Avoiding residues a key issue in late season herbicide use
Date:10-02-2012
With increasing annual ryegrass pressure in Western Australia’s cropping areas, many growers will be assessing their options for crop-topping to prevent the weed setting seed.
Other reasons for late season herbicide use include management of other late season weeds just prior to harvest, and pre-harvest crop desiccation to accelerate or even-up crop ripening.
Information about stewardship for late season application of herbicides in winter crops is available in the new Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Late Season Herbicide Use Fact Sheet.
GRDC plant health senior manager Rohan Rainbow said herbicide application late in the season must be carried out cautiously and in line with herbicide label recommendations.
“It is essential to check if these practices are acceptable to buyers, as in some situations markets have extremely low or even zero tolerance to some pesticide and herbicide residues,” Dr Rainbow said.