Conquest contains the active ingredients picloram and triclopyr, and was originally developed as a brushweed herbicide, for controlling several economically important weed species such as blackberry, gorse, manuka, matagouri and tutu.
Nufarm technical specialist Paul Addison says it is still widely used for this purpose, and is very effective.
Unlike some other products containing the same active ingredients, however, Conquest is also registered for spot spraying large pasture weeds, and is increasingly helping farmers reclaim good grazing from paddocks where pasture dry matter productivity has been compromised by broadleaf weed infestation.
“One of the advantages of using it as a spot spray is that it is very good on broadleaf weeds like docks, thistles and ragwort, including large, multi-crown and difficult to kill species, as well as barberry, blackberry, gorse, manuka and other brush weeds,” Addison says.
In effect, Conquest gives dairy and red meat farmers the ability to do two important jobs with one product.
Rather than having to buy, store and apply two different types of herbicide for two different types of weed, with Conquest farmers only need one. That’s less packaging to dispose of, too, Addison points out.
It’s fast acting and grass friendly, so it won’t leave brown patches in pasture, and it has a nil stock grazing withholding period.
“It is also very cost effective and it takes out awkward weeds that other herbicides struggle to control, including alligator weed, horehound, inkweed, cape weed, goats rue, fennel, hemlock, docks and sorrel.”
It can also be a useful broadcast spray in pastures where clovers or other legumes are either not present, or not desirable.
Conquest can be applied year-round, although avoid spraying gorse and manuka when flowering.
If farmers want to use it for brushweed control, especially gorse, Addison says it’s important to combine it with Pulse Penetrant for the best result.
“Gorse has a very thick cuticle inhibiting the uptake of herbicides, so by adding Pulse Penetrant it allows uptake through the stomata ensuring sufficient herbicide gets into the gorse plants.”
Addison also advises leaving stock out of sprayed pastures for a few days after application, if possible, to allow Conquest time to be absorbed and translocated within target weeds and brushweeds.
Sprayed weeds rapidly show signs of herbicide application, and full brownout can occur within weeks, so farmers can see results fast.
Conquest also has short term residual soil activity which will suppress weeds that try to germinate around the area that has been treated.
When it comes to handling and mixing, this formulation has low odour, and it’s easy to remember the right rate for knapsack application to pasture weeds because all weeds on the label have the same knapsack rate, namely 60 ml Conquest per 10 litres of water.
Target weeds should be sprayed when actively growing.
Most common techniques for pastureweed control are knapsack and high volume gun and hose; it can also be applied with a weed wiper or as a broadcast application, although broadcast spraying is only recommended where problem weeds such as docks, ragwort, and thistles are very dense.
Conquest should not be used in areas where susceptible crops, especially legumes, are to be sown soon after application.
For more detail contact your local Nufarm territory manager.