Low temperatures need not reduce cleavers control

UK - March 17, 2006

Take account of air temperature when choosing herbicides for cleavers control this spring says FSC Agronomy. 

To achieve consistently high level of cleavers control in cereals despite low temperatures FSC Agronomy, part of the Masstock Group, recommends Boxer (florasulam).

“Boxer is ideal for cooler spring weather conditions,” says Nigel Francis, business manager for FSC Agronomy.  “The active ingredient florasulam shows greater efficacy at lower temperatures than other products on the market especially when cleavers growth is slow.  We usually recommend it from late winter through to mid-April.” 

An added advantage is flexibility.  Mr Francis uses Boxer from 0.1 l/ha for small cleavers in good growing conditions, to 0.15 l/ha for larger cleavers and high populations in colder conditions.  Tank-mixed with Atlantis he can use Boxer at a lower rate of 0.05 l/ha.  

But once temperatures start to rise Mr Francis swaps to Starane XL (florasulam + fluroxypyr).  Its wide weed spectrum includes mayweeds, spring germinating charlock and runch, as well as volunteer rape often left over from winter herbicide treatments.

“Starane XL works reliably over a wide range of temperatures. We can recommend it earlier in the season than we could in the past with straight Starane 2 (fluroxypyr).”

FSC Agronomy operates in the Blythe and Staunton Harold water catchment areas so they are very conscious of the Voluntary Initiative’s advice to reduce certain spring herbicide usage.

“Wherever we can we will recommend alternatives to mecoprop-p.  Starane XL fits very well, and is used where mecoprop-p would have been recommended for chickweed, cleavers, charlock and runch control in the past, on both winter and spring cereals,” says Mr Francis.