News

The recent unsettled weather and localized heavy showers are beginning to take their toll on all crops. Continued Blight outbreaks have been reported over the last week and spray intervals should be kept to no more than 7 days with the current high risk weather. Very few winter barley crops have been harvested but hopefully a more settled spell will allow the remaining acreage to be cut. Average yields from winter barley crops are as expected, given the poor conditions in late spring/early summer.

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 Invader, Infinito, Ranman and Revus. Option which is straight cymoxanil may be tank mixed with any of these products to achieve better kickback. Curzate has good curative activity and may be tank mixed if the spray interval is stretched. 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

As harvest begins the most widely used grain preservative, Propionic acid, will be in demand, especially if showery conditions continue coupled with high levels of fusarium present on crops. Propionic acid when applied to moist grain prevents moulds and bacterial activity. It also prevents deterioration, loss of dry matter, nutrition loss and removes the associated health hazard to grain handlers, livestock and the end user.
One tonne of Propionic acid 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 Propionic 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 Propionic acid offers a sense of security to the grower through its flexible application rates. Over the last few years the benefits of increased starch in the diet of dairy cows have been shown. The most noticeable is the improvement in milk protein percentage, resulting from the breakdown of starch in the rumen to Propionic acid. In order to take advantage of the benefits of increased cereal feeding and the inherent cost benefits, many farmers are making use of home grown cereals in a number of ways: whole crop wheat, maize silage, crimped cereals, dried grain or rolled moist grain. However one of the main problems arising from this increased storage and use of home grown cereals is the growth of moulds and the subsequent development of mycotoxins. Propionic acid is a natural organic acid, which also occurs naturally in the animal’s digestive system. It halts all mould growth when applied to moist grain. If a product can be augered it can be treated – barley, wheat, oats, maize, peas – whole or rolled it makes no difference. However it is essential to increase the application rate of acid when treating rolled grain as this increases the surface area to be treated and also exposes the starch which is more difficult to preserve.
Propionic Acid has an energy value of 1.5 times that of barley so as well as preserving the grain it also adds to its energy value. With Propionic Acid treatment, harvesting can take place when there is still surface dampness on the grain, dew or rain. Harvesting can start earlier in the morning or after rain and continue later at night, giving a quicker more flexible harvest, which leaves extra time for autumn cultivations. By harvesting before grain is fully ‘ripe’ a higher yield is also obtained, reduced shedding losses may save 200kg per hectare.
Natural vitamin E levels in moist grain, whether treated or not, are destroyed during storage. When moist grain forms a major part of the diet a mineral/vitamin supplement high in vitamin E should be used.
Propionic Acid treated grain can be stored simply on a dry floor. It should not be stored with untreated grain.

PROPIONIC ACID APPLICATION RATES