Unlock yield potential with better weed management
A new selective broadleaf herbicide from Nufarm broadens its forage brassica portfolio and introduces an alternative option for farmers looking to maximise their crops this season, the company says.
Omnia (Group 4) contains 30 grams per litre of aminopyralid and is also labelled for use in pasture and forage plantain.
Nufarm business development manager Michael Bennet says it will be on the shelf in time for crops sown this spring, and complements the company’s existing forage brassica offering of Director CS (Group 3) for post-plant, pre-emergence, and Kamba 750, Prestige, Archer (all Group 4) and SeQuence (Group 1).
Robust weed control is foundational for profitable crops, he says.
“Whether your farmers are growing summer turnips, forage rape, kale or swedes this year, the same key principle applies to every crop: The higher their final yield in kilograms of dry matter per ha (kg DM/ha), the cheaper the cost of feed.
“The big issue with early yield losses caused by weeds in brassicas is they can happen very quickly, and they are permanent.
“That’s why it is so important you or your farmers walk those crops frequently in early establishment and scout for any potential problems before they can become serious.”
In brassicas and plantain, Omnia is a particularly useful against amaranthus, willow weed, water pepper, and fumitory, plus the usual suspects – nightshade and fat hen.
Bennet says post-emergence weed surveillance and control is time and money well spent for any forage crop, but the window of opportunity is not a wide one - after weeds reach a certain size and/or the crop canopy starts to close, herbicides become less effective.
“The goal is to spray weed seedlings at the correct stage, which is 2-4 true leaves. The crop will typically have 2-4 true leaves at this stage.”
He predicts Omnia will be a welcome option for farmers sowing kale mixed with plantain for both summer finishing and winter grazing.
Omnia is compatible with most insecticides and grass weed herbicides recommended for use in forage brassicas and forage plantain.
In these crops it must always be mixed with Bonza Gold.