Hotting up for autumn Atlantis
Warm soils and plenty of moisture have created excellent growing conditions for wheat this season, but with black-grass also romping away, farmers are being urged to take advantage of the good conditions and make firm plans for autumn applications of Atlantis.
In Lincolnshire most of the wheat under independent agronomist Sean Sparling’s surveillance is earmarked for Atlantis as soon as possible. "I’m making recommendations now, and I expect to write Atlantis tickets for 60-70% of wheat crops this autumn," he says.
"Since the rain, warm daytime temperatures and no frost have left the soil temperature between 12-13°C. Conditions are perfect for black-grass emergence and some plants are already at 2-3 leaf stage. Right now everything is perfect for Atlantis."
Down in Hertfordshire, early drilled wheat on Velcourt’s Vine Farm, managed by Tim Whitehead, has black-grass plants beginning to tiller. "Drilled on 10th September, the majority of wheat was treated with a pre-em, but black-grass is tillering in the most forward crops and will be dealt with by Atlantis plus a residual partner. If we can control what’s there now, anything yet to emerge will be held off by residual action and crop competition."
He has noticed that later drilled wheat is more variable. "Some crops grew from day one but others have just come through the ground. Ideally we aim for autumn Atlantis but the later emerging crops won’t be far enough forward."
TAG agronomist Andrew Wells is starting his Atlantis recommendations where black-grass has emerged. "I’ll treat most of the wheat with Atlantis and a residual partner by mid- November," he says. "All the wheat is now
News Release Date: 05 11 2009 Bayer CropScience Ltd 230 Cambridge Science Park Milton Road Cambridge CB4 0WB UK
through the ground, with forward wheat at 4-5 leaves, and black-grass sporting 1-3 leaves."
Trials by Bayer CropScience and others continue to show that autumn applied Atlantis treatments are most effective, leading Bayer to issue growers with advice to monitor black-grass closely.
"Don’t feel you have to wait for every last black-grass plant to emerge," says Bayer’s Gordon Anderson-Taylor. "Trials show that the combination of Atlantis WG and a residual partner, applied during November, can deliver the best black-grass control and yield protection.
"Later emergers are rare. In fact, they’re seldom a problem in competitive crops. Autumn timings will hit black-grass when it’s actively growing, leading to better results."
Dr Anderson-Taylor reiterates the important of good application technique, if Atlantis is to work to its full potential. Correct nozzles, a forward speed of 12kph or less, appropriate boom height and autumn applications made with biopower and a residual partner, are all crucial, he says.
