As the weather starts to warm up be prompt with weed control treatment of oilseed rape as crops start progressing through growth stages quickly, warns Dow AgroSciences.
"Dow's new oilseed rape herbicide Galera can only be applied from the four leaf stage up to before the flower buds are visible above the crop canopy," says product manager Donald Westwater.
"After the recent cold snap temperatures are expected to rise significantly, so in crops where mayweeds, sow-thistle and cleavers are problems we may only have a two to three week window of opportunity for application on winter oilseed rape."
Galera offers excellent control of all species of mayweeds. It gives good suppression of cleavers with an average 80% control at the recommended dose rate of 0.35 l/ha. Dow trials have also indicated excellent control of sow-thistle and creeping thistle. It does not control chickweed, cranesbill or poppy.
Following Galera's recent launch Dow's technical advice hotline has been flooded with requests for further information on the herbicide. Dow has mailed out technical information leaflets to agronomists and growers throughout the UK in the past week.
Tank mixes with Galera are a common query. A flexible tank mix partner Galera is physically compatible in two-way mixes with Caramba, Contest, Contrast, Falcon, Folicur, Fortrol, Hallmark, Kerb Flo, Kerb 50W, Laser, Plover, Punch C and Toppel.
Mr Westwater advises that Galera should be applied through conventional nozzles as a medium quality spray in 200 l/ha.
