Weather: there is no sign of dry weather in the forecast just yet. However, the monthly forecast is still for drier weather towards the end of February and into March, so be prepared to move when the weather does turn. There is plenty of work to be done, but being organised will help to be efficient.

Get fertiliser into yards and have seed on hand where possible. Have machinery ready to go with parts changed where they need to be. On pages 50-51 we have advice on fertiliser for winter and spring cereals, particularly nitrogen. Take a look to calculate your requirements for the season.

Oilseed rape: the date for using Kerb and Astrokerb passed on 1 February, so anyone with weeds still to control in oilseed rape should look at a product like Korvetto. Korvetto can be used from 1 March. Importantly, it needs a temperature of 8°C to work and can be used from stem elongation on the plant.

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It will control weeds like thistles, mayweed, groundsel, cleavers, common poppies and more. It can be applied up to the flower bud visible stage.

Cereal herbicides: many winter barley crops are now covered for weeds. Some will need a tidy up for things like volunteer beans and groundsel. Weather will need to be warmer for these weeds to be controlled. If you have not applied anything to control grass weeds then you still need a residual and are probably looking at something like Tower.

There are more options on winter wheat. Residual products will not be as effective now but are still good options for grass weeds, and some grass weeds may not be up yet. Allister Flex is broad spectrum and is suited to February and early March application, but Pacifica Plus has a higher load of active ingredient so is better suited to mid-March application.

Pacifica will cover meadow grass, sterile brome, ryegrass and volunteer rape, but you might add a partner in March. Both products can be applied once land is trafficable. It can be applied in low temperatures as long as there isn’t hard frost.

Broadway Star is a great option for brome control, but it will not cover annual meadow grass. Manhattan is an upgrade of Broadway Star with more broad-leaved weed control. Looking at Manhattan’s active ingredients, the Pyroxulam will control tame and wild oats, brome, ryegrass and loose silky bent grass.

The Florasulam will control beans, oilseed rape, mayweed and groundsel and the Arylex active will control fumitory, cleavers and resistant poppies. Both products should be applied during active growth with temperatures averaging 8°C. Dramatic fluctuations in temperature should be avoided. You should apply with an adjuvant.

Podcast: a reminder that next Thursday, 26 February we will record the Tillage Podcast live at the Irish Tillage and Land Use Society’s spring workshop. You will have the opportunity to visit two farms in the morning time and the podcast will take place after lunch, with an update on a possible new flour mill in Wexford as well. Contact itlussec50@gmail.com to book in for the spring workshop.