Lucerne herbicide options

[HarryB97]

Are there any herbicides that’ll kill grass weeds in a newly established field of Lucerne?

 

[vinnie123]

The mower should tidy it up after first cut then it ought to outgrow everything else.

 

[HarryB97]

The mower should tidy it up after first cut then it ought to outgrow everything else.

Very true but the fields have a bad blackgrass problem so I’m worried about the Lucerne getting smothered if it’s a cold spring and slow to get going. This year will be our first time trying Lucerne so all a learning curve.

 

[Al R]

Roundup in the winter I’ve heard works well

 

[cquick]

Propyzamide (kerb) is the only graminicide with a label recommendation, and probably the only product that would whack BG.
EAMUs for Clethodim and Fluazifop it seems.

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[Handy Andy]

My agronomist advised me not to spray mine last year, he said there was a 50% chance it would work and a 50% chance that I'd end up with nothing. In the end I topped it rather than took a cut first time and now have a decent looking crop except for a couple of patches that were a bit wet last winter.

 

[bovrill]

Propyzamide (kerb) is the only graminicide with a label recommendation, and probably the only product that would whack BG.

Kerb 400 is approved, Kerb 500 isn't, apparently.

Roundup in the winter I’ve heard works well

No!!!
Reglone was used in the past, but definitely not glyphosate.

 

[JD-Kid]

Roundup in the winter I’ve heard works well

have heard of it being used. but it's a bit of buyer beware can work a bit too good some times
paraquats used to be used alot for winter spraying

 

[deleted user 837354]

Are there any herbicides that’ll kill grass weeds in a newly established field of Lucerne?

Grass weeds?

You didn't hear any of this from me.

Aramo if you have any about.

Clethodim.

Depends on the weeds in question, various fop and dim products are used in other crops abroad.

For chickweed I used to use triad but a very low rate.

 

[teslacoils]

Loads of generic kerbs. When did you sow it? Last August surely has been kerbed already? This spring?

 

[HarryB97]

Loads of generic kerbs. When did you sow it? Last August surely has been kerbed already? This spring?

It will be sown this coming autumn so just trying to get ahead

 

[JD-Kid]

It will be sown this coming autumn so just trying to get ahead

if paddock worked up and ready to sow then leave. for a while to firm up and spray out first lot of weed strike did one paddock years ago with paraquat and one with roundup pre sowing the roundup one was cleaner
drilled it with direct drill after spraying.

 

[Farmer Keith]

I was advised by my agronomist to use a product called kerb in January and it did a fantastic job, had to be used when the Lucerne was dormant so will be useless right now, but if you can wait till then. I could look up application rates if you need them

 

[Andrew]

It will be sown this coming autumn so just trying to get ahead

No idea where you are but we’ve never had any success with autumn drilled, spring is better IME.

 

[beardedcountryboy]

Did you plant the field this spring? If so and you can't find a chemical, top it. Then by the time the grass weeds are growing back you should be able to mow it regularly. And in the future an early silage crop before blackgrass flowers should help get on top of it too

 

[HarryB97]

No idea where you are but we’ve never had any success with autumn drilled, spring is better IME.

We’re at Oxford, with the increasing amount of dry springs we’re having I try and avoid any spring sowing especially on grass

 

[HarryB97]

if paddock worked up and ready to sow then leave. for a while to firm up and spray out first lot of weed strike did one paddock years ago with paraquat and one with roundup pre sowing the roundup one was cleaner
drilled it with direct drill after spraying.

That’s probably the best bet unless it’s a late harvest as waiting to spray it will push back the drilling date by a few weeks atleast

 

[Skimmer]

You can spray lucern with glyphosate while its not growing in the winter or early spring I tried it this year and there was no effect on the plant. Spruce is an approved weed killer but only kills certain weeds, reglone works well but has gone. It can be very difficult to establish ground has to be warm and weed control can be a problem it can often be the second year when you get your first reasonable crop. If it is drilled to late in the year it wont survive the winter late august would be pushing it I think.

 

[HarryB97]

You can spray lucern with glyphosate while its not growing in the winter or early spring I tried it this year and there was no effect on the plant. Spruce is an approved weed killer but only kills certain weeds, reglone works well but has gone. It can be very difficult to establish ground has to be warm and weed control can be a problem it can often be the second year when you get your first reasonable crop. If it is drilled to late in the year it wont survive the winter late august would be pushing it I think.

Ah okay that's interesting, how many litres of glyphosate did you apply? I am going to try one 15 acre gravely field this autumn that is prone to burning up every year so hopefully it'll be okay, one pass with the discs and powerharrow, broadcast on and roll. Hopefully leave it a few weeks between cultivating and broadcasting to spray any weeds off.

 

[Andrew]

We’re at Oxford, with the increasing amount of dry springs we’re having I try and avoid any spring sowing especially on grass

By all means try it but we’ve had 100% failure with autumn drilling and 0% failure with spring drilling. We’re on Cambridgeshire clay.