A NEW herbicide tank mix partner already attracting attention for its effectiveness on hard-to-control weeds in winter cereals, plus a new higher loaded existing herbicide, have agronomists and industry well prepared for controlling summer fallow weed populations this season.

Priority® showing good results on hard-to-control weeds

 Priority^® herbicide, launched earlier this year by ADAMA Australia, contains florasulam, an acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor (previous Group B and now Group 2 mode of action), in a suspension concentrate formulation and once absorbed via weed foliage, it is translocated to the growing points via the xylem and phloem.

In addition to fallow, it is registered in all major cereals including wheat, barley, oats and triticale, as well as established ryegrass pastures, and has been welcomed during the winter cropping season.

ADAMA Australia Portfolio Manager – Herbicides, Rob Walker, said Priority had been an ideal, cost-effective herbicide partner to broaden the weed spectrum and enhance the efficacy of tank-mix partners.

With a broad range of compatible herbicides, Priority offers weed management flexibility, targeting 54 weeds depending on the tank-mix herbicide used, including hard-to-kill weeds such as bedstraw, wireweed, capeweed, doublegee, volunteer canola and pulses (non-imidazolinone varieties), and many other broadleaf weeds.

Rob said a key benefit with Priority was its relatively short plantback intervals, increasing rotation crop flexibility compared with alternative herbicide options such as clopyralid.

“Priority has a great fit for fallow use. In tank-mixes with Wipe-Out^® and Flagship^® 400, it broadens the weed spectrum whilst maintaining rotation crop flexibility,’’ he said.

ADAMA Australia Market Development Manager – NSW, Harry Pickering, said Priority was an excellent herbicide partner and its compatibility allowed great flexibility with tank mixes.

“A key fit for fallows is its additive control of harder-to-kill, glyphosate-tolerant weeds like marshmallow, as well as its use in phenoxy-sensitive cropping areas like cotton, where growers do not want to use phenoxy herbicides like 2,4-D,’’ Harry said.

He said short plant-back periods also were a bonus for following cereal crops.

Chris Turner, Agronomist with Nutrien Ag Solutions based at Dubbo in New South Wales, said Priority had achieved good results on hard-to-kill weeds like volunteer pulses and brassicas such as turnip during the winter cropping phase.

On summer fallows, Chris said it would be ideal with Roundup® mixes, particularly in phenoxy-sensitive areas and on some of the harder-to-control summer weeds such as marshmallow.

Watch the full video below.

Introducing the new Firepower® 900

Meanwhile, ADAMA Australia also has released a new, more concentrated version of its Firepower herbicide, containing 900g/L of the active ingredient, haloxyfop.

Firepower® 900 is the only haloxyfop formulation registered for use in summer fallow situations, targeting hard-to-kill grass weeds such as feathertop Rhodes grass, windmill grass, awnless barnyard grass and liverseed grass.

“It is higher loading than any other haloxyfop on the market and it introduces a new registration for fallows,’’ said Harry Pickering.

“It has been used under permit, but now agronomists and consultants can take comfort that they have a registered product on the market.

“It will be particularly useful for areas where there are glyphosate-resistant grasses.’’

Chris Turner expected Firepower 900 would have a great fit as part of a double-knock strategy with Roundup over summer, chasing hard-to-kill glyphosate-resistant weeds such as windmill grass, feathertop Rhodes grass and barnyard grass.

For further information on Priority and Firepower 900 herbicides, growers, agronomists and consultants can contact their Nutrien Ag Solutions representative or visit ADAMA.com.