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Crop Crack 01.08.09
By Wendy Fearon
The recent unsettled weather and localized heavy showers are beginning to take their toll on all crops. There has been more blight seen this year than last and a high incidence of blackleg has also been reported. Spray intervals should be kept to no more than 7 days with the current high risk weather and rapid crop growth.
Potatoes
Where crops have reached the end of rapid haulm growth and canopy growth has begun to stabilize good protection may be achieved with fungicides such as Electis, Invader, Infinito, Ranman and Revus.Curzate has good curative activity and may be tank mixed if the spray interval is stretched.
Aphids are now appearing in crops and should be inspected regularly for their presence, which transmit leaf roll and mosaic viruses and spray with DOVETAIL or BISCAYA where necessary.
Where crops are at full canopy growers must pay very close attention to ensure water volumes, spray pressure and nozzle selection are correct to maximize spray penetration of the haulms and reduce spray drift.
Cereals
Winter wheat, spring barley and winter oats are ripening quickly and some early crops are not far from harvesting. These should be examined to decide whether or not they require pre-harvest treatment with ROUNDUP ENERGY for the control annual and perennial weeds especially scutch, rough stalked meadow grass, thistles etc.ROUNDUP should be applied when the grain moisture is below 30% which coincides with the hard dough development stage (G.S.87). The safest time is 1-3 weeks prior to harvest leaving at least 7 days between spraying and harvesting. (DO NOT APPLY TO SEED CROPS).
Propionic Acid
As harvest begins the most widely used grain preservative, propionic acid, will be in demand, especially if present weather conditions continue. Poor prices for grain off the combine will see more crops being treated and stored by the farmer.
PropiMAX when applied to moist grain prevents moulds and bacterial activity.
PropiMAX (propionic acid) is an active liquid preservative based on feed grade propionic acid and prevents deterioration, loss of dry matter, nutrition loss and removes the associated health hazard to grain handlers, livestock and the end user.
The addition of PropiMAX adds to the energy value of the grain. One tonne of PropiMAX on 100 tonnes of grain gives an additional energy value equivalent to 1.5 tonnes of barley. Therefore as well as preserving the grain it adds significantly to its energy value.
The use of PropiMAX gives the grower greater flexibility at harvest, especially if the grain has a higher than desirable moisture content. If the weather is inclement at harvest PropiMAX offers a sense of security to the grower through its flexible application rates. PropiMAX also allows harvesting to start earlier in the morning and continue later into the evening even when dew is present.
Grassland
Very few fields were sprayed prior to first cut and with many second cuts ready to be harvested docks still remain untreated. Where possible these should be treated as soon as they reach the rosette stage. Doxstar and Pastor will give good control of docks but will not check the growth of struggling regrowths.Use high water volumes to ensure good coverage i.e. 300-400lt/ha.
There is still time to spray soft rush with MCPA provided they are at the correct stage i.e. soft green and about 12 inches high. If the rushes are well established with a lot of dead leaf material present then the best option would be to top them now and spray them when the soft green regrowth appears, probably next spring.
Gorse should be sprayed now. Use Grazon 90 and ensure good plant coverage using a knapsack or handlance on a tractor mounted sprayer.
Bracken should be sprayed late July or August when it is in full frond. (When leaves are expanded) Use Asulox and again ensure good coverage via a knapsack and where a conventional tractor sprayer is being used to treat large areas, use high water volumes at least 400l/ha.
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