of nesting sites.
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