Stressed crops puts beet crop safety in weed control spotlight

UK - May 01, 2007

Extended germination and dry weather means beet crops are more susceptible to crop damage from herbicides than usual this season, warns Dow AgroSciences.

“Pre-emergent treatments have worked poorly in dry conditions and weeds which have ‘hardened off’ are still growing while crops are struggling,” says Dow AgroSciences’ broad-leaved crop specialist Rene Pollak.  “Such crops need to be treated gently or else damage may occur, especially if mixes include mineral oil or high doses are used.”  

Therefore growers face the challenge of devising weed control strategies which hit weeds at the susceptible early seedling stage, while avoiding damage to the beet. Dow Shield (clopyralid) can be used safely in the dry conditions in mixtures with pendamethalin or ethofumesate to control a wide range of weeds, including mayweeds, thistles and volunteer potatoes.    

With over 30 years experience of Dow Shield use, Dow AgroSciences is confident that even in the current dry conditions crop safety should not be threatened.  

“Without effective weed control now, crops could end up in a real mess. Challenging both harvest operations and yield,” says Mr Pollak. “In many crops, a low dose mixture of Dow Shield with pendamethalin and ethofumesate, will help growers get clean through the current challenge.”