Popular broadleaved weed herbicide diflufenican (DFF) will be available for the first time in the UK as a straight product this autumn.

Hurricane, a 500g/litre formulation from Makhteshim-Agan, should allow growers to tailor rates and timings more easily, the firm’s Mike Barrett says.

Growers using DFF/IPU combination products for light land broadleaved weed control typically use a rate based on the amount of DFF they want to apply and then top up with extra IPU, he says.

“It can be a little restrictive.”

With Hurricane it will be easier to tailor rates of both DFF and partner to the situation, he says.

On light land about 20g/ha of DFF will be needed for weeds such as pansy rising up to 50g/ha on heavier soils.

Hurricane could also help fill the broadleaved weed gaps of Atlantis, Mr Barrett suggests.

“Atlantis does have gaps in its spectrum, and you cannot mix IPU with it.

It is a logical home for it.”

At the likely use rates Hurricane would not offer much help against blackgrass, he admits.

“It might not be a mix that Bayer would back.”

The product will also have a pre-emergence recommendation, something most DFF products do not.

“It could be a good mixer for pre-em products to broaden out broadleaved weed control and cheapen them, too.”