What a start! We haven’t seen season-opening rains like this in a long time. Some areas have even received well over 90mm of rainfall for April! As good as this is, it does mean we are going to see a lot more germinations of ryegrass and other weeds. And unfortunately, we may have to chase some escapes with double knockdowns prior to sowing, pre and post-emergent and with increased rates of spikes. So how do we go about tackling weeds this year?

We take a look at three options – double knockdowns, split applications, and spike products.

1. One option is double-knockdown prior to sowing. This will often involve an application of glyphosate followed one to ten days after by an application of paraquat. This can also help in paddocks where there is confirmed glyphosate resistance.
2. Another option is split applications. Split applications can be conducted with Boxer Gold to assist in controlling a persistent ryegrass population, following the label instructions as follows: “Apply pre-plant and incorporate mechanically by the sowing operation (IBS). Application should be made to a moist seedbed up to 7 days prior to planting. Follow with the post-plant application as soon after sowing as possible, but before the crop and weeds emerge. Sufficient rain to thoroughly wet the top 3 to 4 cm of soil should occur within 10 days after each application. At planting avoid soil throw into adjacent seeding rows or sites where furrow walls may collapse.”
3. You should also consider what spike products you can add to your knockdown with glyphosate. Oxyfluorfen (Striker, Goal, etc.) products can be a good choice if you’re trying to watch your budget after the last couple of seasons. However, if your planning to graze the treated area, then you should seek an alternative as weeds treated with oxyfluorfen products can not be grazed. Also, as weeds begin to get larger, Carfentrazone-ethyl products (Hammer, Nail, etc.) can provide a better knockdown control with the added benefit of grazing flexibility.

If you’d like more information or advice about your particular situation, please give one of our agronomists a call.