Cereal crops can quickly become susceptible to broadleaf weed escapes during crop establishment, making CALLISTO® pre-emergent herbicide a valuable addition to many wheat and barley programs.   

A new label extension now includes oats and triticale in the list of registered crops, along with an updated use pattern.    

Readily tank mixable with specialist knockdown herbicides, CALLISTO® offers extended in-crop residual action to manage multiple germinations until such time that growers or contractors can make a foliar application.    

“The big advantage, and feedback we’ve had from growers, has been that logistical piece in that they can put it out with their pre-emergent grass weed herbicide and their knockdown products,” Syngenta Technical Services Lead James Considine said.

James Considine, Syngenta Technical Services Lead.

“They're not having to rush back to that paddock and get those broadleaf weeds under control so early, when CALLISTO^® is really taking the pressure off that post emergent application.”    

CALLISTO^® pre-emergent herbicide is a Group 27, 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitor, forms a layer in the soil where it is readily absorbed by the roots of emerging broadleaf weeds disrupting photosynthesis.    

Mr Considine said weeds that emerge through this treated soil appear bleached, making CALLISTO^®effective and highly visual, enabling advisors to achieve demonstrable results. Depending on the farmer’s cropping system, he said it made a lot of sense to use CALLISTO^® pre-emergent rather than a HPPD inhibitor as a post-emergent spray.    

“We don't see a lot, if any residual activity, with those foliar HPPD sprays so that's a real benefit of getting CALLISTO^® into our programs, we're able to get control of multiple germinations, and we know a number of those key broadleaf weeds will have multiple germinations throughout that season,” Mr Considine said.    

CALLISTO^® pre-emergent herbicide was first registered for use in wheat and barley, incorporated by sowing (IBS). Registration has now been extended to oat and triticale crops. CALLISTO^® controls weeds with confirmed resistance to other modes of action including Indian hedge mustard, wild radish, wild turnip, capeweed, fleabane, prickly lettuce and sow thistle. It also controls volunteer chickpeas, volunteer faba beans, volunteer field peas, volunteer vetch, volunteer lentils, lesser loosestrife, serradella, shepherd’s purse and sub clover, as well as double gee at the higher label rate.    

Like with any IBS pre-emergent herbicides, weeds might still emerge in the furrow, which Mr Considine said can be effectively managed with economical post-emergent herbicide application.    

“What we've commonly seen in commercial jobs, and at Syngenta Learning Centres, is something as simple as MCPA LVE is a quite economical option to tidy up those weeds in the furrow,” he said.   

The updated CALLISTO^® label also allows for a split application – IBS and post sowing, pre-emergence – which Mr Considine said provided added flexibility for advisors and growers to manage weeds in the furrow.    

Using CALLISTO^® pre-em herbicide    

With long in-season residual activity, CALLISTO^® is highly advantageous in knifepoint, press wheel sowing systems.    

Applied to the soil no more than three days prior to sowing, CALLISTO^® is absorbed by the roots of broadleaf weeds. Soon after germination, photosynthesis rapidly brings on telltale bleaching.   

Mr Considine said CALLISTO^® was a highly economical choice, with the choice of a 100ml and 200ml/ha use rate.    

He said the higher rate offered residual out to eight weeks, equivalent to $1.97/ha, per week of control.    

“Growers have been really excited about being able to get some residual broadleaf weed control in their cereal crops, and putting that product in with their pre-emergent grass herbicides, like BOXER GOLD^®” he said.    

“From a compatibility perspective, CALLISTO^® has an excellent profile there, we've done a range of our own internal testing, and then the past two seasons we've obviously had a lot of in field testing with growers using it with knockdowns such as GRAMOXONE^® 360 Pro and Kelpie 550 glyphosate.    

“On a commercial scale, we've had excellent results with a range of grass pre-emergent products that you'd commonly use including our own BOXER GOLD^® pre-emergent grass weed herbicide.”    

Mr Considine urged growers and advisors to conduct their own side-by-side trials to see the benefits for themselves.    

“The results are something you really have to see for yourself, giving growers considerable benefits when it comes to logistics at a busy time of year,” he said.    

“Speak to your local Syngenta representative to learn more about CALLISTO^®.” 

CALLISTO^® pre-em herbicide (right), versus a missed strip and subsequent blow-out. 

^® Registered trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. The information provided in this article is intended as a guide only. Information contained in thisarticle has been provided by the manufacturer and although Nutrien Ag Solutions has taken all duecare to provide accurate information in thisarticle, there can be no guarantee that such informationis accurate as of the date you read it, or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. You shouldnot rely on the information in this article, and it should not be considered advice. You should seekprofessional advice regarding relevant factors specific to your situation, such as planting times andenvironmental conditions. This article does not take into account variable conditions such asclimactic conditions, soil type and individual circumstances that may impact performance. To themaximum extent permitted by law, Nutrien Ag Solutions Limited and its related associated entitieswill not be liable for any loss or damage suffered by any person arising out of any reliance on any information contained in this article