Crop protection product manufacturer BASF says it is increasing the supply of its Crystal (flufenacet and pendimethalin) herbicide to help UK growers make the best possible start to their black-grass control programmes this season. It has also reduced the price. “Choosing the best chemistry will be vital this autumn,” says BASF agricultural solutions campaign manager Ruth Stanley. “Prior to harvest we saw an abundance of black-grass heads in many cereal crops around the country, despite what appeared to be good control in autumn 2017. “All these heads will have shed their seed. It’s a reminder that good planning is needed for effective black-grass control and the strategy should include a range of cultural and chemical techniques to be successful.” Mrs Stanley says ADAS research found that a black-grass population of 300 heads/sq m would lose £615.60/ha at today’s prices, so growers can’t afford to cut corners. “With black-grass said to be of low dormancy this season, she continues, delaying drilling could be especially valuable, allowing more time to take advantage of stale seed-beds. Sowing competitive varieties at the right seed rate will provide additional suppression.” BASF is collaborating with a team of independent experts to provide a more holistic approach to controlling black-grass this autumn. This includes John Deere on machinery hygiene; ADAS on weed biology; Neil Fuller on soil health; Tom Robinson with spray application and Philip Wright on cultivation and drilling techniques. This will culminate in a Battling Black-grass Together conference to be held next year, with input from growers. More information via: www.basfrealresults.co.uk/awc/competition
BASF is increasing supply and decreasing the price of its herbicide Crystal to help UK growers promptly deal with their black-grass control programmes this season. BASF pointed to an “abundance of black-grass heads in many cereal crops around the country” before harvest, despite good planning a year earlier. The company cited research by collaborator ADAS that a black-grass population of 300 heads/sq m would lose £615.60/ha ($800) at current prices. BASF is also teaming up with an array of additional experts as it attempts to keep control of black-grass this autumn.