Last chance to use up stocks of key beet herbicide
Key metamitron-containing beet herbicide product Goltix Flowable is approaching its use up date and growers should be aware of label changes for its re-registered replacement.
Manufactured by Adama, Goltix Flowable has been an important pre- and post-emergence residual herbicide for controlling a range of broad-leaved and annual meadowgrass in sugar beet, fodder beet, red beet and mangels.
It has been replaced by Goltix 70 SC, which has lower maximum individual and total application rates than its predecessor, so growers need to be careful not to exceed these limits.
See also: Beet growers shrug off sugar tax concerns
Due to the lower rates and slightly different weed spectrum in registration trials, there has also been subtle changes to on-label weed control claims, with black bindweed a notable species that the product will find hard to kill at lower doses.
Any existing stocks of Goltix Flowable must be used by 31 July this year, so this season’s beet crops offer a last chance to legally use the product and clear existing stocks.
All key information is contained in the table below.
Product (s) |
Goltix Flowable |
Use |
Herbicide |
Active ingredient(s) |
Metamitron |
Old MAPP number |
12851 (Goltix Flowable) |
New MAPP number |
16638 (Goltix 70 SC) |
Label changes |
|
Use up date |
|
Sentinel says
“Although users have tried to reduce metamitron use as price increased significantly over recent years, it may still be possible that the new lower maximum total dose could be exceeded, particularly on organic soils.
“The loss of post-emergence approval for chloridazon means that lenacil use is likely to increase.
With ethofumesate gaining approval for use in wheat, growers will need to take extra care to avoid breaching rotational limits for this active, which is also used in most beet crops.”
Pesticide watch
Crops is working with Gatekeeper agronomists to highlight key pesticide rule changes and the potential implications, keeping you on the right side of the law and aid with on-farm record keeping.
Sentinel is a decision support tool linked to Gatekeeper crop management software, a programme that helps arable farmers with record-keeping and legislation issues. For more details visit www.farmplan.co.uk or call 01594 545011.