Herbicide Resistance
Has herbicide resistance led to a breed of super weeds? That was one of the questions being asked at the recent NZW Grape Days.
A HERBICIDE made by Zelam, now into its third year of use, kills weeds in beet crops.
Beetrix contains three active ingredients for broad spectrum weed kills. The maker says the three actives (ethofumesate, metamitron and phenmedipham) have complementary modes of action to give an overlapping spectrum of activity.
“Until recently farmers have had to tank mix different herbicides to kill a range of weeds. Beetrix provides single product convenience and flexibility.”
The herbicide will kill or suppress redroot amaranthus, prostrate amaranthus, black nightshade, cleavers, fathen, field pansy, hairy nightshade, hedge mustard, little flowered mallow, scrambling speedwell, stinging nettle, stinking mayweed, shepherds purse, spurrey, storksbill, twin cress, vervain, wild portulaca, willow weed and wireweed.
Timing of application is critical to get the best out of Beetrix, Zeelam says. “Use it at any time from sowing as weeds germinate. Repeat as further weeds germinate and to kill larger weeds through to crop closure.”
The company says it can be safely sprayed at any crop stage even when split germinations occur.
However, soil moisture before and after application is important for root uptake and to ensure weeds are growing at this time.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
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