Imagine two almost identical paddocks of maize. One yields 10-20% more dry matter per ha, but there is only a single point of difference between them – the pre-emergence herbicide programme.
Industry trials1 have shown waiting to control weeds for as little as four weeks after maize emergence can reduce crop yields by at least 10-20%. While it’s been a challenging season and you can’t always spray when you need to, being prepared goes a long way.
A range of options are available depending on what weeds are most likely to challenge your crop, talk to your Farm Source TSR about the best solution for your farm.
Pre-emergent weed control
Roustabout® 840 provides up to 10 weeks of pre-emergent weed control, without compromising maize quality or safety. To broaden control even further, Nu-Trazine™ 900DF, Atrazine 500 or Primiera® can be added to your tank mix.
Yield protection is obviously important for growing profitable crops, but there are other benefits from a good pre-emergence herbicide programme in maize.
If you don’t control weeds at this stage, you end up relying entirely on post-emergence herbicide to stop weeds competing with your maize seedlings. And that can be risky.
Post-emergence weeds are larger and typically more difficult to manage. They’ve already had a chance to steal valuable moisture, nutrients and sunlight from newly sprouted maize plants. Post-emergence herbicides may control only grass weeds but not broadleaf weeds, or vice versa.
And if for any reason your post-emergence spray programme is delayed, by bad weather for example, that can set you back even further.
For more advice on maximising maize yields with the right pre-emergence herbicide programme this spring, call your local Farm Source TSR or find their contact details here.