It’s turning into a SumiMax Season
Conditions this autumn are pointing towards the residual and contact acting herbicide, SumiMax being the ideal spray for early post-emergence use in wheat, delivering excellent broad-leaved and Annual Meadow-grass control and forming a good basis for other grass-weed programmes, say Interfarm UK Ltd.
"This season with the late harvest and the focus on drilling, the pre-emergence herbicide window has closed and fewer applications will have been made. Many wheats were drilled later than normal, with some crops still being drilled as weather and soil conditions allow. Seedbed conditions haven’t been the best. But as the autumn cools down and winter approaches, the post-emergence window has opened wide. The recent rainfall and forecasted frosts will aid the breakdown of clods, creating a better tilth, which means that the post-emergence herbicide treatments will have a better chance to work to maximum effect," says Dr. David Stormonth, Technical Manager for Interfarm UK Ltd.
SumiMax works particularly well at the early post-emergence timing. "For best results, the soil should be moist and conditions should be cool. It is important that the crop is sufficiently hardened off and soft crops, lush crops, waterlogged crops or crops under stress should be avoided. Ideally weeds should be between 1-3 leaves. But the timing for broad-leaved weed control is not critical as SumiMax will control a full range of broad-leaved weeds from germination to the 4-6 leaf stage, depending on the species. Its excellent broad-leaved weed spectrum which includes charlock, chickweed, cleavers, poppy, field pansy, fumitory, groundsel, speedwell, mayweed, red deadnettle and Shepherd’s purse means that no additional broad-leaved weed herbicide is required," he says.
When it comes to Annual Meadow-grass, SumiMax, applied around the 1-2 leaf stage, gives control of 90% plus. "Normally this is sufficient but under high Annual meadow-grass populations or if conditions are marginal, you can always add in a low rate of chlorotoluron or a low rate of Liberator to SumiMax. For example in last years trials, adding in 0.15 l/ha of Liberator to SumiMax gave excellent consistency of 100% control of high populations of Annual meadow-grass," advises David.
Dr. Stormonth points out that SumiMax also makes a useful addition to any black-grass -programme. "If a pre-emergence treatment was applied, then SumiMax not only completes the broad-leaved weed spectrum but acts as the late autumn ’holding spray’ until the programme is completed at the end of winter. If a pre-emergence herbicide was not possible because of poor weather or seedbed conditions, as is the case in many parts of the country this autumn, then SumiMax alone can be sufficient as a ’holding spray’. If high black-grass populations are expected, then a mix with chlorotoluron or Liberator can give excellent autumn/winter control until a spring treatment can be applied."
"SumiMax is particularly easy to integrate into a programme, as it can be mixed with a wide range of grass-weed herbicides and sequenced with any other herbicide or group. It also has no following crop restrictions or following cultivation issues. It has no variety restrictions and can be mixed with a BYDV treatment such as SumiAlpha. Based on the new active ingredient flumioxazin, it is also a product from a completely new chemical group with a unique mode of action, with no resistance fears," concludes Dr. Stormonth.
SumiMax contains 300 gms ai/litre flumioxazin formulated as a white, non-staining, easy-to-use suspension concentrate, packed in a 500 ml pack. (These features of SumiMax were reported in a survey as being of major benefit.) Recommended in winter wheat, it can be used pre or post-emergence up to before GS 15 for the control of a wide range of broad-leaved weeds, including charlock, chickweed, cleavers, common field speedwell, common poppy, field pansy, fumitory, groundsel, ivy-leaved speedwell, mayweed, red deadnettle and Shepherd’s purse, and grass-weeds, including Annual meadow-grass and loose silky bent. It is recommended at 100 ml/ha in 200 litres of water, with one application per crop. It has residual and contact activity. It is compatible with a wide range of autumn products but should not be used with any adjuvants. It can be sequenced with any product including sulphonylureas, but a 14 day interval should be allowed. Flumioxazin is available as SumiMax, Digital and Guillotine.
For further comment and information, please contact Dr. David Stormonth, Technical Manager, Interfarm UK Ltd. on 01354 741414 or 07818 036506 (mobile) or via e-mail david.stormonth@interfarm.co.uk