Dow AgroSciences has identified three key opportunities for controlling broad-leaved weeds in cereals this spring, each of which requires a tailored herbicide approach.

While best results come from striking early against small, actively growing weeds, weed control opportunities can be divided into early, mid-season and late. Choice will also be influenced by the degree to which grassweeds are a significant target.

‘The earlier, the better’ should be the rule of thumb in any crop to avoid yield loss or build-up of seed returns.

“Early removal minimises competition with the growing crop for light, space, moisture and nutrients,” explains Mr Jackson. “Herbicides will be more effective against smaller weeds and there is scope for economies through flexible dose rate.”

Early season (T0), where residuals have been applied to control grassweeds, many broad-leaved weeds will have been suppressed. However, cleavers, cranesbill, groundsel and volunteer beans may be left.

Here, where blackgrass is a key target, Dow recommends UNITE®. Applied with an adjuvant it will control blackgrass, wild oats, bromes and a range of broad-leaved weeds. Where ryegrass, bromes and wild oats are the targets, Broadway Star® will deliver not only control grassweeds, but also an extensive range of broad-leaved weeds.

“For those choosing iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron-methyl-based products, we recommend Spitfire® to provide the breadth of broad-leaved weed control that most farmers will require,” says Mr Jackson.

In this early season, an important criterion is the ability of the product to work in low temperatures – a feature which florasulam provides.

Mid-season (T1) the main focus will be on the key broad-leaved weeds to be targeted. Dow AgroSciences recommends Spitfire® (fluroxypyr + florasulam) or Galaxy® (fluroxypyr + florasulam + clopyralid).

“As in early season use, the florasulam ensures consistent performance, even where day/night temperatures are fluctuating. This common feature of the spring season often leads to impaired performance,” says Mr Jackson.

“This is a really busy time of year, so the outstanding range of compatibilities offered by both products can lead to significant savings in time and application costs.”

To meet specific broad-leaved weed challenges, such as pansy and fumitory, either product can be mixed with a sulphonyl-urea, CMPP, HBN or dicamba.

Late season (T2) is the time to sweep up weeds left by previous treatments, or to control late emerging weeds such as cleavers, black bindweed or polygonums.

“The flexibility of Spitfire® means it is still a useful product in this slot,” says Mr Jackson. “However, growers may also care to consider our new product Starane® Hi-Load. Through innovative formulation, we can now provide a highly concentrated formulation of fluroxypyr which will perform just as well and dependably as Starane® 2 has done for decades, but each can goes much further. This reduces time spent filling the sprayer and rinsing packaging.”

Robust, quick acting chemistry with excellent compatibility in multi way mixes with fungicides, PGR’s etc is essential in this late slot, along with excellent crop selectivity.