Brome control in Kent

UK - March 30, 2010



Grass weeds pose a significant threat to cereal farms across the South East of England, but new chemistry offers  farmers a weapon to tackle both grass and broadleaved weeds, writes Paul Savage at Dow AgroSciences.

Last spring saw the launch of Broadway star, offering effective control of ryegrasses, wild oats and bromes in winter wheat along with control of many broadleaved weeds.  Leading crop protection distributors, HL Hutchinson, was one of the first companies to offer farmers an opportunity to try the new product.

"As a principal supplier of crop protection products and advice we had been involved in development trials with the manufacturers, Dow AgroSciences, over the past couple of years.  During that time it became clear that this product would deliver a valuable new herbicide option for our customers," explained James short, regional director for HL Hutchinson.

"The ability to control bromes, ryegrass and wild oats was particularly attractive as weed populations have increased significantly in the South East as farmers move away from ploughing to min tillage methods.

"Matters have been made worse with the withdrawal of IPU, which has been a big part of grass weed control on many farmers in the area."

Those farmers who followed Mr short's advice were not disappointed by the performance of Broadway Star.

"The grassweed control was very good and farmers were especially pleased to see how effectively the growing menace of brome grasses was controlled," he said.

In addition to the effective grassweed control, broadleaved weed activity exceeded expectations, both in terms of the weed spectrum and efficacy.  Control of cleavers, groundsel and cranesbill was outstanding.

"Few users who tried Broadway Star last spring had to use any other spring treatment against broadleaved weeds.  this means our customers enjoyed both good results and a significant saving against their budgets for weed control."

Broadway star contains florasulam, as well as pyroxsulam in a formulation developed specifically for UK conditions.  It can be used in both autumn and spring, essentially as part of  programme that includes residual partners.  It is also important to pay attention to weed resistance management programmes, as with all other cereal herbicides.

Looking to this spring, Mr Short and his colleagues at HL Hutchinson believe Broadway Star will be an important option for weed control for many farmers.  It will provide a complete 'spring clean' in winter wheat in a single spray providing simplicity, clean crops, protected yields and significant cost savings.

"The control is really effective but it is also a very practical product," said Mr short.  "For instance, there is a wide range of tank mix options that fits in well for T0 and T1 fungicide sprays on winter wheat."

Key to making the most of Broadway Star is correcting timing and application.

"Weed growth should drive timing.  Broadway star is a contact acting herbicide, so our advice is to wait for target weeds to be actively growing and ensure good spray coverage.  Crop growth can be from GS11 right up to GS32 so combined with one hour 'rain fastness' there is considerable flexibility during the busy spring period."

To ensure maximum efficacy, the product should always be applied with an approve adjuvant.  Sprite Aqua, which includes a water conditioner had delivered very consistent results.

As well as effective weed control, Broadway Star does not pose difficulties in managing rotations.  A very wide range of following crops can be sown without any need for deep cultivations.  this is a significant advantage over other residual cereal grass herbicides when a treated crop is followed with oilseed rape.

While Broadway Star adds a valuable weapon in farmers' armoury to tackle grass weeds, it needs to be part of a programme right across rotations that use cultural and chemical control.

"For instance, the use of Kerb Flo in winter oilseed rape within the rotation will deliver another check to grass weeds and is especially important in areas where resistance is becoming an issue," says Mr short.  "Combining such crop protection approaches with occasional use of the plough, where possible, will help bring the pernicious grass weeds under control."

In its launch year, Folkestone farmer Michael Taylor tried both spring and autumn treatment of Broadway Star with success.

Mr Taylor farms 900 acres in an arabel rotation of wheat, barley, oilseed rape and spring wheats: Solstice for bread-making and Viscount as a soft milling variety.

In spring 2009, his key objectives were to control brome speices as well as cleavers in winter wheat.

"In autumn 2008 we used residual programmes fo either IPU or CTU as a base, plus some DFF," says Mr Taylor.  "After a spring application of Broadway Star, soft and meadow bromes were knocked out, so were the cleavers.  However, while sterile brome was significantly checked it was not controlled completely.

"Therefore in autumn 2009 we decided to use an autumn application of Broadway star to address the sterile borme challenge.  We have used iodosulfuron methyl-sodium + meosulfuron-methyl in the past and have been disappointed with the results.

"The results from Broadway Star look very promising.  However, while we appear to have met the sterile brome challenge, this spring we will need an answer for cleavers control.  That will probably mean choosing one of the Starane products which we have found tackle this broadleaved weed so well."