Latest news with #ProClova
Agriland
14-06-2025
- Climate
- Agriland
Many early spring reseeds ready to be grazed in coming days
Many early spring reseeds did not get the best start to life after a very dry late April and into May, which left a soil moisture deficit on many farms. This meant that these reseeds found it difficult to get going, as moisture is an essential element for seed germination and growth of new seedlings. Moisture in the soil also plays a crucial role for roots to grow and anchor the plants to the soil, and to promote that soil seed contact. The soil moisture deficits towards the end of May saw a lot of farmers get out with soiled water or watery slurry at about 2,000-3,000 gals/ac to aid germination and seed establishment, as well as supplying the plant with nutrients. The weather in April offered farmers a great chance to get reseeding done, and thankfully many were able to do so. The rain in the last two weeks should have recovered a lot of reseeds across the country. Anyone who reseeded around early to mid-April will be ready for grazing very shortly. The post-reseeding management and first few grazings will be critical for the success of the reseed. Managing reseeds Growth rates are beginning to pick up again but with paddocks possibly taken out for silage, farmers will be eager to get reseeds into the rotation as quick as possible. It is important that the right steps are taken to successfully graze and establish this paddock. The reseed should be grazed as soon as the new grass roots are strong enough to withstand grazing – this is tested through the 'pull test'. If roots are pulled up, it means that the reseed should be left another few days to anchor into the soil. Grazing as soon as the grass is fit for it will also allow light to reach the base of the plant, which will encourage tillering and clover establishment. Before the paddock is grazed, the reseed should be sprayed with a post emergence herbicide about 45-55 days after sowing, when the paddock has a cover of around 400-500kg dry matter (DM)/ha. The first grazing of a reseed can generally commence at a pre-grazing yield of 800–1,000kg DM/ha, which is usually 60-65 days after sowing. It should not be let go any heavier, especially with clover in the sward. The first grazing should not be about achieving good residuals or maximising cow's intakes but should be about encouraging tillering and encouraging the grass and clover to take up space and to suffocate out any weeds, especially thistles. Getting it right Realistically, the paddock is going to sprayed off about 10 days prior to grazing and, when spraying off with clover in the sward, the use of ProClova will kill off docks but will not kill off thistles. There is currently no effective herbicide that will kill off thistles without impacting clover, so the management of thistles needs to be done through grazing. This will allow for tillering to produce a dense sward to suffocate the thistle. The first grazing should be done in dry conditions to avoid poaching the paddock. Cutting silage off this paddock should be avoided in the first year, as this will inhibit tillering of grass and clover. Frequent grazing at low covers during the first year of establishment will allow for further tillering and will bulk up the sward. The management of clover post-reseeding is essential, as allowing covers to get too high will shade out the clover seedlings. The management of clover is similar to grass, except grazing should continue at low covers for the first five to six weeks post-sowing. These paddocks should not be allowed to exceed covers of 1,000-1,100kg DM/ha for at least five to six grazings and they should be grazed late in the final rotation. Applying chemical nitrogen (N) at the same rate for the first eight to 12 months after sowing is essential, as the clover will not uptake N until then. After the initial grazing, ideally go in with about 20 units of nitrogen and if you have a phosphorus allowance, go in with about a bag/acre of 18-6-12.
Agriland
09-06-2025
- General
- Agriland
Simplifying weed control in newly sown leys with clover
Controlling weeds in newly sown leys containing clover has become easier thanks to ProClova XL, the herbicide manufactured by Corteva Agriscience. ProClova XL's two active ingredients – Rinskor and amidosulfuron – provide the widest spectrum of weed control in newly sown leys. When pastures are being reseeded, it is critical that they are promptly sprayed with a post-emergence spray following reseeding to eliminate weeds, allowing both the grass and clover to establish. Chris Maughan, technical manager with Whelehan Crop Protection, distributors of ProClova XL in Ireland, said: 'The ideal timing for ProClova XL is about six to eight weeks after reseeding.' 'The grass should be at the tillering stage with three trifoliate leaves on the clover at the time of application and the weeds should be small and actively growing, and this ensures that they are eliminated out of the sward early and prevents them from smothering out the grass.' Weed control According to Maughan: 'ProClova XL controls a wide range of weeds including chickweed, docks, and other annual weeds including fat-hen, red dead nettle, redshank, and fumitory. 'Chickweed, if not controlled, can totally smother out the grass. If these fields are not sprayed, the chickweed will continue to flourish, killing out the grass seedlings which then allows other weeds such as docks, thistles and buttercups to germinate. 'The end result will be a very poor pasture and a wasted investment.' Maughan also highlighted the damage docks can wreak on a new reseed. 'Killing docks at the seedling stage is vital. This ensures total kill and prevent the docks from establishing a deep taproot,' he said. Chickweed can be devastating to a new reseed ProClova XL is the product of choice when addressing chickweed, according to Chris Maughan of Whelehan Crop Protection The above images illustrate the damage that chickweed can inflict on a reseeded paddock. The first picture (left) shows an area left unsprayed. The following year, (centre) dead chickweed is visible where it has smothered out the grass with perennial weeds including docks and thistle beginning to germinate within the bare patches. Two years on, (right) one can see the docks are now well-established. Temperature and timing is everything It is important to apply ProClova XL during periods of active growth to get the best weed control. For optimal results, spray when night temperatures are forecast to be above 8℃ for a minimum of three days before and after the planned application date. Available in a twin pack ProClova XL is available in a box containing two bottles – ProClova and XL. The ProClova bottle contains the herbicides, Rinskor and amidosulfuron, while the XL bottle contains an adjuvant oil that improves the reliability of weed control while providing maximum safety to both the grass and clover. The area to the right was sprayed with ProClova XL in April 2022 before silage was cut. The picture on the left was then taken a few weeks later following a cut of silage. ProClova XL Factfile Use from April to October in new leys Rate In newly sown leys: 85grms + 165mls/ha (one pack treats 3ha) In established grass or where ground cover is greater than 90%, use the higher rate 125grms + 250mls/ha (one pack to 2ha) Controls key weeds including docks, chickweed, fat-hen, redshanks, and red dead nettle In established grassland, it also controls dandelions, buttercups, plantains, cow parsley, and hogweeds. Rainfast in 1 hour. Livestock should be kept off for seven days post-treatment (in the absence of ragwort). Use from the tillering stage of the grass and when the clover has three trifoliate leaves present. Clover safety: A transitory effect (leaf deformation/growth inhibition) may be seen following application, but full recovery will follow after two/three grazings. Red clover: When used on grass leys containing red clover, ProClova XL should be applied in the year after establishment – so reseeds sown last autumn containing red clover can be sprayed this spring. Established grassland: ProClova XL can also be used on established grassland where clover preservation is key. it provides the highest level of dock control available in clover swards. It is also effective on other weeds like dandelions, buttercups, plantains, hogweeds and cow parsley. For optimum control, spray actively growing weeds at the correct growth stage, 8-10cm across and at the rosette stage. If weeds have grown beyond the correct growth stage, top them and spray regrowth with ProClova XL. Best practice advice Apply ProClova XL with at least 75% drift reducing nozzles. Do not apply ProClova XL to fields where an intersecting watercourse is present (i.e., where the land parcel slopes towards a watercourse and any surface water run-off would drain into that watercourse). When spraying fields, respect an unsprayed buffer zone to watercourses of 3m.
Agriland
29-04-2025
- General
- Agriland
Weed control essential for sward productivity at this time of year
Usually as grass growth begins to takes off on farms and soil temperatures rise, weed control can become a difficult and sometimes overlooked task. The persistence of weeds like chickweed, thistles, or docks can be very damaging to the productivity of any sward, and is economically costly from a control point of view as well as in loss in production terms. Weeds will be in competition with grass for nutrients, light, and water, and will reduce the area available for grazing. If these swards are getting cut for silage or hay, the palatability will be reduced. Beef and sheep advisor at the College of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), Jack Friar said, in relation to weed control: 'A good start is to walk the fields and assess them for signs of weed growth'. According to CAFRE, weed infestations should be measured. For every 1% infestation of the sward, such as thistles and docks, grassland productivity and forage quality will be reduced by 1%. Docks The best way to control weeds on farm is through integrated pest management (IPM), which is not only a more sustainable way of controlling perennial weeds, but is also a more cost-effective method. IPM is simply a way of controlling weeds through liming; crop rotation; drainage, and cultivation techniques, rather than using pesticides. To apply the principles of IPM to a dock infestation, the farmer should walk the fields to evaluate the following information: The level of dock infestation and other weeds; Stocking rate; Fertiliser application and type; Soil sample analysis; Silage cutting; History of dock treatment and products used; Poaching and supplementary feeding; Slurry application; Grazing management; Drainage. This will help the farmer to make the decision on whether they are going to go down the route of an IPM or the chemical route, or a combination of both. A farmer may take the option of selecting a herbicide and blanket spraying when the docks are green, growing, and are at the rosette stage. If it is an old pasture that is constantly giving trouble with weed infestation, reseeding is the best option, and preferably in the spring, rather than the autumn, as the grass seed establishment is supported with better weather. In terms of your chemical control, use herbicides to targets the docks and other weeds before they reach 10cm in height or five to six weeks after reseeding. Good fertiliser rates to match your stocking rate, rotational grazing, rotating silage fields for cutting, and topping fields when necessary, are good grassland practices that are needed to maintain a clean pasture. Late April to early May, or again in late August, is the best time to spray docks and products with active ingredients of fluroxypyr and triclopyr will give much better control and products like ProClova will control the dock while protecting the clover. Weed control Thistles are common in older swards that are low in nitrogen and phosphorus but high in potash and the best point of control is when the plant is actively growing at the full rosette stage. Products based on the active ingredients triclopyr and clopyralid will give a high degree of root kill, but it can be hard to kill thistles without impacting on the clover plant. Chickweed can also be a major burden in grassland swards and can completely smother the grassland if it is not controlled effectively. Products containing fluroxypyr will control chickweed when temperatures rise and these products will not stunt grass growth according to CAFRE. Ragwort is a poisonous weed to livestock and should be controlled immediately. If a few are appearing, they should be pulled from the ground, ensuring the full root is removed. However, if there is a large infestation of ragworth, spraying should be the protocol and should be carried out once there is active growth. Sprays such as MCPA, 2, 4-D (D50) and Forefront provide good control but measures must be taken to avoid stock eating any dying or dead ragwort present. It will usually take four to six weeks for weeds to decay. Before going out and controlling weeds in your swards, you should consult with your advisor what products will suit your needs.
