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Table of Contents

  1. It’s not too late – seed choices for late autumn
  2. Ease input cash flow
  3. Sulphur focus in oilseed rape – Fincham R&D site
  4. Upcoming Agrii Events for Autumn 2012
  5. Highlighting improvement opportunities – the Agrii Initiative
  6. Standing up for farming
  7. New Entry Level Stewardship options from January 2013
  8. SoilQuest get behind the combines – Harvest 2012
  9. Supporting growing decisions, Case study – Hush Heath Manor
  10. Vegetable herbicide trials on show
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Vegetable herbicide trials on show

Every October, the major vegetable seed companies in the UK open their trial grounds around Spalding in Lincolnshire for two days to allow growers to view new varieties. This year the major site involved was the Elsoms Seeds trial ground on the A16 near Spalding.

Agrii once again held a large herbicide demonstration trial on the Elsoms site with good attendance over the two days. Comparing a range of current and future products for weed control in vegetable brassicas, the “matrix” layout of the trial allowed growers to see the combined effects of a range of pre-planting herbicides followed up by a set of post-planting treatments.

The treatments included were built upon experience from Agrii trials in previous years and were intended to help growers optimise their weed control strategies. Continuing changes in product approvals in vegetables mean that “the same as last year” is not an option for most growers. Restrictions on metazachlor, changes in clopyralid approvals and the recent approvals for Wing-P are all affecting brassica growers in 2012. Three further Agrii replicated trials on brassicas in Scotland, Worcestershire and Kent have helped test the reliability of promising treatments. These form part of a series of 14 trials on a range of vegetable and salad crops this year. Previous trials have led to new combinations of existing products being recommended by Agrii agronomists and, in conjunction with HDC-funded trials, have also helped HDC to obtain EAMUs to provide new options for growers. Comparisons of weed control and of crop effects between different geographic areas and between seasons help to improve the consistency of results. Sequential treatments with low-dose herbicides have improved weed control whilst offering potential cost savings. And the chance to assess new materials in small plot replicated trials provided our technical team useful intelligence for the future.

If you missed the Elsoms Seeds open days this year and would like information on our trial results, please contact your local agronomist. Alternatively, please contact Dan Hayes on 07860 637778 or David Townley on 07833 295935.


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