Post-em herbicide permitted for key winter wheat and barley
© Tim Scrivener Farmers now have the option to apply Proclus or Bandur (aclonifen) in winter wheat and winter barley post-emergence up to the four-leaf stage, and the active can now be used on winter beans.
Since their approval in 2020, these herbicides were only permitted for pre-emergence applications, says Bayer technical specialist Jamie Oakley.
“This gives farmers more flexibility in how they use these herbicides in the programme.”
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Current data shows that splitting the dose out can help improve longevity of protection without compromising initial weed control, Jamie says.
The maximum total dose of Proclus or Bandur each season is 1.4 litres/ha.
In wheat, farmers can apply this in one go pre-emergence or split it out with 1 litres/ha pre-emergence, followed by 0.4 litres/ha post-emergence.
In barley, 1 litre/ha is the maximum dose pre-emergence, but it can now be followed up with 0.4 llitres/ha post-emergence to deal with difficult weed populations.
For farmer who haven’t used either product at pre-emergence, they can still apply 0.4 litres/ha as part of the tank-mix for the follow up application.
“It adds something to the tank mix for the follow-up application which is becoming increasingly important for weed control,” says Jamie.
“We are gathering more data from trials this season to learn how to maximise the benefit of Proclus and Bandur in the programme.”
Increased control
Increased broad-leaved weed control may be one advantage of a post-emergence application.
Aclonifen has good innate activity against many broad-leaved weeds, but they tend to emerge a little later than the typical pre-emergence timing.
Both herbicides now have a wider label too which includes winter beans.
“This is all about simplifying things for farmers and store managers, so it is easier to plan and use herbicides in the field.
“Winter beans are a good example where Proclus or Bandur could be deployed in cereals and beans in the same autumn.”
