Control cleavers or risk two tonne wheat loss in two weeks

UK - April 20, 2007

Farmers are being advised to control cleavers or risk losing two tonnes of wheat by a leading agronomist.

“Cleavers are the most competitive weed in cereals. Failure to control them at the critical time can cost growers as much as 2 tonnes in 2 weeks,” warns Masstock’s Clare Bend. “If there is a problem, control them now.”

There is still time in late sown winter crops, or spring sown cereals, to get cleavers before they seriously reduce yield.  Where crops are not beyond GS 32, Masstock is advising growers to use Galaxy (containing fluroxypyr, florasulam and clopyralid) at 1 - 1.5L/ha for quick cleavers knockdown as well as mayweeds, thistles and chickweed.

“After GS32, we recommend growers to switch to Starane XL (fluroxypyr and florasulam). In warm weather with fast growing cleavers at a rate of 1.25L/ha unless the cleavers are large when 1.8L/ha should be used,” recommends Clare Bend.