Crop protection company Nufarm says Latro WG is now the only nicosulfuron herbicide in registered in New Zealand for killing yellow bristle grass in maize.
“This development will interest farmers, growers or contractors who repeatedly crop long-term maize ground, particularly in Waikato and Bay of Plenty,” says Nufarm technical specialist Paul Addison.
On farms where yellow bristle grass makes up 13% (on average) of dry matter, the cost of supplementary baleage required to maintain milk production is estimated at $343/ha annually.
While it has been proven that seeds of the grass will not survive longer than a week in well-sealed maize silage, the harvest, transport and handling of these crops at maturity remains a known risk for spreading YBG seed into road verges and pastures.
“Once the weed is present on farms it can be difficult and time-consuming to eradicate, and costly in terms of lost grazing,” says Addison.
This makes effective control in maize crops a good practice for biosecurity and it reassures farmers who may buy the resultant silage.
Yellow bristle grass is an aggressive annual-seeding plant which spreads rapidly through pasture, reducing pasture quality. Cows won’t willingly eat it, leading to low pasture utilisation. Grazing avoidance leads to rapid re-infestation and an opening for other weeds.
It is widespread throughout Taranaki, Waikato, South Auckland and Bay of Plenty.
Addison says Latro WG is known as an economic, effective post-emergence herbicide in maize, with a broad spectrum of control for grass and broadleaf weeds.
