Farmers are invited to come along and meet up with their local BASF Agronomy Manager to learn more about managing both grass and broad-leaved weeds effectively and safely across the rotation at Tillage Live 2014, on Wednesday 10th September from 8.00 am to 3.00 pm.
To be held at Down Ampney Airfield, Down Ampney, Gloucestershire, GL7 5QF, this event gives farmers and operators the chance to see the latest farm equipment at work and the opportunity to get a hands on drive of the latest sprayers.
BASF Agronomy Managers from across the UK will be there to welcome farmers to their stand (No. 101), where two stations of the Knowledge Trail will focus on metazachlor stewardship and weed control in cereals and oilseed rape. A new time saving calculator for Stomp Aqua is also available to try. Participants in the invaluable and helpful Knowledge Trail will be rewarded with NRoSO and BASIS points.
Thinking Stewardship and protecting water
The future of many oilseed rape herbicides such as metazachlor, carbetamide and propyzamide is under threat given the levels detected in water destined for drinking. BASF along with Makhteshim Agan UK Ltd have developed new guidelines for this autumn in addition to the existing VI advice. The main message is that for this coming autumn on drained land the use of metazachlor should be avoided after the end of September. In addition growers are advised to ensure good soil structure, sowing early into good seedbeds and using metazachlor early, all of which form the basis for high yield potential, quick establishment, good root growth and early removal of weed competition.
Thinking weed control across the rotation
Building an effective weed control strategy is based on the integration of cultural and chemical control, particularly when thinking about resistant weeds. Herbicide resistance to both grass and broad-leaved weeds is increasing in the UK and so weed control strategies need to minimise the risk of resistance building. Drilling dates and cultivations have a massive impact on weed seed management and underpin the effectiveness of the entire herbicide programme.
When considering the most appropriate pre and post-emergence black-grass herbicide programme, it is important to have an understanding of the type of resistance you have in each field population. It is useful to submit seed for testing. Use actives that present the lowest risk of resistance including pendimethalin, flufenacet, tri-allate, picolinofen and DFF and try to use as many different modes of action as possible without compromising crop safety.
Advice is to aim for 100% control in the autumn. Flufenacet is an essential active for black-grass control in wheat - either Crystal (pendimethalin + flufenacet) or Liberator (diflufenican + flufenacet) should form the foundation of the programme. Avadex Granules (tri-allate) applied within 48 hours of drilling followed by Crystal + Hurricane (DFF) applied from tramlines visible up to 1 leaf of the crop gives the best and most consistent start to black-grass trials in cereals across a range of trials and conditions, not matched by Liberator + Hurricane or Liberator + Defy (prosulfocarb). Where using Liberator pre-emergence, add Stomp Aqua (pendimethalin) to boost control and provide an additional mode of action. If using Atlantis or Unite post-emergence, Auxiliary is the best partner, as proven in trials.
Resistance to ALS inhibitors (SU’s) in broad-leaved weeds is a growing concern in cereals too, due to over reliance on this group of herbicides. There are increasing reports of resistance in poppies, mayweeds and chickweed. Again using several herbicides with different modes of action will help. Do not rely on ALS inhibitors. Introduce actives such as pendimethalin as a straight or co-form in order to prevent and mange broad-leaved weed resistance.
The same applies for Oilseed Rape. Using a sequence of products starting with Shadow (metazachlor, quinmerac and dimethanamid-P) which provides the foundation for black-grass control and then following up with Aramo (tepraloxydim) before the black-grass starts to tiller will give good control of the difficult weed early on, allowing time for an application in November of Kerb (propyzamide) or Crawler (carbetamide).
Using Shadow at the beginning of the programme, also provides excellent broad leaved weed control including difficult weeds such as poppies and cleavers. The dimethanamid-P contained within Shadow works better than other actives in dry conditions making it the product of choice, especially in variable conditions.
Thinking pendimethalin
On the BASF stand farmers are invited to take the new Stomp Aqua challenge, and try the new time calculator which will show you how much time you can save compared to using other straight pendimethalin products. Stomp Aqua has proven to be the most efficient herbicide that lets you get more done in less time; 42% quicker than Anthem and 58% quicker than Most Micro. The reduced prepping time generates more time for spraying more fields or doing something else which matters to the farmer. The non-staining pendimethalin keeps equipment clean and looking new for as long as possible.
Above all Stomp Aqua is a trusted herbicide with a wide label plus many EAMU’s and proven grass and broad-leaved weeds ability, used by generations of farmers.
Farmers and operators are invited to BASF stand 101 for hospitality and the opportunity to see and talk about their weed problems. For more information please visit www.tillage-live.uk.com
