• The Benefits of Kerb Flo 500
• Supporting our Famers, Support our Future
• Grassland Weed Challenges
• Revocation Time Line Reminder
• Grassland - New Sown Ley Pest and Weed Control
• Chickweed - A Major Threat in New Leys
• Twitter

This Autumn Dow AgroSciences are launching a new 25% more concentrated propyzamide formulation – Kerb* Flo 500. Kerb Flo 500 can be used on winter oilseed rape and winter field beans only and gives the same superb blackgrass control as its predecessor but with less packaging and increased sprayer efficiency. The new Kerb Flo 500 packs also have no foil seal making filling and waste management quicker and easier and minimising the risk of point source contamination.

A reminder of the rates of use:

• 1.7 L/ha is the maximum dose rate for use in difficult blackgrass situations
• The lower dose rate is now 1.4 L/ha
• For winter beans use Kerb Flo 500 at 1.7 L/ha.

Getting the best performance out of Kerb Flo 500:

• Propyzamide is a soil acting residual herbicide
• Applications should be made during favourable conditions to maximise longevity and uptake
• Optimum soil temperature conditions are 8-10°C and falling
• Apply Kerb Flo 500 to moist soils and firm clod free seed beds
• The addition of a graminicide in tank mix or as part of a programme should be used where populations of blackgrass and/or volunteer cereals exceed 50/m².

There is no known resistance to propyzamide making it an ideal solution to weed control across the rotation.

  

Who are the unsung heroes? Our famers!

At Dow AgroSciences, we have produced a new film to provide a snapshot of some of the challenges and key issues facing farmers in the UK – and show just how much the country relies on their hard work both now and in the face of a growing global population.

This is a must-see film for anyone working in agriculture and is guaranteed to make you feel proud of our British farming industry.

The prolonged wet weather of recent months has left pastures looking worse for wear.  The delayed cutting and poaching has opened up swards and not all weeds targeted for control during the first half of the year were sprayed. This means that weeds have seeded and more may have come through.

Good levels of weed control can be achieved over the next few months provided those weeds are showing signs of growth – often topping and spraying the re-growth 2 to 3 weeks later is the best approach.

Apply Pastor* at 4.0 L/ha for situations where dock, nettles or thistles are present. Where docks are the main problem apply Doxstar* at 3.0 L/ha.

Water volume has an impact on product performance so please use higher water volumes where there is still significant grass presence.

For more information visit: http://www.dowagro.com/uk/grass_bites/index.htm

A request to extend the current withdrawal period for Doxstar* MAPP no 11063 has been granted such that this product now has a phase out requirement as follows:

• The sale and distribution of existing stocks will end on 30th June 2013
• The disposal, storage and use of existing stocks will end on 30th June 2014

A submission has now been made for both Grazon* 90 MAPP no 13117 & Pastor MAPP no 11168 for the same new timelines as Doxstar.  HOWEVER, until we communicate otherwise the current revocation times for Pastor & Grazon 90 still stand:

Pastor MAPP no 11168

• The sale and distribution of existing stocks will end on 31 August 2012
• The disposal, storage and use of existing stocks will end on 31 August 2013

Grazon 90 MAPP no 13117

• The sale and distribution of existing stocks will end on 30th November 2012
• The disposal, storage and use of existing stocks will end on 30th November 2013

Thistlex* MAPP no 11533: This product is approved until 31/12/2021 so no implication for sales this year

Please note that for all products, new annex III approvals are in place with new formulations and updated labels being introduced for next year. More details to follow.
 

Farmers can destroy grass swards and protect against the threat of Frit fly in one treatment. Second generation Frit fly larvae can migrate out of dying swards to threaten newly sown grass leys or cereals crops. New seedlings are particularly vulnerable to damage from the pest in late summer and losses of up to 10% can occur. One way to prevent Frit fly damage is to add Dursban* WG at a rate of 1kg/ha to glyphosate as the old sward is burnt off. Not only is the migration of larvae prevented, giving a good start for following crops, but the cost of an extra application pass is saved.

Dursban WG carries a 14 day interval for cutting or grazing so will not be suitable if these activities are planned after glyphosate treatment. In such instances, Dursban WG should be applied in the following crop. However, before any treatment, a risk assessment should be carried out. Dow AgroSciences has produced separate risk assessments for both arable and grassland crops to help growers decide if they need to treat or not.

Use risk assessment charts for Frit Fly and Leatherjackets to determine need for a Dursban WG  / Equity* spray on new sown leys

For weed control consider an application of Doxstar or Pastor at 1.5lt or 2.0lt / ha respectively.

Chickweed can quickly smother young seedling grass in autumn sown leys and should be sprayed to maximise the returns from investing in a new re-seed.

It is almost inevitable that common chickweed will germinate alongside grass as both establish easily in the warm, moist soils at this time of year.

• Chickweed will soon out-compete the spindly young grass as it has much bigger leaves and grows more vigorously. 
• Left too long, it will kill the grass leaving large gaps in the sward. 
• Chickweed is the most common annual weed in the UK.
• It seeds continually from spring to autumn, with each plant capable of producing 15,000 seeds.
• When the population of mature chickweed reaches ten plants/m², the amount of ryegrass left can be as low as 50% - dramatically reducing productivity.

Spray with a herbicide such as Doxstar at 1.5 litres/ha in 200 litres of water/ha, once the number of chickweed seedling reaches 5-10/m².  For best effect, the chickweed should have at least two true leaves and be up to 50mm in diameter when treated.

Translocated products like Doxstar are particularly useful for spraying new sown leys as they do not adversely affect grass growth, unlike herbicides based on older phenoxy chemistry.  The sward can be sprayed once the grass has three true leaves.

Users of our current services including Kerb Weather Data, Pestwatch and Grassweed Emergence Monitor will know the importance of up-to-date, seasonal information to help in agronomic decision-making. Follow us on twitter and these updates become even more instant.

Click here to follow us and keep one step ahead. Follow DOWAGROUK 

Subscribing to Dow AgroSciences' Agronomy Update & Pestwatch gives eligibility for 1 Crop Protection BASIS Points annually. Please include course name "Agronomy Update & Pestwatch" and the number "CP/24531/1213/g" on your training record. These details apply until 31st May 2013.

If you require any further information please contact our technical Hotline on 0800 689 8899 or your local Dow AgroSciences representative.

Dow AgroSciences supports the safety and efficacy of its products for tank mixes shown as Physically and Biologically Compatible, but does not warrant the efficacy of other tank mix partners.

Use plant protection products safely.  Always read the label and product information before use.
For further information including warning phrases please refer to the product label.

* Doxstar, Dursban, Equity, Grazon, Kerb, Pastor and Thistlex are trademarks of Dow AgroSciences LLC.
All other brand names are trademarks of other manufacturers for which proprietary rights may exist.

Doxstar contains triclopyr and fluroxypyr
Dursban WG contains chlorpyrifos
Equity contains chlorpyrifos
Grazon 90 contains triclopyr and clopyralid
Kerb Flo 500 contains propyzamide
Pastor contains triclopyr, fluroxypyr and clopyralid
Thistlex contains triclopyr and clopyralid

More info at www.dowagro.com/uk