CROP CRACK -  12.01.08
By WENDY FEARON
Clarendon Agricare -Quieter Time

Welcome to the first crop crack of the New Year.

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. Plan seed supplies and order it soon to ensure the required variety is available.

Routine machinery maintenance should be carried out at this time of year to prevent unnecessary breakdowns during the busy season.

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.

Grass weeds can be controlled with herbicides containing IPU up to early tillering and are therefore only effectively controlled by spraying them in the autumn or early winter. Where broad leaved weeds are still not beyond the 4-6 leaf stage Hurricane which contains diflufenican may be mixed with IPU or alternatively Koala may be applied which is a co-formulation of diflufenican and IPU.

POTATOES

Check potatoes in storage regularly to ensure there is no excessive spoilage occurring. The relatively mild conditions throughout the autumn and winter will increase the risk of early sprouting in ambient stores and will reduce potential storage times.

Sprouting can now be controlled in ware potatoes during storage with a granular formulation of MSS CIPC 5G.Previosly it could only be applied as a fog through a specialist machine hence restricting its use to very large stores. This is an ideal product for smaller storage facilities where fogging is not an option. Only clean mature and disease free potatoes should be treated.CIPC 5G should be applied when sprouts are more than 0.5mm on inspection during the storage period. It will kill the growing points and further growth will cease. Potatoes must be dry, cured and the skins set before application.CIPC 5G must not be used on a seed

crop.

HEDGEROW CONTROL

Winter 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 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.

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. 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.

Casoron G is another granular herbicide that effectively controls a wide range of broad leaved and grass weeds. The special properties of Casoron G makes it appropriate to all situations, for the gardener and landscaper who require a weed free garden, and for the engineer who needs effective weed control on roads and  pathways. Weeds on driveways, paths, along fences, in compounds and under asphalt are all well controlled, with a single application in early spring.

Casoron G also offers extremely effective weed control for orchard floors. In orchards a band treatment is a common application method. Fruit trees should be established for at least two years.

Casoron G must not be applied to shrubs or trees planted for less than one year.Casoron G offers excellent weed control for waterways. It is recommended for the control of emerged, submerged and floating weeds in streams, ponds, rivers and lakes.Casoron G may be applied much later than KERB.

VERMIN CONTROL

As temperatures become cooler 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.