Sugar Beet

Sugar Beet Rows in May

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. 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.

  • Available from 1st March 2012
  • Dow Shield 400 contains twice as much clopyralid
  • Use half as much per hectare
  • Same excellent crop selectivity
  • Same excellent compatibility
  • Same efficacy
  • With the added benefit of:
  • More hectares per pack
  • Less packs to open
  • Less packs to dispose of
  • Self seal technology
  • No induction seal
  • No induction foil to get rid of
  • Improves turn around operations
  • Reliability you come to expect from Dow Shield

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 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. Applications must not be made earlier than the 1st March in the year of harvest.

Dow Shield is a trademark of the Dow Chemical Co.