Published on 04/10/2024
It also comes down to recommending the right product, says Nufarm product manager Matt Strahan.
And when it comes to controlling slugs, nothing can compare to the reigning heavyweight champion SlugOut.
A cost-effective solution, proudly developed and proven in New Zealand conditions, SlugOut combines weatherability and palatability with a very high loading of active ingredient on the surface area where slugs eat.
FAR trials show that in most situations the amount of active ingredient in the edible portion of the pallet is more than double other slug baits on the market.
With two to three times more baits per square metre than other slug baits, and a faster kill, farmers can rely on it for peace of mind and good establishment, Strahan says.
It’s not toxic to earthworms or predatory beetles, and is durable in wet weather with a mould inhibitor included in the formulation.
But no matter how big or small the job, a good outcome starts before the drill gets anywhere near the paddock.
That’s because slugs are one pest where a proactive approach is essential to avoid seedling damage.
“The more you can do to get farmers and growers to check their paddocks before spring sowing, the better,” Strahan says. “Once the damage is visible, it’s often too late to do much about it and slugs can make a mess of newly sown crops or grass in a matter of days.
“Drilling seed without monitoring for slug pressure and without bait can be very risky, and when farm incomes are under pressure, it’s just not worth the loss of newly germinated crop or grass seedlings.”
SlugOut is a must for any direct-drilled seed, because the plant residues left behind with this cultivation technique provide the pests a perfect environment to live and breed.
Strahan says coverage remains a key consideration in weighing up bait options.
“At the recommended label rate of 10 kg per ha, FAR trials show SlugOut has 112 bait points per sq metre, which is much higher than other baits with the same active ingredient.”
He recommends broadcasting SlugOut at 10-15 kg per ha at or immediately after sowing. Split applications – with half the bait spread five to 10 days before sowing and the other half at planting – usually give the best results, he says.
“Above all, make sure you don’t leave it one to two days after sowing! When we say immediately, that’s what we mean.”
The bait can also be direct drilled at 10 kg/ha into the furrow with seed, but only where the drill leaves a distinct open drill slot which is not common with modern drills.
An important change for end-users this season is the launch of a new 500 kg bag which will make slug control even easier for large scale sowing jobs.
For more detail contact your local Nufarm territory manager.