A major new step forward for weed control in grassland

UK - March 02, 2006

Better control of a wider range of weeds, the shortest cutting and grazing interval and all from only one spray a year. That's the promise from Dow AgroSciences for Forefront, a new herbicide for weed control in grassland. Forefront represents a major step forward for livestock farmers to effectively control the most difficult and persistent weeds in grassland.

This is the first time in 10 years that a new active ingredient has been developed specifically for grassland and the UK is the flagship country for the launch into Europe by Dow AgroSciences. The company believes Forefront will become the leading product in its portfolio of herbicides for grassland in the UK and globally.

"There's no doubt that Forefront will make a difference to UK grass farmers by helping to improve grassland quality and productivity," says Colin Bowers, Dow AgroSciences marketing specialist. "It offers the highest level of control yet seen from a herbicide on the key perennial broadleaf weeds in grass."

Aminopyralid is the new active ingredient, included at a rate of 30g/litre, which is combined with fluroxypyr at 100g/litre. Forefront is applied at 2 litres/ha in 200-300 litres of water volume. Only one application is recommended a year and it is rain fast just one hour after spraying.

Forefront is a foliar acting herbicide whose action is translocated down to the roots of the weeds. It controls the main perennial weeds of broad-leaved dock and curled leaf dock, creeping and spear thistle, common nettle, creeping buttercup and dandelion.

Forefront can be used on permanent and rotational grassland and is safe to grass. It can also be used on new sown leys after eight weeks from re-seeding, when the grass has tillered. To make managing grassland more convenient Forefront only has a seven day interval for grazing and cutting, shorter than any other herbicide on the market.

The timing of application is crucial for good results, and spraying should only take place when weeds are actively growing. For docks, thistles and nettles this means at the rosette stage, which is up to 25cm high or wide (the size of a dinner plate). For buttercups and dandelions, spray before flowering.

There have been numerous field trials across Europe and several farm demonstration sites here in the UK to back up this new product launch. During 2002-2003, 125 trials were carried out in established grassland sites in the UK and Europe to evaluate Forefront's spectrum of activity. Using Forefront at 2l/ha on the target weeds achieved up to 95% control in season.

During 2005 on the regional farm demonstration sites in the UK, which ranged from Scotland to Somerset and Cumbria to West Sussex, the aim was to show the efficacy of Forefront on extremes of weed infestations under a variety of farm management practices, as well as different spray timings.

The results look impressive. That's the view of Neil Harrison on Forefront, from what he has seen on a field trial that has taken place on his West Sussex farm over the past year.

The family partnership of R Harrison & Sons manages 950 dairy cows split into three dairy herds on separate units near Horsham. With around 1200 acres of grassland plus 300-400 acres of maize grown annually, silage and grazing are the key components of the dairy diet.

"Last spring a trial plot in one of our fields was independently sprayed once with Forefront and we watched the weed kill with interest.  We had grazed this particular field hard through the previous summer and then a neighbour's deer herd had grazed it through the winter. The land got a bit poached and we ended up with a heavy dock problem last spring so any herbicide that could deal with that was going to need to be effective.  And I must say that the results look good," says Mr Harrison.

"We are interested in a one-dose application because we do find it difficult trying to plan two sprays in the season. The first one's easy in spring but trying to fit in the second later on has been difficult to achieve. So, a product with one spray a season is really practical and would suit us well."

Dow AgroSciences' continuing commitment to research and development is important for livestock farmers in the current financial climate.

"Increasing pressures on margins, whether dairy, beef or sheep, mean that farmers need to get as much as possible out of grass to help productivity. Clean weed-free pastures are essential to improving quality," says Mr Bowers.