Looking beyond black-grass with Kerb

UK - August 05, 2009



The continuing reduced effectiveness of herbicides to control black-grass in winter cereals means that growers will have to manage and invest in the appropriate use of the residual herbicide Kerb Flo in oilseed rape and beans this autumn.

"The inclusion of Kerb (propyzamide) in your black-grass control programme this autumn and in the future has become a probability, rather than a possibility.  There will be even more oilseed rape drilled this autumn, all being well, and previous crops, particularly wheat, are pretty dirty when it comes to black-grass.  Fewer farmers are likely to ploughed this autumn and this will mean that the threat of black-grass will be high in the many minimal cultivated crops.  Together with the likelihood of low dormancy year for weed seed, farmers will be facing massive seed return for grass-weeds, most of which will be germinating rapidly.  Not only that but weed resistance has become even more widespread and herbicide options fewer.  It is quite a dilemma for the many arable farmers with a black-grass problem," says Robin Bentley, Marketing Specialist for Dow AgroSciences.

"Thankfully we are able to look beyond all these problems and find a robust solution in Kerb Flo for the control of black-grass and other weeds in oilseed rape and winter beans.  Available for many years now, propyzamide still works on all strains of black-grass, with no resistance having ever been identified.  It has a different mode of action to any other black-grass herbicide used in cereals and so fills an important role in weed resistance management right across the farm," points out Robin.

"In winter oilseed rape with high black-grass populations, there will be a need this autumn to use a robust herbicide programme - a pre-em herbicide based on metazachlor followed by Kerb Flo, at 2.1 l/ha applied from the 1st October onwards.  This may be seen as a costly approach but black-grass is such a highly competitive weed and its effective control will reap benefits across the rotation.  Also an effective herbicide with no resistance problems is in my view invaluable," he says.

"Kerb Flo is an effective residual grass and broad-leaved weed herbicide, but needs sound advice and support from advisors in order to get the best from it. To get maximum weed control from propyzamide, soil temperatures need to be low so that long persistence is achieved throughout the weed germination period.  Good levels of soil moisture are also needed to help the herbicide penetrate the top few cms of the soil profile."

In non-black-grass areas, Kerb will also give excellent control of Annual Meadow-grass, brome and broad-leaved weeds.  It can be used at a cost-effective lower dose rate of 1.7 l/ha.

Robin Bentley explains that Dow AgroSciences has developed a comprehensive support programme for advisors and growers, with the aim of ensuring the environmentally appropriate and considered use of Kerb Flo, especially with regard to waterways.  "With every pack of Kerb Flo, growers will receive frequent updates on product compatibilities as well as regular reports on soil temperature and moisture deficits to ensure optimum use.  There will also be advice on Specific-Off-Label Approvals, timely technical updates as well as online topical support via our web site, www.dowagro.com/uk."

According to Robin, by supporting Kerb you will be supporting sound Stewardship.  "With Kerb Flo you have the absolute assurance of its provenance. You know exactly what is in the pack and you know that the product will be of high specification and easily tank- mixable. You will also know that you will be getting maximum support from Dow AgroSciences both in terms of best practise and best performance criteria with the environment high on the agenda."