Cereals 2019: Reducing risk in OSR crops

Belkar can be used to treat broad-leaved weeds including cleavers, fumitory, shepherds’ purse, poppy, and all species of cranesbill.

Application

The product can be applied from September 1 until the end of December using a number of rates and strategies.

Mr Sellars recommends applying Belkar at a rate of 0.25 litres/hectare at two true leaves to take out leaves that have germinated alongside the crop.

In situations where weed pressure is higher, he advises growers to apply another treatment of 0.25l/ha after two to four weeks.

Alternatively, in low weed pressure situations growers can wait until the crop is at six true leaves, and weeds are around 5cm tall and treat with a higher dose of 0.5l/ha.

Arylex Active, the key molecule, works down to 2degC, meaning the herbicide is still effective later in the season.

When applied at 0.25l/ha the product will cost £32.50/ha, said Mr Sellars.

It can be tank mixed with Kerb (propyzamide) or AstroKerb (propyzamide + aminopyralid), fitting well into a complete weed control regime.

Mr Sellars added: “Although there is still a position for pre-ems in some cases, this will push the move towards more post-ems.”