New Double strength Dow Shield 400

UK - February 15, 2012

A new double strength formulation of clopyralid, Dow Shield 400, has been launched and can be used post-emergence in sugar beet, oilseed rape, grassland and a range of other arable crops from the 1st March this year, according to Dow AgroSciences. This new formulation contains twice as much clopyralid and so growers can apply half as much per hectare as they used to do with Dow Shield 200.

David Roberts of Dow AgroSciences says that the new concentrated formulation of Dow Shield has the same weed control efficacy, the same excellent crop selectivity and the same excellent compatibility. “But growers will get the added benefits of fewer packs to open, rinse and clean and so should have a much quicker turnaround, important at a busy time of year. The new Dow Shield 400 pack will also have self seal technology and no induction seal, so there is no induction foil to get rid of, making the spraying process more streamlined and pack disposal much easier and quicker.”

David points out Dow Shield 400 is recommended at half the dose rate of 0.5 litres/hectare in many crops, delivering 200 gms of clopyralid, the same level of active ingredient as 1.0 l/ha of Dow Shield 200. “Applying half the dose will also speed up operations.”

He explains that the new soluble concentrate formulation performs just as effectively. “In trials in sugar beet, Dow Shield 400 gave the same 93% plus control of creeping thistles, a key target weed.”

“Creeping thistles are perennial weeds and can lead to significant and increasing crop losses if not controlled in the initial year of infestation and in subsequent years. Dow Shield 400 is translocated very effectively through the rhizomes and roots of perennial thistles and offers excellent levels of control when used in a programme.”

Dow Shield 400 will also control volunteer potatoes and a range of annual broad-leaved weeds including corn marigold, groundsel, mayweeds and smooth sow-thistle. “So growers who have been using clopyralid in sugar beet and other crops can be assured of consistent and robust performance with this new herbicide formulation.”

Dow Shield 400 has label recommendations for a wide range of crops including sugar beet, red beet, fodder beet, mangels, oilseed rape, grassland, ornamentals, wheat, barley, oats, swede and turnips. “This isn’t quite as wide as the old formulation but we are working hard to add to the list and are hoping that brassicas, bulb onions and forage maize recommendations won’t be too far away. There are also a number of Extensions of Authorisation for minor uses (formerly known as SOLAs) including asparagus, apple, crab apple, pear, chard, spinach, spinach beet, poppy for morphine, broad-leaved trees, coniferous trees, grassland seed crops, durum wheat, rye, triticale, borage, canary flower, evening primrose, honesty, mustard and outdoor leaf herbs.  Clopyralid is such an important and effective active ingredient for the control of difficult perennial and annual weeds that it warrants a long list of crops on which it can be used,” says David Roberts.

Dow Shield 400 contains 400 g/litre of clopyralid formulated as a soluble concentrate and packed in a 2 litre pack. In sugar beet it is recommended at a maximum individual dose rate of 0.5 l/ha with a maximum total dose of 0.75l/ha. It can be applied post-emergence up to when crops meet between the rows (BBCH 39). In oilseed rape Dow Shield 400 is recommended at a maximum individual dose of 0.5 l/ha up to before flower buds are visible from above the crop canopy and in winter and spring wheat, barley and oats it is recommended at a maximum individual dose of 0.175 l/ha before 3rd node detectable stage. In grassland it has a maximum individual dose of 0.5 l/ha and a latest time of application of 7 days before harvest or cutting for hay or silage. Applications must not be made earlier than the 1st March in the year of harvest.

For further information, please contact David Roberts, Dow AgroSciences on 07976452475 (mobile) or via the Dow Technical Hotline on 0800 689 8899.

®Dow Shield is a trade mark of The Dow Chemical Co.