Spitfire is a new product from Dow AgroSciences that will control the widest ever range of broadleaved weeds in cereal crops, provide the greatest flexibility in application timing and so simplify weed control decisions for growers.
Spitfire contains a unique blend of two well-proven active ingredients florasulam and fluroxypyr that can be applied when weeds are actively growing from as early as GS13 in all the main cereal crops, as well as winter rye and triticale; but not durum wheat. The spectrum of control includes black bindweed, cleavers, charlock, chickweed, knotgrass, mayweeds, volunteer rape and beans, and many other economically damaging weeds.
As well as an early start to treatment, Spitfire can be used right up to GS45 in winter wheat and winter barley; up to GS39 in spring wheat and barley; and up to GS31 in winter and spring oats, winter rye and triticale.
"Cleavers control is every bit as good as, if not better than, the leading product Starane* XL but Spitfire offers considerably more convenience due to its very wide window of application, and broader range of weeds," says Dow AgroSciences Marketing Specialist James Knight. "It is effective in warm, cold and fluctuating diurnal temperatures. Thus Spitfire simplifies product choice and is so effective that many users will not need to top up treatment."
Simplicity for users is a major feature of the new product. It is formulated as a liquid suspension emulsion for ease of measurement and supplied in 5 litre (5ha) packs.
"We believe Spitfire offers more flexibility than any other broadleaved herbicide," says Mr Knight. "Therefore, cereal growers only need to stock one product to meet all their needs, both in terms of broadleaved weeds and timing, as Spitfire can be applied from autumn through to late spring at a single application rate of 1 litre/ha. It is also compatible with a wide range of fungicides and insecticides.
"Quite simply, with this new product we have removed the guesswork from weed control programmes."
Spitfire can be used in weed control programmes with leading grass weed herbicides, including Broadway* Star, to provide a comprehensive control package to protect valuable yield.
With its two ingredients with different modes of action, Spitfire will also help to reduce the risk of herbicide resistance building up in target broadleaved weeds.
The convenience that Spitfire offers does not end once it is applied. With a wide range of following crops that can be sown after treatment, farmers who opt for Spitfire will remain in full control of their rotations. In the event of crop failure any spring cereal or grass can be sown without any specific cultivation requirements.
