By Mark Ladny, Agronomy Services Manager - WA
Fortunately we are witnessing farmers achieving relatively good weed control this year through a combination of good spray conditions and the adoption of new herbicide chemistry. However, sometimes it may not be necessary to spend $20 to $35 per hectare for weed control when cheaper herbicide combinations may still be effective.
Alternatively, by using cheap herbicides, gaining poor results and blaming spray conditions and / or stressed weed when herbicide resistance is present is expensive. It leads to on-going problems and could be easily avoided. Once herbicide resistance is known and alternative integrated weed management (IWM) strategies have been adopted, herbicide applications can be made with greater confidence.
Ravensdown field staff and agents are working successfully with plant testing laboratories such as “Plant Science Consulting” to provide our shareholders with accurate data of what specific herbicide groups are still effective and the groups that resistance is present or developing. Once this information is obtained, it enables smarter decision making around herbicide combinations, crop rotations and what IWM strategies should be considered in order to reduce weed competition and seed bank.
Resistance testing may cost a few hundred dollars, but it can literally save tens of thousands of dollars. If you compare the application of cheap ineffective herbicides or even expensive herbicides when cheaper chemistry may provide an effective alternative.
Your results are returned to you with data revealing individual herbicide efficacy for the selected herbicides nominated for testing.
In order to break the dormancy period for some weeds, resistance seed testing can take time up to 2-4 months. Seed sampling is ideally done in the late spring and early summer period before harvest and / or weather removes the source... but definitely no later than January.
We encourage seed testing to be done as early as possible, this ensures you have sufficient time to discuss alternative IWM strategies and herbicide options well before the 2012 break of season.
Contact your local Ravensdown account manager or agent to arrange seed collection or for any further information.