30 Years of Progress - The Blossoming of Modern Weed Control

June, 2004 - Since the mid-Seventies the choice of herbicide active ingredients available to UK growers has expanded almost unbelievably. In 1970 there were some 65 registered actives in 407 products – primarily hormone weedkillers, triazines, ureas, HBN, paraquat and a few specialist wild oat killers. Today, the UK Pesticide Guide lists no fewer than 289 actives in a staggering 1250 products.

While the choice has expanded, however, the progressive emergence of resistant weed populations has put the premium on increasingly integrated weed control strategies based upon good cultural measures, the careful selection and programmed use of different actives, and the effective utilisation of non-selective herbicides out of the growing crop at every opportunity.