Hit volunteers – control ascochyta
Hit volunteers – control ascochyta
VOLUNTEER beans with ascochyta pose a significant threat to next years crops, says Dalgety.
Harvest weather means many crops were hit by the disease. Now technical manager, Bob Bulmer, is advising growers to use delayed autumn herbicide treatments to remove infected volunteers.
Of several autumn options, including CMPP at about £6/ha (£2.40/acre), he believes Platform S (carfentrazone + mecoprop-P) is one of the most cost-effective. Half-rate (0.5kg/ha) use, costing £8.50/ha (£3.44/acre) controls both volunteer beans and oilseed rape. "Importantly, new approval this autumn means it has a range of tank partners including ipu, ipu + dff and ipu + pendimethalin. CMPP can be a bit variable."
Platform S, for wheat and barley from the three-leaf stage, has boosted control from autumn tank mixes by up to 60%, he adds. "Control now will reduce disease problems further into the rotation." *