No-one wants broadleaf weeds infesting newly-sown pasture mixes, even when the pasture contains something that not so long ago was itself considered a broadleaf weed.
As use of the forage herb plantain continues to rise on farms all over New Zealand – sown as a pure sward, with clover, or in combination with ryegrass-based seed mixes – so too has risen the challenge of weed control.
Best practice recommendations for plantain emphasises the importance of eliminating broadleaf weeds if they become apparent in early establishment.
Up until recently, however, the number of herbicides registered in NZ for post-emergence broadleaf weed control in pure plantain, plantain and clover, and pastures containing plantain, has been limited.
A new choice is now available. Dictate™ 480 herbicide from Nufarm, which contains 480 grams/litre of bentazone as the active ingredient, has recently been approved for use.
Nufarm Technical Specialist Paul Addison says this is a positive development for the increasing number of farmers keen to take advantage of plantain’s potential environmental benefits and nutritional value in their systems.
Research in Canterbury and Waikato as part of the ‘Forages for Reduced Nitrate Leaching’ programme found that the urine-N concentration of cows grazing plantain was 56% lower than those grazing perennial ryegrass/white clover pastures, and 33% lower for cows grazing 50/50 pasture-plantain1.
A 14-day stock grazing withholding period applies after using Dictate 480 on plantain, plantain and clover and pasture mixes containing plantain.
Timing is important, Paul says: “For best results, apply when weeds are small, and plantain is at the two to four leaf stage. Add Contact™ Xcel surfactant to ensure good leaf coverage.”
For more information on getting the best out of forage plantain this season, talk to your Farm Source TSR or visit Farm Source today.
1Dairynz.co.nz/feed/crops/plantain/
™Dictate and Contact are trademarks of Nufarm Limited.