This year's dry spring has encouraged creeping thistle infestations so that they now threaten beet yields and pose a threat to following crops in the rotation.
Around 40% of beet fields have creeping thistle infestations. Just one thistle stem a square metre can cut yield by one tonne a hectare, - a real threat to this year's beet profits.
"Creeping thistles, encouraged by the warm start to the spring, have continued to grow throughout the dry period. The recent rainfall will prompt a further flush. With only one stem per meter capable of reducing yields by 1 ton per hectare, growers should check fields where there is a history of this weed," warns Dow AgroSciences' Broad Leaved Crop Specialist Rene Pollak.
For best results, thistles need two applications of Dow Shield, the first dose of 0.5l/ha should be followed by a second 1l/ha treatment 4 weeks later.
"Where thistles are a problem, growers should act now before yields are threatened further," advises Rene Pollak.
