Final chance for weed control in WOSR

UK - March 27, 2006

As the weather warms up winter oilseed rape growers are warned that they have just days left to tackle the threat of cleavers to their yields using the herbicide Galera (clopyralid + picloram).

“The cold weather has held back WOSR and broad-leaved weeds.  The critical cut-off stage for Galera is probably at least a week later than last year, but with the forecast of warmer weather growth of both WOSR crops and weeds, including cleavers, will accelerate rapidly,” says Dow AgroSciences’ marketing specialist Colin Bowers.

Mr Bowers advises growers to check crop growth before applying Galera for mayweed, sow-thistle and cleavers control as the spray window will be short. Once flower buds appear above the crop, it is too late.

“Make sure Galera is applied onto an active target, particularly with cleavers.  They must be showing green growth rather than the blue colour associated with the recent cold weather.  But remembers that Galera cannot be applied after GS 3.5, under the Association of Applied Biologists growth stage identification key for WOSR.”

Galera can be applied when crops are at GS 3.1 – 3.3, when the flower buds are present and enclosed by the leaves to when the flower buds are visible from above.

“If the crop has reached GS 3.5 when flower buds are raised above the leaf canopy it is too late,” advises Mr Bowers.