Weed & Pest Management News

After a challenging season for arable farmers, the window before harvest is an opportunity to check and map the black-grass situation to plan for the months ahead.

As exceptionally dry weather has meant poor early grass growth in many parts, forage supply may not meet demand for grazing cattle and sheep.

Spot-treating large perennial weeds such as brambles, gorse and broom in summer will catch them at the right time before they start dying back for winter, giving the best results according to Dr Nicola Perry, weed biology specialist for Corteva Agriscience.

Resistance strains to the highly popular blight fungicide fluazinam developed in the UK population probably because of over use of a single active. Looking at The Pesticide Usage Survey, going back several years, the usage of fluazinam has been as high as 384,000 hectares in 2010.

The Bayer Pest Solutions Team is highlighting the importance of preparing stores and protecting grain to ensure higher quality and value, as exceptional circumstances continue to affect the market.

Hutton periods are now being recorded in England and the focus needs to shift to blight control in potatoes.

LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), one of the leading organisations promoting more sustainable farming, has today launched a new technical guide to support farmers in more ecosystems-based approaches to crop health and protection. 

ADAMA has today announced the launch of a new ferric phosphate-based professional molluscicide aimed specifically at controlling slug populations in UK growing conditions.

Cereal growers are being urged to spray off patches infested with black-grass now, before more plants set viable seed. The stress of hot dry weather has brought forward seed maturity, with viability set to accelerate over the next few weeks.

The arrival of a new generation of Clearfield varieties offering improved performance and reliability will be particularly welcome to growers needing to keep on top of cruciferous weeds and ensure the most robust establishment and early crop development this autumn.

The risk of blowfly strike has now risen to ‘medium’ in parts of southern and central England, according to real-time updates produced by Elanco and the National Animal Disease Information Service (Nadis).

Control of perennial weeds such as docks, thistles and buttercups is easier and much more cost-effective in new-sown leys than spraying mature, fully established weeds a year later, according to Dr Nicola Perry, weed biology specialist for Corteva Agriscience.