Cereal FAQs:

     - When can I spray Broadway Star?

     - What tank mixes can I use with Broadway Star? 

     - What weeds does Spitfire control? 

Galera - Application Guidance in March 2011 

Do you need to treat Docks in grassland? 

Revocation Update - Thistlex, Pastor and Doxstar 

Recent weather and long range forecast has presented an opportunity to get started with Broadway* Star with the following recommendations:

We will support the use of Broadway Star + recommended adjuvant for the control of Brome species, Ryegrass and Wild Oats with the following guidelines:

• Applications should be made following an appropriate autumn residual programme
• Brome up to early tillering growth stages up to GS24 [This may be priority for treatment even in less than “ideal” conditions- spring treatment for Sterile and Great Brome can be variable-size is critical]
• Ryegrass up to GS29
• Wild Oats up to GS30
• Target weeds ideally at the early tillering stage
• All target weeds actively growing (check local forecast). Do not apply during a period of inactive growth as a result of cold or frosty weather
• Local climatic conditions and field topography which slows growth has been accounted for - i.e. low lying / frost pockets (fens, water-logged heavy land, exposed areas)

For optimal control of Broadway Star:

• Apply during a period of active growth
• Apply using a fine to medium spray quality
• Apply with a recommended adjuvant
• Apply in 130-150 lt/ha of water

Learn more about Broadway Star

Broadway Star's outstanding grass and broadleaved weed control can often negate the need for more complex tank mixes with other herbicides - a real advantage in a busy season.  Despite this, PGRs and fungicides will still need to be applied and useful supported tank mixes includes Broadway Star + adjuvant +:

• ¹/₂ rate Chlormequat (and nothing else)
• Opus +/- Bravo 500
• Proline +/- Bravo 500
• Cherokee
• Alto Elite
• Fortress*
• Orka*
• Tracker (Physically Compatible.  N.B. Not tested for biological efficacy/crop safety)

And many more....

Learn more about Broadway Star tank mixes  

Recent rain is encouraging broadleaved weed germination.  Spitfire*, the new broadleaved weed herbicide from Dow AgroSciences has a very broad-spectrum which should prove useful as this spring flush emerges.  It will work right now, despite large day/night temperature fluctuations.  With product "stacking" being in vogue, the favourable following crop profile with no cultivation restrictions is an added benefit.

Key label and "non-label" weeds controlled include:

*Requires addition of MSO adjuvant
etl=established true leaves    MS = moderately susceptible at 2-4 etl    - = no information

Learn more about Spitfire

Can I tank-mix Broadway Star and Spitfire?

Yes.  Broadway Star 265 g/ha + 0.5 lt/ha Spitfire offers a clean-sweep of many broadleaved weeds and grassweeds at exceptional value.

The mild days of February has encouraged thistles and mayweeds to grow.  In these instances then applications of Galera* should be applied as soon as possible.

Large diurnal variations in temperature and recent frosts have proved challenging for applications targeted at cleavers over the last couple of weeks.

Generally, a trigger point for Galera applications targeted at cleavers will be the onset of growth post fertiliser applications - assuming adequate temperatures. Wait one week and then apply. Optimal performance requires stable air temperatures of at least 6°C and rising, but preferably 8°C or higher. The warmer and more stable the conditions, the better the results are likely to be. Warm days and cold nights (high diurnal variation) are likely to give poor results, particularly against cleavers. If you can afford to wait until conditions are ideal do so, but some compromise may be needed if canopies are closing and the crop is approaching the cut-off for application.

The window of application is short so plan ahead.

The following guidance also applies when making any application of Galera:

• Do not apply to stressed crops - due to nutrient deficiency, frost damage, water logging, severe pigeon grazing, etc.
• Do not make applications in periods of hard frosts
• Apply when the weeds are actively growing
• Apply to the crop from 4 true leaves to before flower buds visible from above the crop canopy.

Learn more about Galera 

An early assault on docks growing in grass leys will protect silage yields and quality.

Docks are bad news in grassland as they:

• Compete for light, nutrients and moisture. Trials have shown that a 10% infestation of docks will cause 10% loss of grass; equivalent to one trailer load of silage in ten
• Are unpalatable with only 65% of feed value of grass.
• Adversely affect silage fermentation which reduces feed quality still further

Docks are a formidable foe, with an estimated 15% of productive grassland infested and a potential seed bank of 12.5 million seeds/ha in the top 15cm of soil.

Fields used for silage are most at risk due to the open nature of the sward, which allows established docks to spread and viable seeds to germinate.

In the south, treatment could start as early as the end of March - as long as docks have reached the rosette stage and are actively growing, and look green and healthy. Reddy blue leaves indicate that plants have been frosted, and herbicide uptake will be poor. Docks respond well to nitrogen, so a good time to spray is two to four weeks after the first fertiliser application, as they should be actively growing by then.

If it is not possible to treat pre-first cut, leave the aftermath for two to three weeks to allow sufficient re-growth before spraying. This will give good control, as weeds will be at a uniform stage of development.

Grass Safety

When treating weeds early it is important to select a herbicide that will not damage the grass.
Translocated herbicides, such as Doxstar*, control target weeds without checking the important first flush of spring grass, crucial for both yield and quality. Modern translocated herbicides do a good job on weeds without adversely affecting grass. The way they work also gives longer lasting control, so users can still benefit two to three years after treatment.

Learn more about Docks 

Learn more about Doxstar

There have been recent changes to the approval status of a number of our products including Thistlex, Pastor and Doxstar.  MAPP numbers are given in brackets.

Thistlex* (11533), Doxstar* (11063) & Pastor* (11168):
Revocations have been rescinded and the existing approvals extended to 2021 - although this date will change once CRD are back on schedule with their review of associated Annex III packages. There are no restrictions on availability.

As a reminder on other revocations:

Grazon* 90 (13117) & Timbrel* (5815):

• advertisement, sale and supply by the Approval holder must cease on 31st May 2011
• advertisement, sale and supply by persons other than the approval holder must cease on 30th November 2011
• storage and use by any person must cease on 30th November 2012

Dow Shield^† (10988), Lontrel *(11558)

• advertisement, sale and supply by the Approval holder must cease on 30th April 2011
• advertisement, sale and supply by persons other than the approval holder must cease on 31st October 2011
• storage and use by any person must cease by 30th October 2012

Approvals are in place for a new 400 g a.i. formulation of clopyralid, although the associated label is more restrictive – no usage from end of August through to 1st March. Additionally a number of crops have been lost permanently and on other crops further work is pending and approvals expected Q3 2011 & 2012.  This 400g a.i. formulation is not being marketed as yet.

Galera* (11961):
This product is NOT under revocation.

Subscribing to Dow AgroSciences' Agronomy Update & Pestwatch gives eligibility for 1 Crop Protection BASIS Points annually. Please include course name "Agronomy Update & Pestwatch" and number "CP/16442/1011/G" on your training record. These details apply until 31st May 2011.

Use plant protection products safely.  Always read the label and product information before use.

*Broadway, Doxstar, Fortress, Galera, Grazon, Lontrel, Orka, Pastor, Spitfire, Thistlex and Timbrel are trademarks of Dow AgroSciences LLC.
^†Dow Shield is a trademark of The Dow Chemical Company.

All other brand names are trademarks of other manufacturers for which proprietary rights may exist.

Broadway Star contains pyroxsulam and florasulam
Dow Shield contains clopyralid
Doxstar contains triclopyr and fluroxypyr
Fortress contains quinoxyfen
Galera contains clopyralid and picloram
Grazon 90 contains triclopyr and clopyralid
Lontrel contains clopyralid
Orka contains quinoxyfen and fenpropimorph
Pastor contains clopyralid, fluroxypyr and triclopyr
Spitfire contains fluroxypyr and florasulam
Thistlex contains clopyralid and triclopyr
Timbrel contains triclopyr

More info at www.dowagro.com/uk