New tank mix partner a ‘priority’ for broadleaf weeds

GRAIN growers will have the option to strengthen and broaden their cereal crop management plans in relation to controlling broadleaf weeds, volunteer pulses and canola in the coming season following the development of a new, more flexible and cost-effective herbicide tank mix partner.

Priority, a Group B post-emergent herbicide launched by ADAMA Australia, importantly offers excellent crop safety and allays residue concerns particularly in oaten hay and also following crops.

ADAMA Australia Portfolio Manager – Herbicides, Rob Walker, said Priority was an ideal first choice for tank mixtures to broaden the weed spectrum and enhance the performance of tank-mix partners, targeting up to 54 broadleaf weeds depending on the tank-mix partner utilised, and to control volunteer pulses and nonimidazoline tolerant varieties of canola.

Priority contains florasulam, an acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor, in a suspension concentrate formulation and once absorbed via weed foliage or roots, it is translocated to the growing points via the xylem and phloem.

“An important benefit of florasulam is that it does not bind to stubble or plant material and has a relatively short half-life in the soil. Reduced soil residual enables greater flexibility for rotation crop options compared with other Group B herbicides such as metsulfuron or clopyralid (Group I),’’ Rob said.

Priority is effective against susceptible weeds from the two to eightleaf stage, depending on the weed species and/or weed size. It can be applied with registered tank mix partners including LVE MCPA 570, Triathlon®, Picoflex® plus MCPA 750, Flagship® 400, Bronco® MA-X, Zulu® XT, 2,4-D Amine and 2,4-D Ester, between the three and flag leaf crop stages (GS13-37).

“Additional tank-mix options are an ongoing proposition, with extensive research continuing to aim for expanded mixing options into the future,’’ Rob said. ADAMA Australia Market Development Manager – Victoria, Alistair Crawford, said the cost-effectiveness of Priority meant it could be used with several other herbicide modes of action, including Group C, H, I, F and potentially G herbicides.“Growers will be able to use it early, from three-leaf to early tillering, with other modes of action, and later (Z32-37) with 2,4-D Amine or 2,4-D Ester,’’ Alistair said.

“Priority is really broad spectrum, so there will be a mix that can control most broadleaf weeds. It will be a cost-effective tank-mix or spike compared with alternatives, which, when you add other modes of action and oil, can be quite expensive.’’ He said the crop safety and favourable pre-harvest interval and plant-back profile would make it ideal for use in oats in Victoria, as well as cereal crops in the Mallee to control volunteer pulses and wild radish.

Alistair said tank mixes with Priority also would be effective for controlling summer weeds including marshmallow, as well as broadleaf weeds in ryegrass pastures.

Brett Atkin, Elders Broadacre Agronomist based at Swan Hill, says Priority will have widespread uptake in the Victorian Mallee. “It’s great to see Florasulam as a stand-alone, competitively priced active. This enables flexible mixing partners to achieve the desired result with minimal plantbacks, without having the need to use problematic actives like clopyralid”, he said. “Priority is fantastic on a wide range of weeds including hard to control vetch / tares.”

Priority herbicide is registered for post-emergent application in wheat, barley, oats, triticale, established ryegrass pastures and fallow. For further information on the new tank-mix partner, growers can contact their local ADAMA Australia or Elders representative, or visit ADAMA.com.