Dow AgroSciences introduces herbicide Pastor®Pro in UK

Dow AgroSciences is introducing a new, improved formulation of its broad-spectrum herbicide Pastor called Pastor®Pro (50 g/litre clopyralid + 75 g/Litre fluroxypyr + 100 g/litre triclopyr) in UK. It will join Doxstar®Pro and Grazon®Pro in the company’s portfolio of grassland products.

The upgrades reflect on-going investment by Dow AgroSciences to bring new and improved products to the market, while abiding by increasingly stringent rules and regulatory requirements.

PastorPro controls the three main perennial weeds that grow in grass – docks, nettles and thistles, as well as many annual weeds such as chickweed, cleavers and mayweed.

“PastorPro contains three active ingredients which give it a much wider scope of action than most other broad-spectrum herbicides,” explains Andy Bailey, grassland agronomy specialist with Dow AgroSciences.

“Triclopyr gives good long-term control of both broad-leaved and curled docks, while clopyralid adds excellent performance against creeping and spear thistles. It is also very good against common nettle.

Mr. Bailey adds, “It is an excellent tool for extending the life of a ley, by clearing up weedy pastures and allowing the grass to yield to its full potential.

“It can be used on silage crops and on fields used for grazing and stock only has to be removed for seven days. It is very safe to grass and won’t hold back growth after it has been applied.”

PastorPro can be applied between 1 March and 31 October, once at a rate of 4 litres/ha, or twice in the same year at 2 litres/ha.

For best effect, the weeds must be actively growing and free from disease or insect damage, and not suffering from drought, waterlogging or nutrient deficiency. Docks and thistles should be at the rosette stage and 15 to 25cm across or high and nettles should be sprayed before flowering.

PastorPro should be applied via a tractor-mounted sprayer and is not approved for use by hand-held equipment such as a knapsack or a lance. GrazonPro is the herbicide to use when using these application methods.