South Australian agronomists are being provided with further opportunity to develop a thorough understanding of how herbicides work, enabling them to provide advice to growers that will optimise the performance of herbicides on-farm.
Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) herbicide behaviour workshops, to be delivered by Independent Consultants Australia Network (ICAN), will address the science underpinning how herbicides work, and growers are also welcome to attend.
“Participants will gain a better understanding of the key factors dictating herbicide performance and what can be done in the paddock to ensure weed control is maximised,” ICAN weed specialist Mark Congreve said.
“Weeds are one of the largest costs to grain producers and herbicide resistance is a key driver of increasing costs.
“When confronted with a range of weed problems and environmental conditions, the challenge is to optimise the results in the field.”
A number of workshops have already been held across the southern cropping region this year and the feedback from participants has been positive.
Craig Davis, independent SA agronomist, commented: “After attending the workshop, I had a much better understanding of herbicides in cropping systems. Specifically, I gained additional knowledge on potential situations and conditions resulting in poor herbicide performance as well as the factors affecting pre-emergent herbicide efficacy.”
Nigel Myers of Cummins Ag on Eyre Peninsula said: “The content was well presented and comprehensive and will help with explaining herbicide behaviour to my clients. Would be great for growers to attend.”
Mr Congreve said knowing what weeds would be controlled from applying a herbicide was relatively easy – as the information was outlined on the product label – but more challenging questions included:
- Why do herbicides perform or fail in some situations?
- Why do critical comments on the label exist and how were they developed?
- How do adjuvants and water conditioning agents work? What should be used, when and why?
- How does resistance affect different herbicides? What strategies can be used as resistance emerges?
- How do residual herbicides work and what influences their breakdown?
Mr Congreve said the workshops would be customised for each location to focus on regionally important herbicides and management issues.
The small group workshops will each run for one-and-a-half days and participant numbers are limited to ensure active participation and discussion.
GRDC herbicide behaviour workshops in SA will be held at the following locations during the second half of this calendar year:
- Tanunda – August 21-22
- Naracoorte – September 24-25
- Murray Bridge – September 26-27
The cost is $165 (including GST) per workshop and the events start at 8.30am on day one and finish by lunchtime on day two.
- 21st Aug 2019
to
22nd Aug 20198:30am
to
1pm
(1 day, 4 hours and 30 minutes)Tanunda, SA (Barossa Weintal Hotel, 235 Murray St)
Sponsored by GRDC:
Herbicide Behaviour Workshop (Tanunda)
Region:
