Firebird’s broad spectrum of activity ensures control of many of the key weeds you will encounter, including important grassweeds such as vulpia hair grass and annual poa and aggressive broad leaved weeds such as field pansy, chickweed and field madder.
By controlling weeds right from the start, often before they have even emerged, Firebird ensures cereal crops get off to the best possible start.
Because Firebird is applied before the crop emerges, within a few pays of planting, the adage ‘if you can plant you can spray’ certainly holds true.
This minimises the risk that wet winter weather, which makes spraying impossible without serious damage to soil structure, allows weeds to reach a size whereby control becomes difficult or very expensive.
Since Firebird often provides effective weed control through to the spring it has allowed farmers to concentrate on other important
jobs around the farm rather than constantly walking paddocks looking for weeds.
This is a big benefit for farmers who always have too much to do.
From the launch of Firebird one of its main advantages was that it is registered on both wheat and barley, ensuring that a compliant approach to weed control can be adopted.
From the very outset Bayer was confident of the crop safety of Firebird when applied to wheat and barley.
Now, after being used uneventfully over many thousands of hectares, that confidence is shared by merchants and farmers alike.
Don’t under estimate the impact of weeds.
Virtually all arable weeds are annual plants which means that to succeed they are genetically programmed to complete their life cycle quickly. They are often present in very large numbers and they are also very competitive, chasing the same nutrients, water and energy that crops need. It is this combination of high plant numbers, rapid growth and a voracious demand for nutrients that makes weeds so successful and why they present such a challenge.
To allow Firebird to deliver effective weed control a few simple rules need to be followed:
1.The most important factor to get right to ensure excellent weed control is seedbed preparation. Taking the time to prepare a fine, firm seedbed, free from clods, will ensure that Firebird provides an effective herbicide barrier. If clods larger than 3 cm are present they pose two threats. Early on weeds can germinate from around the edges of the clod as the clod shields soil from receiving an effective Firebird dose. Then, as the clod breaks down during the winter, untreated soil is released and this provides the perfect place for weed seeds to germinate free from the effects of Firebird.
2. It is also important to ensure adequate soil moisture exists. This allows Firebird to distribute in the soil and to adhere to the soil particles.
3. Apply Firebird using a sprayer calibrated to deliver the registered dose of Firebird (300 ml per ha) in the correct water volume and with the right sized droplet.
4. Ensure Firebird is applied before weeds germinate. Any weeds that have germinated prior to application will not be controlled.
Follow these simple rules and Firebird will give your farmers effective weed control through to early spring. At this time a follow up application of Othello OD or Hussar WG will ensure your crops grow without weed competition for the season.