- Location
- Leicestershire
I thought some on here may be interested in my experience throughout the season with the new oilseed rape herbicide Belkar. I have been fortunate enough to secure supply for my oilseed rape area.
Cranesbill is one of the main broad leaved weed targets we have whatever the crop, and my previous strategy was based on a full rate of Katamaran Turbo (Shadow/Elk) preferably applied pre-em. With the increased risks of OSR not establishing (flea beetle etc) the temptation is to apply it early post em, when you know you have a viable crop - but compromising herbicide activity. The cost of 2.5l/ha Katamaran Turbo last year was £59.25/ha, and as a residual it was far from giving 100% control, especially of cranesbill
Many on here have said that Belkar is expensive, and at £390 for 3 litres, it is the most expensive pesticide per litre I have ever bought but at a maximum total dose of 0.5l/ha that works out at £65/ha
I decided to go along the lines of a split dose strategy of 0.25 l/ha followed by 0.25 l/ha. The first dose was applied last Monday. I've marked three different placesin in the fields to return to take photos, one a patch of mayweed, one a patch of cranesbill and the other a patch of shepherd's purse. I need to slot a Centurian Max in on parts of the fields so it likely to be a 4 week gap between applications. I would have liked to apply the first application around 7 days earlier but that was the week where we had high winds or rain everyday.
Cranesbill is one of the main broad leaved weed targets we have whatever the crop, and my previous strategy was based on a full rate of Katamaran Turbo (Shadow/Elk) preferably applied pre-em. With the increased risks of OSR not establishing (flea beetle etc) the temptation is to apply it early post em, when you know you have a viable crop - but compromising herbicide activity. The cost of 2.5l/ha Katamaran Turbo last year was £59.25/ha, and as a residual it was far from giving 100% control, especially of cranesbill
Many on here have said that Belkar is expensive, and at £390 for 3 litres, it is the most expensive pesticide per litre I have ever bought but at a maximum total dose of 0.5l/ha that works out at £65/ha
I decided to go along the lines of a split dose strategy of 0.25 l/ha followed by 0.25 l/ha. The first dose was applied last Monday. I've marked three different placesin in the fields to return to take photos, one a patch of mayweed, one a patch of cranesbill and the other a patch of shepherd's purse. I need to slot a Centurian Max in on parts of the fields so it likely to be a 4 week gap between applications. I would have liked to apply the first application around 7 days earlier but that was the week where we had high winds or rain everyday.