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Crop Crack 14.02.09
By Wendy Fearon
Spring Wheat Seed Scarce!
The horrendous weather throughout January and early February is now beginning to take its toll on winter cereal crops. Many crops are now beginning to show signs of stress. Slurry should be well utilized to achieve greater efficacy to all aspects of farming not just the cereal farmer. The opportunity to drill winter wheat has now passed and word is spring wheat seed is very scarce. A fair acreage intended for winter crop will now be ear marked for spring barley.
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. We have seen significant price increases in glyphosate over the last twelve months. Global demand is accelerating faster than global supply. There has also been a shortage of raw materials used to make Glyphosate and the rising cost of phosphorous has also aided the price hike.
There has not been a lot of talk to date about leatherjacket numbers but it is important to monitor them. The most economic returns are obtained from early treatment of fields with Dursban before visible damage appears. Highest risk situations are fields coming out of long term ley or stubble fields with good grass cover.
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.Kerb requires soil moisture for root uptake to take place. 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.
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