Strong weed control helps yields, reduces seedset in a tough season.
About
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Product
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Date
26 June, 2018
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Location
WA, Mukinbudin
After a challenging start to the season in the eastern wheatbelt last year, many growers had to up the ante in weed control to help maximise yields.
Elders Merredin Agronomist Cam Smith with Mukinbudin grower Tim Squire, who was able to control wild radish this season using the post-emergent herbicide, Velocity.
This was certainly the case for Mukinbudin farmer Tim Squire, who farms with his wife Jill, brother Dudley and sister-in-law Janine. Dudley and Janine’s son, Calvin, also works on the property.
The Squire family farms more than 9000 hectares (7,000 ha arable), cropping 5,500 ha and running 1,000 crossbred sheep.
Last season’s cropping program comprised 3,600 ha of wheat and 1,000 ha of barley, with the remainder being canola and pulses.
According to Tim, effective summer weed control is vital, and they do their best to stay ahead through a summer spraying program, fallow and running livestock.
“We also grow pulses as a rotation crop to help us keep on top of weeds,” Tim said.
“Over the summer, we’ll spray a standard brew including Roundup® and 2,4-D Ester, but we have been finding that 2,4-D Ester just isn’t doing the job for radish anymore.”
Referred to as “Wialki orchids” by the local Mukinbudin Elders representative, wild radish is one of the Squire’s biggest weed burdens.
The Squires pre-emergent herbicide regime includes trifluralin and Sakura® for effective control of annual ryegrass.
They began using the post-emergent herbicide, Velocity®, about three years ago for wild radish control after it was recommended by their agronomist.
“We’re finding Velocity is the strongest option we’ve got against radish now,” Tim said.
“We try and get in to get a good post-emergent hit when the crop is at that three to five leaf stage.
“Velocity is a bit softer on the crop than some of the other options available and there’s no leaf burn.”
Velocity, from Bayer Crop Science, is based on the active ingredient pyrasulfotole and includes bromoxynil and Bayer’s crop safener, mefenpyr-diethyl.
It provides highly effective control of a wide range of broadleaf weeds including wild radish, bifora, wireweed, bindweed, bedstraw, capeweed and doublegee.
The high level of crop safety provided by Velocity means it can be applied to a young crop without harm, but also does not slow the growth of the crop or produce a yield drag effect that can occur with some other products.
“Velocity hits a range of weeds well – for us, it gets the job done,’’ Tim said.
For Elders Merredin Agronomist Cam Smith, Tim’s sentiment is not an isolated one. He heard similar reactions after recommending Velocity to other growers near Mukinbudin and Southern Cross last season.
“Last year was a challenging one in terms of crop timing and weed control timing, because we had a very staggered germination of crop and weeds,” Cam said.
“So we introduced Velocity, mainly as a radish control, but also for other broadleaf weeds.’’
Cam said crops were at mid-tillering stage when they went in with a mix of Velocity and LVE MCPA, with excellent results achieved.
He said, typically, Velocity would not have featured in these growers’ programs previously, but with the results they had seen last year, it would likely be a product they use again.
“Growers were really satisfied with the results and you could see the comparison with paddocks where Velocity was used and where it wasn’t.”
“It was worthwhile for them in terms of the investment. They have helped reduce seedset and it’s given them confidence to use those products again in the future, where required.
“Velocity is a really good tool to have in the toolbox for growers out here.
“Reducing seedset is so important with wild radish, among other weeds we can get in the paddock, so we’ve got to keep on top of it as much as we can.”
This was certainly the case for Mukinbudin farmer Tim Squire, who farms with his wife Jill, brother Dudley and sister-in-law Janine. Dudley and Janine’s son, Calvin, also works on the property.
The Squire family farms more than 9000 hectares (7,000 ha arable), cropping 5,500 ha and running 1,000 crossbred sheep.
Last season’s cropping program comprised 3,600 ha of wheat and 1,000 ha of barley, with the remainder being canola and pulses.
According to Tim, effective summer weed control is vital, and they do their best to stay ahead through a summer spraying program, fallow and running livestock.
“We also grow pulses as a rotation crop to help us keep on top of weeds,” Tim said.
“Over the summer, we’ll spray a standard brew including Roundup® and 2,4-D Ester, but we have been finding that 2,4-D Ester just isn’t doing the job for radish anymore.”
Referred to as “Wialki orchids” by the local Mukinbudin Elders representative, wild radish is one of the Squire’s biggest weed burdens.
The Squires pre-emergent herbicide regime includes trifluralin and Sakura® for effective control of annual ryegrass.
They began using the post-emergent herbicide, Velocity®, about three years ago for wild radish control after it was recommended by their agronomist.
“We’re finding Velocity is the strongest option we’ve got against radish now,” Tim said.
“We try and get in to get a good post-emergent hit when the crop is at that three to five leaf stage.
“Velocity is a bit softer on the crop than some of the other options available and there’s no leaf burn.”
Velocity, from Bayer Crop Science, is based on the active ingredient pyrasulfotole and includes bromoxynil and Bayer’s crop safener, mefenpyr-diethyl.
It provides highly effective control of a wide range of broadleaf weeds including wild radish, bifora, wireweed, bindweed, bedstraw, capeweed and doublegee.
The high level of crop safety provided by Velocity means it can be applied to a young crop without harm, but also does not slow the growth of the crop or produce a yield drag effect that can occur with some other products.
“Velocity hits a range of weeds well – for us, it gets the job done,’’ Tim said.
For Elders Merredin Agronomist Cam Smith, Tim’s sentiment is not an isolated one. He heard similar reactions after recommending Velocity to other growers near Mukinbudin and Southern Cross last season.
“Last year was a challenging one in terms of crop timing and weed control timing, because we had a very staggered germination of crop and weeds,” Cam said.
“So we introduced Velocity, mainly as a radish control, but also for other broadleaf weeds.’’
Cam said crops were at mid-tillering stage when they went in with a mix of Velocity and LVE MCPA, with excellent results achieved.
He said, typically, Velocity would not have featured in these growers’ programs previously, but with the results they had seen last year, it would likely be a product they use again.
“Growers were really satisfied with the results and you could see the comparison with paddocks where Velocity was used and where it wasn’t.”
“It was worthwhile for them in terms of the investment. They have helped reduce seedset and it’s given them confidence to use those products again in the future, where required.
“Velocity is a really good tool to have in the toolbox for growers out here.
“Reducing seedset is so important with wild radish, among other weeds we can get in the paddock, so we’ve got to keep on top of it as much as we can.”