Over 50% of farmers rate grass weeds as a top challenge on farm

In the recent national survey among more than 200 growers run by Farmers Weekly in conjunction with Syngenta, more than half (52%) rated grass weeds among their top three main challenges with growing winter wheat and barley in the last five years.

As part of an integrated approach, herbicides currently play a significant role in managing grass weeds. But looking forward, nearly two thirds (64%) saw a lack of crop protection products as having the biggest influence on their cropping in 10 years’ time.

However, the survey also highlighted a key cultural solution for fighting back – with well over half (57%) of farmers associating hybrid barley with grass weed suppression.

“With many other benefits from growing Hyvido hybrid barley – including improved specific weight, efficient nitrogen utilisation and early maturity – it’s easy to take for granted the suppression that Hyvido provides against certain grass weeds,” says Syngenta seeds technical manager, Ben Urquhart.

“However, thanks to hybrid vigour, this is one of its key attractions. We have data from multiple years – from our own trials, and from Niab and Adas.”

Ben says early trials showed Hyvido to be more competitive than winter wheat and conventional barley against black-grass.

More recent work has also shown it to be more competitive against ryegrass and certain brome species, when compared to winter wheat and conventional two and six-row varieties of winter barley, he adds. 

Ben Urquhart © Syngenta

HYVIDO reduces weed seeds return

“As well as Hyvido reducing the numbers of weed seed heads, trials have also pointed to reduced weed seed return in Hyvido plots.

“Recent autumns have often been too wet or too dry for optimal residual herbicide performance, or so wet that herbicides couldn’t be applied or were delayed.

“With weed suppression and fewer weed seeds shed, the pressure on herbicides is less.”

Source: NIAB (Wragby). Hybrid barley mean at 250 seeds/m², compared to two-row conventional winter barley and Gallant winter wheat both sown at 350 seeds/m²

Establishing a competitive crop

To establish the most competitive Hyvido crop, Ben says the optimum seed rate is important.

Standard Hyvido guidance is to sow at 200 seeds/m², but this can be increased to 225-250 seeds/m² in compromised conditions and to help boost crop competition, he adds.

“Similarly, feeding the crop with early nitrogen (N) has been shown to give the best level of grass weed suppression from hybrid barley.

“Subject to the field situation, our guidance is therefore to apply 30% of the total N dose at GS25, 50% at GS30 and 20% at GS37. Alternatively, 50%, 50% and 0% across these same timings is an option.”

© Syngenta

Hyvido hybrid barley has been shown to provide strong suppression of black-grass, ryegrass and certain brome species, says Ben Urquhart.