Join the BASF team taking on herbicide resistant blackgrass

Herbicide resistant blackgrass is one of the main reasons controlling the weed is so challenging, with some strains becoming increasingly aggressive. In our mission to regain control, understanding what you’re up against is vital.

A blackgrass resistance test will give you the information you need to take the upper hand.

BASF want you to share your knowledge and top tips for battling blackgrass on farm.

All you need to do is send a top tip for battling blackgrass weeds and you could win one of 200 blackgrass resistance tests, which will include a full report on your field.

Why is testing resistance important?

Understanding what type of blackgrass resistance you have and how severe it is will mean you and your agronomist can plan your herbicide programme more effectively.

If you have high levels of resistance to a particular type of chemistry it’s probably best to choose a different tool in the box.  

Even if you’ve had a test before, monitoring it is essential because it can become more challenging over time.

It’s also important to remember that just because you have resistance to a particular type of chemistry,  doesn’t mean that it stops working all together.

In most cases it is more likely to be a warning sign of more problems to come.

What types of resistance are tested?

Herbicides work in different ways, known as mode of action.

These modes of action are grouped from 0-34, but you may be more familiar with the previous grouping that used A-Z. There are two main types of resistance that are tested for:

Enhanced Metabolism Resistance (EMR) or non-target site resistance

• Commonest mechanism in the UK
• Herbicide is ‘detoxified’ by plant
• Can affect all herbicides
• Generally, not complete resistance
• Increases slowly

Target Site Resistance (TSR)

• ACCase & ALS chemistry are tested for TSR
• Both result in very poor control
• Both increase rapidly

How do I collect a viable sample?

Collecting blackgrass seed is easy, but it does need to be collected at the right time of year, when it is dry and ripe. Here are some useful tips to collecting a viable sample:

• Collect when seed is starting to shed, remove seed from the heads by gentle rubbing
• Collect enough dry, ripe seed to fill a mug
• If damp, seed should be dried in an open tray before dispatch
• Store dry seed in a paper envelope

How can I receive a FREE blackgrass resistance test?

BASF are giving away 200 resistance tests in 2020, to the first growers or agronomists who send in a top tip on how they are managing the blackgrass in their area.

BASF want to share this advice as widely as possible as part of its Battling BlackGrass Together campaign.

Entrants will receive a blackgrass test in the post, instructions on how to collect a sample, and will get their results from ADAS later in the year.

They will also be put on a VIP guest list for the launch of BASF’s new cereal herbicide Luximo^®, and be one of the first to see it in the field as the company prepares to bring a brand new mode of action to the UK market.

To get your hands on one, simply email basf@realresults.co.uk, with an image, video or a sentence giving your top tip on how to effectively manage blackgrass.