Cereal weed control strategies: Clayton Facet XL & Sabre XL!

Following the very dry period of weather, recent rainfall across many parts of the UK is starting to increase soil moisture in the upper soil layers, and this change can affect farm management plans and herbicide strategy for newly drilled winter wheat crops.  With warm temperatures still and good growing conditions for weed emergence, ensuring a well-planned, cost-effective start to grass and broad-leaved weed control in wheat crops this autumn is vital for growers to achieve the best crop establishment to maximise yields later in the season.

Clayton offers versatile options and product choices for autumn for growers targeting control of problem broad-leaved weeds such as:

• Common Chickweed, Speedwells, Forget-me-not, Field Pansy, Groundsel, Mayweeds, Red Deadnettle, Cranesbill and Black Nightshade.

Leading products Clayton Facet XL and Clayton Sabre XL are powerful co-formulations containing flufenacet and diflufenican, which can be used in winter wheat up until ‘before third tiller stage’ (GS 23). They can form vital elements of frontline Blackgrass control programmes for UK growers, as well as providing control of other grassweeds, including Annual meadowgrass.

Early-season weed control is vital for establishing cereal crops successfully and for protecting yield potential in the early stages. Tackling weeds effectively before crop emergence and in the first 7-10 days after crop emergence will protect against yield losses. For weeds like Blackgrass there are few effective post-emergence herbicides, so tackling these weeds early is vital. Typically, as few as 10 plants/m² can lead to a potential 5-10% yield loss in winter wheat, so combining cultural control and targeted chemistry are essential in effective blackgrass management strategies. Practices like delaying drilling date allow stale seedbed techniques to be used pre-drilling helping to provide a better platform for pre-emergence herbicides. Sufficient soil moisture is important for blackgrass germination and the efficacy of residual herbicides, so cultivation techniques should be managed accordingly. Best practice for pre-emergence herbicides is to ensure a consolidated seedbed, without trash or too many clods. Effective timing (applying pre-ems within 48 hours of drilling) will further improve overall product performance.

Effective residual stacking is vital.

Product choice remains vital to tackling blackgrass on farm with ‘residual stacking’ of core active ingredients often necessary to manage populations effectively. Residual herbicides are soil mobile and remain active in or on the soil for a period of time so are very useful for controlling weeds (via young shoots and roots) as they start to emerge through the soil.

Tank mixes or sequencing (where several products are applied in close succession) are more effective at controlling grass weed populations than individual products. Residual modes of action are vital for effective blackgrass control and pre-em options are less affected by resistance issues than some post-em options. AHDB research has highlighted that flufenacet can be used effectively as a key active to start blackgrass control programmes, with other actives then necessary to maintain good levels of control.

Our flufenacet co-form products Clayton Facet XL, Sabre XL offer a great start point for weed control this autumn. Tailor the herbicide stack according to the specific farm or field situation to maximise control levels based on the individual weed burden and spectrum and assess the need for broad-leaved weed control as well as grassweed control.

Product profiles – Quick Guide

Our products provide choice and flexibility for target treatments this autumn across the pre-emergence and early post-emergence timings.

Clayton Facet XL, Sabre XL

400g/l flufenacet and 100g/l diflufenican

Crops: winter wheat, spring wheat, winter barley and spring barley.

Use rate: apply up to 0.9 L/ha (as split dose*) for pre-emergence and post-crop emergence use. *0.6 L/ha until 31 March in the year of harvest and 0.3 L/ha after 31 March in the year of harvest.

Target weeds: Annual Meadowgrass, Chickweed, Field-speedwell, Forget-me-not, Field Pansy, Groundsel, Mayweeds, Red Deadnettle (all Susceptible) and Blackgrass (Moderately susceptible).

Take a look at our autumn cerealscereal herbicides product range below:

For information on other supporting products Clayton can offer growers, or to find more details on our range of cost-effective herbicides for weed control in cereals this season please get in touch with our commercial and technical team.

William Ridgwell – Commercial Manager – will@claytonpp.com

Jessie Boden – Business Development Manager – Jessie@claytonpp.com

Martyn Rogers – Product Development Manager – martyn@claytonpp.com