After the wet weather disrupting drilling in the autumn, growers are reminded that January 31st was the last official day of the winter drilling window. Any crops sown on or after 1st February in the year of harvest are considered spring crops, irrespective of the variety being drilled.
“This means any crops drilled beyond this date will be defined by the CRD (the Health & Safety Executive’s Chemical Regulations Division) as spring-sown and must comply with the relevant crop protection regulations,” explains Jonny Oosthuizen, Herbicides Product Manager for ADAMA UK.
If in doubt about which products can and can’t be used on or after 1st February, check each product label carefully to ensure it is approved for use on spring crops.
Spring sown crop approval
Only herbicides approved for use on spring-sown crops can be used on crops drilled on or after 1st February.
“Now, in February, what many might not be aware of is that any crop protection products registered only for use on winter wheat can’t be used on crops sown after 31st January, even if the seed is technically a winter variety. Instead, these crops can only be treated with products labelled as being approved for spring-sown crops,” explains Jonny.
This changing of the seasons narrows the crop protection options available to control fresh flushes of weeds.
“Some herbicides aren’t permitted for use on spring wheat, even if the actives themselves may be used via other products,” Jonny says. “That might come as a surprise to some growers, especially those who haven’t traditionally grown spring wheat before. Understanding the rules is therefore essential to ensure herbicide programmes don’t fall foul of the transition from winter to spring cropping.
“Fortunately, there are still plenty of options available to ensure spring-sown cereals remain protected and ahead of the curve in terms of weed competition,” Jonny adds.
ADAMA’s approved products
Product’s such as Hurricane (500g/L diflufenican) and Tower (250g/L chlortoluron + 40 g/L diflufenican + 300g/L pendimethalin) are approved for use on spring wheat and barley and have offer a reliable means of controlling some key grass and broad-leaved weeds.
Anthem (400g/L pendimethalin) is also approved for use on spring barley, although it is not approved for use on wheat drilled from 1st February onwards.
Visit www.adama.com/en for more information on ADAMA’s spring herbicide product application.
Bayer’s spring product options
Bayer is also providing guidance on the rules for using herbicides in these crops.
“We’ve seen in other wet autumns that some farmers will drill in the middle of winter if conditions seem promising,” says Bayer’s Tom Chillcott. “The key date, however, was 1st February. Any wheat variety drilled before this date is classed as a winter crop for which there are more herbicide options available than for spring crops. But check labels carefully for the exact rules.”
The label rates, however, often apply to winter wheat varieties drilled before 1st February only. Spring wheat varieties, even if they are drilled in January, have a more limited range of chemistry available.
Bayer’s products, Liberator & Proclus (aclonifen) could be applied pre-em in December and January, but that window is now closed.
However, the Liberator (flufenacet + diflufenican) component can be applied at full rate (0.6L/ha) until 31st March or GS23 and products containing metribuzin can be used until GS25.
You can find out more about Bayer’s spring application products here.
Propyzamide cut-off has past
The Voluntary Initiative reminds farmers and operators it is illegal, in most uses, to apply propyzamide after 31st January each season. As stated clearly on the label, all applications – with the exception of lettuce – had to have been made before the 1st February.
To ensure compliance, always check the label for cut-off dates and approval for spring-sown crops from which ever supplier you use.
Need NRoSO or BASIS points?
Ei Operator offers a range of online training all with CPD points.