A NEW PRODUCT in the registration process with PSD looks like being the best alternative to acid for haulm destruction, judging by CSC CropCare work at SCRI‘s Gourdie Farm.

“It is the best of the lot so far and the good thing is that it is contact only, so there are no translocation worries,” says Perth-based agronomist Colin Rennie.

The Japanese-manufactured product, coded OS159, is applied at 0.8 litres/ha so active ingredient loading on the environment is substantially less than acid‘s, he adds.

Besides acid, the work at Gourdie Farm compared OS159 to Spotlight (carfentrazone) at 0.25 litres/ha, Reglone at 3 litres/ha, Harvest at 3 litres/ha and Dessicrop at various rates.

But it still fails to match acid for speed of burn-down, says Mr Rennie.

“We all know how effective acid is, and it is a big part of our business. But we do need to be looking for alternatives, because we are probably going to lose it in 2007.”