BETTER GRASS CONTROL IN PULSE CROP PHASE

Grain growers are taking the opportunity to better control grass weeds and manage herbicide resistance in the pulse phase of their cropping programs following the launch of a new herbicide last season.

Introduced by ADAMA Australia, Ultro® 900 WG is a pre-emergent herbicide with a new mode of action (Group 23/Group E) and has been very well received. It controls annual ryegrass as well as barley grass and brome grass in pulse crops, the latter of which have become more difficult to control in various areas due to the limited preemergent herbicide options available against these grass weeds.

Ultro is registered for use with faba beans, lentils, field peas, chickpeas, lupins, vetch and broad beans, and can also be used in winter fallow.

ADAMA Australia Portfolio Manager Herbicides, Rob Walker, said weed control in pulses had historically been a challenge due to the poor crop competition and relatively few registered herbicide options available to growers and advisers.

“As a Group 23 mode of action preemergent herbicide, Ultro delivers an alternative herbicide tool for annual grass weed control, helping reduce the pressure on commonly used options in grain legumes, such as trifluralin and propyzamide,” Rob said.

Ashley Pilkington, Market Development Manager with ADAMA Australia in SA, said Ultro was used extensively last year in a wide range of soil moisture and rainfall situations, as well as across different soil textures, and its results and versatility were impressive.

“Soil moisture is critical to activating preemergent herbicides and commencing weed control. Ultro requires less rainfall and soil moisture to activate than some industry standards, which is why we have seen strong results when conditions can be less-than-ideal at planting,’’ Ashley said.

Bevan Addison, Market Development Manager with ADAMA Australia in WA, said annual ryegrass was a primary target in the State, however Ultro also was being utilised to target brome and barley grass, which were becoming more problematic.

“The use of Group 2/Group B herbicides via imidazolinone-tolerant cereal crops or traditional Group 1/Group A type chemistry in the legume phase has put a lot of selection pressure on these weeds. The arrival of this alternative Group 23 chemistry has been very beneficial,’’ Bevan said.

Ultro®

In a field of its own.

Ultro herbicide from ADAMA introduces a new class of chemistry (Group 23) for the pre-emergent control of annual grass weeds in winter pulse crops.

• Controls annual ryegrass, barley grass and brome grass

• Registered in broad beans, chickpeas, faba beans, field peas, lentils, lupins, vetch and winter fallow

• Impor tant tool for herbicide resistance management

• Incorporate by sowing or via rainfall within seven days