The area of spring cereals looks set to increase again this year as their inclusion into a rotation provides one of the most effective cultural control techniques to reduce the incidence of black-grass.

In spring cereals, early weed removal (i.e. pre or very early post-em) is critical for maximum yield, grain quality and harvest ability.

However, the incidence of ALS-resistant broad-leaved weeds such as chickweed and poppy is becoming more widespread, especially where spring cereals have typically been grown with the use of repeated low dose post-emergence applications of ALS herbicides.

Picona (containing pendimethalin + picolinafen) and Stomp Aqua (containing pendimethalin) provide ideal options in spring cereals for pre and early post-emergence control of both grass and broad-leaved weeds along with resistance management.

Pendimethalin provides strong residual activity against a wide range of grass weeds such as annual meadowgrass as well as broad-leaved weeds including poppy and chickweed.

Picolinafen compliments the broad-leaved weed activity of pendimethalin by providing residual and synergistic contact activity on a wide range of weeds especially chickweed, cleavers and charlock.

Picona, can be applied from pre-emergence up to GS 30, although best results will come from pre or early post-emergence applications to very small weeds. It is the most flexible and reliable broad spectrum annual meadowgrass and broad leaved weed option. It gives excellent control of poppy and chickweed, even where populations are known to be ALS resistant.

Summary of Approvals

	Active Ingredient	Max rate (l/ha)	Crop	Latest timing	Approval
Stomp Aqua	Pendimethalin 455 g/l	2.9	Spring barley Spring wheat (sown in autumn/winter)	Pre-ermergence Pre-ermergencbefore 30th March in England & Wales, before 16th April in Scotland. Post-emergence (before GS30) only on crops drilled before 1st February.	On-label EAMU
Picona	Pendimethalin 320 g/l + picolinafen 16 g/l	3.0	Spring wheat and Spring barley	Pre-emergence	EAMU

Pendimethalin and picolinafen are both accepted by the BBPA and BRI for use on malting barley for brewing.

Extensions of Authorised Use for the above products are ‘off-label’ and are at Growers Risk. Users must ensure that all conditions specified in the Extension of Authorisation for Minor Use are complied with and must be in possession of the Notice of Extension of Use, before use is undertaken. The EAMU can be downloaded at https://secure.pesticides.gov.uk/offlabels/search.asp

To reduce the risk of UK wide broad-leved weeds resistance:

• Mix herbicides with different modes of action throughout the rotation.
• Use pendimethalin as in Stomp Aqua or pendimethalin + picolinafen as in Picona for excellent weed control and resistance management.
• Keep weeds at low populations.
• Do not rely on ALS-inhibitors.
• Target weeds when they are small.

For further information, please contact your local BASF Agronomy Manager or the BASF Technical Services Hotline: 0845 602 2553

Picona contains pendimethalin and picolinafen. Stomp Aqua contains pendimethalin. Picona and Stomp Aqua are registered trademarks of BASF plc. Use plant protection products safely. Always read the label and product information before use. For further product information including warning phrases and symbols refer to www.agricentre.basf.co.uk . Ensure all warnings and restrictions on all labels are adhered to.