Black-grass

As attention turns to spring weed control, grass-weeds are the priority. Farmers Guardian reports

With the spring season around the corner, Ash Burbidge caught up with a leading agronomist regarding potential issues growers might face.

Cleaning up spring stubbles with glyphosate ahead of drilling may seem a straightforward job, but sprayer setup still has a huge effect on efficacy and stewardship.

At this point in the season, many growers’ thoughts turn to planning their spring herbicide programmes and how best to achieve effective control over spring weeds. Farmers Guardian gets the latest advice.

A leading plant breeder is encouraging growers to take up the opportunity of contributing to the future development of the Recommended Lists, including how they are designed.

A new study is seeking to tackle weed infestation and herbicide resistance by detecting and quantifying arable weed seeds in the soil using environmental DNA technologies.

Consider spring herbicide programmes carefully to avoid carryover of residual activity from spring applied sulphonylurea (SU) herbicides, particularly if it remains dry and then turns wet later in the season.

Early drilled winter wheat is at risk of heightened weed burdens after dry conditions have prevented pre-emergence herbicides from working effectively, growers are being advised.

Growers are being urged to hold their nerve in bad black-grass fields.

Black-grass emergence is expected to be rapid this season after assessments by agriculture consultant ADAS have shown a high number of weed seed samples with low dormancy.