Opportunities for beginning weed control early have arisen, thanks to a milder winter, forward crops and good travel conditions for sprayers.
Corteva Agriscience has said that crop protection products can be applied earlier than usual, however growers should ensure programmes cover the full spectrum of weeds.
Alister McRobbie, cereal herbicides category manager for Corteva, said: “Those who have used cinmethylin-based products for the first time last autumn will have been predominantly aiming to control blackgrass and ryegrass. But it is important to look out for the other key weeds which may already be present or will emerge in the coming days and weeks. Cinmethylin will not control every weed that grows in amongst the crop.”
He explained that the result of higher than usual temperatures between September and November 2022 followed by cold snaps over the winter, is that many winter cereals ‘went in the ground in favourable conditions and emerged well’.
Broadway Star is a mainstay of spring weed control programmes and will be among the first products applied if the opportunity to get sprayers working early presents itself in February. It gives excellent control of brome species, ryegrass, wild oats and a range of broad-leaved weeds in winter wheat and also has approval for use in spring wheat. Broadway Star also controls a range of difficult broad-leaved weeds, including cleavers, charlock and cranesbill, so there is usually no need for a broad-leaved weed follow up spray.
Mr McRobbie continued: “Early applications for sterile brome control will benefit from tank mixing with pendimethalin to provide some residual control where there is potential for further germination.”
