REGINA – Weed control and plant desiccation at harvest time have always been a dilemma for herbicide application. Both are often needed but only one could be had at a time.
Producers who chose to dry crops for earlier, more even harvesting could burn off all green matter with desiccants such as diquat (Reglone). This didn’t result in perennial weed control.
Growers who wanted pre-harvest weed control had to settle for traditional herbicides that did little to enhance harvesting in the short term.
At last week’s Western Canada Farm Progress Show, Monsanto released a new version of Round-up. Roundup Fast Forward uses two methods of attack to kill plant growth. Not only does the glyphosate pass to the roots in a systemic manner, it passes directly through the leaves and stems, killing the tops of the plant. The result, according to Monsanto’s research, is plant dry-down that occurs 68 percent faster than original Roundup while maintaining a weed control performance close to the older product.
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Pre-harvest application rates are 1.2 litres per acre with between 20 and 40 litres of water. The recommended list price for the product is $1 higher than original Roundup, with Fast Forward priced at $10.99 per litre. Street prices may be lower.
Registration was approved for the product last week. Company spokespeople said sufficient supply of the spray would be available.
