Use Open Autumn For Clean Set Aside Start

Cambridge (October, 2003) - Take advantage of the open autumn to improve your 2004 set aside weed control and reduce take-all carry over, UK growers have been advised. Especially so where black-grass, brome, couch and other perennial weed populations are particularly troublesome.

"IACS rules allow you to treat stubbles with Roundup in October as long as a green cover is in place by the start of the set aside period on January 15," explains Manda Sansom who runs the Monsanto technical advice line.

"This can easily be achieved by natural regeneration following the autumn spray or by sowing a low-cost cover crop like mustard to give further weed control alongside green manure benefits. Alternatively, you can always broadcast wheat screenings at no extra cost.

"Spraying-off land going into set-aside with a modern, high performance Roundup formulation in mid-late October is the ideal way to remove autumn germinating annual as well as perennial grass weeds," Mrs Sansom stresses. "Superior rainfastness and activity ensures the most effective weed kill even in challenging late-season weather conditions. And cultivation intervals can be as low as 6 hours.

"This will really take the pressure off early summer set-aside spraying, allowing a single highly-effective June treatment instead of poor weed control through less than ideal timing or repeat applications."