Tasks such as weed control around farm buildings, grain dryers and other infrastructure can feel like an inconvenience when farm staff are stretched by core spring activities.

But there is a way to get a prolonged period of weed control in these areas in just one hit, cutting the need for repeat applications, thereby saving time, labour, and costs during pinch periods.

See also: Advice on managing glyphosate resistance this spring

Duty to be tidy

Farmers have a duty to keep areas around buildings and other infrastructure neat and tidy for a number of reasons, not least meeting the obligations of certain assurance scheme standards.

This includes the Red Tractor “clean and tidy” standard (DP1), which applies to all RT assured agribusinesses and stipulates that “the farm, as a whole, must present an acceptable and tidy appearance to the general public”.

Red Tractor says that good management and housekeeping in any business environment is a barometer of standards generally in key areas like health and safety, food safety and animal welfare, where livestock are present.

Where farms are visible to the public, it’s also important for the general reputation of the farming and food industry to keep sites in good order. Good weed management is a key part of acceptable aesthetics.

Weed patches on the farm’s edge next to surrounding fields can also be reservoir of pests and disease, such as potato volunteers hosting blight.

Complete Weed Control is a UK- and Ireland-wide contractor specialising in controlling weeds in amenity situations, including local authority work, invasive species control and fine turf management.

Surface type

The company’s director, Ian Graham, says that when it comes to herbicide choice around farmyards and other non-crop areas, the type of surface – either hard or soft – dictates what product you can or can’t use.

Glyphosate is currently the only herbicide approved for use through a knapsack on hard, non-permeable surfaces where weeds can establish in cracks, such as concrete.

However, where you are applying to a permeable surface such as gravel or compacted road scalpings, there is a residual herbicide option which can be added to the glyphosate in a knapsack sprayer.

It offers users some lasting efficacy against a range of weed species.

“You want something that sits within the soil or material profile and prevents the germination of any fresh growth after the spray is applied.

“Away from the genuine hard surfaces like concrete, you can use Chikara (flazasulfuron) on all permeable surfaces around the farm and the residual product has several advantages over straight glyphosate,” says Ian.

Complete Weed Control has numerous contracts that see its teams visit remote sites such as gas stations, transformer stations or battery back-up stations where there’s very little need for frequent visits.

Fewer applications

In these areas, weeds must be controlled to prevent damage or interference with infrastructure,.

The company’s teams achieve this with just two visits – one in spring and one in autumn – rather than three to four when using glyphosate alone.

“During the initial visit, we’ll apply glyphosate to clear up any weeds that are there, and add the one permitted dose of the residual herbicide.

“We’ll then go back about five months later with a glyphosate spray and that’s usually enough to keep these sites suitably controlled year-round.”

He explains there isn’t another herbicide that would achieve that same period of control as efficiently and effectively as Chikara and the time and travel expenses savings are significant.

Case study

Albanwise Farming manages about 12,000ha of land across Norfolk and Yorkshire and Simon Duddy is head gardener at the company’s 2,650ha Barton Bendish site.

He’s not only responsible for the private gardens across his patch, but also weed control around the estate’s many listed buildings, commercial units, driveways, and pathways.

More recently, he’s been treating around some of the farm’s infrastructure, such as grain stores, potato stores and hay barns.

There are also plenty of clamps where materials such as compost and woodchip are stored, which also need to be kept clean.

“Some of the older, listed buildings can suffer significant damage if woody weeds like ivy, sycamore and elder are allowed to take hold and that’s one of our key responsibilities.”

Herbicide regime

The team have now implemented a regime that includes an application of glyphosate mixed with flazasulfuron and in many cases, one treatment is enough to keep most areas clean and weed free.

The product is applied using the same water volume as glyphosate and combined with its relatively low rate of just 150g of product. It slots seamlessly into a programme. Waste packaging is minimal, too.

“Where we’ve had to clear some of those big, woody weeds from around buildings and used Chikara in the mix since, it’s stopped them coming through again.

“It’s also good on a range of common grasses and broad-leaved weeds.

Weeds growing next to grain silos © Tim Scrivener

“We often don’t need to worry about a re-spray until the following season.

“It’s only the areas that suffer from more disturbance from vehicle or foot traffic that might need touching up with glyphosate again later in the year,” explains Simon.

Simon’s weed control routine results in significant glyphosate savings and as he covers a relatively large area, it has cut labour investment and freed him up to do other jobs.

“I do all the spraying myself and it usually takes me about a week to get across all the sites I cover.

“Without flazasulfuron, there would easily be another two weeks on top of that for repeat applications.”

Glyphosate politics

In addition to his role as director of Complete Weed Control, Ian is also chairman of the Amenity Forum, which promotes best practice for controlling weeds, pests, and diseases in amenity areas.

He’s very aware of the political and public perception pressure on glyphosate, despite science concluding it is safe.

Using the one permitted flazasulfuron application in public facing areas can provide a genuine benefit in this regard.

With just two knapsack applications necessary overall, it reduces the chances of those activities being observed and the public – including those renting residential or commercial properties on farms – taking issue with it.

“When relying on glyphosate alone, you allow weeds to germinate, grow to a size where they are vulnerable, then spray off and repeat a cycle of weeds, to dead weeds, to no weeds and back again.

“If you stop seeds germinating in the first place with a residual product, you have a cleaner looking farm or business premises whilst reducing reliance on multiple application,” he concludes.