BLOSSOM MIDGE ATTACKED

MORE THAN 0.5m hectares (1.23m acres) of wheat were sprayed against orange blossom midge last summer, but just 15% was treated with the only really effective insecticide, chlorpyriphos, according to Dow Agrosciences. Even the firm”s chlorpyriphos-based Dursban WG requires several strict criteria to be met before its application is justified, says the firm”s David Roberts.

 NATREON OFFERS OPPORTUNITY

DEMAND FOR Natreon high oleic/low linolenic acid oilseed rape oil is set to take off on the Continent, creating new premium-earning opportunities for UK growers, says Dow Agrosciences. The healthier, more stable oil – derived from spring variety Nexera – is becoming more appreciated in Germany, France and Denmark, notes the firm”s Tim Hancock.

EA SPRAY FILL GUIDElines on way

NEW SPRAYER filling advice from the Environment Agency is expected soon, including fresh guidelines on the use of bio-bed spray waste disposal systems. If such systems are lined, groundwater approval is not likely to be needed and licensing should be a lightweight matter, only requiring notification of the installation of such systems, says the Crop Protection Association. A rethink on spring use of mecoprop, 2,4D and MCPA herbicides is also needed, it says, including extra care when filling, as with ipu in the autumn.

ANTI-SPROUT TREATMENT SCRUTINY

 POTATO GROWERS using anti-sprouting products face greater scrutiny of maximum residue levels, warns Luxan UK. However, the firm”s trials show that when used as recommended the firm”s Gro-Stop (chlorpropham) should keep the residue below 5ppm, well under the proposed new EU MRL of 10ppm, says Malcolm Nursey.

 WRONG FORECAST LED TO IPU PEAK IN WATER

 What went wrong with last year”s isoproturon use in Voluntary Initiative catchment areas? Apparently, text messages sent to growers said don”t spray, but ground conditions were good enough to allow travel and only light rain was forecast, tempting application. The weather forecast proved wrong and heavy rain caused an ipu peak in water supplies as the herbicide ran off the surface, says the Crop Protection Association. Advice will be refined accordingly this autumn. t

ank mix reminder

DOW AGROSCIENCES has reminded growers planning to use sequences or tank mixtures of Starane XL (fluroxypyr + florasulam) and Atlantis (mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium) to control blackgrass and cleavers in winter wheat this spring, they can only sow winter wheat and winter barley in the year of treatment. “When Starane XL is applied in sequence or tank mix with other ALS-inhibitor products there are no additional following crop restrictions or cultivation requirements over and above those stipulated on either product label,” says the firm”s David Roberts. However, growers should follow the most limited label, which is Atlantis in this case, he says.