BASF has developed a circuit-breaking mini-rotation strategy for growers to use to reduce the likelihood of a build-up of herbicide-resistant ryegrass in their cropping systems.

Called the Luximax 30/30 Plan, it suggests growers should use BASF’s unique Group 30 chemistry available in Luximax on 30 per cent of their wheat crop within their standard program.

“The introduction of Group 15 (then called Group J & K) chemistry really turned things around for a lot of growers who were struggling to manage big populations of resistant annual ryegrass,” BASF portfolio manager cereals Roger States said.

“It took a few years for some growers to make the switch, but now those products, and Sakura especially, are mainstays of most programs.”

Mr States said the 30/30 plan has been developed as a means of introducing Luximax to cropping systems.

“We’ve come up with the 30-on-30 strategy to cut down the lag between the release of important new chemistry and its widespread use, and to slow the development of resistance to Group 15 and other older products.”

The latest data on the CropLife website shows resistance to Group 15 mode of action, which includes Sakura and Boxer Gold, has already been confirmed at over 100 sites in Australia.

“This is particularly important because of the cross-resistance risk between herbicides in Groups 3, 13 and 15 that has been described in recent scientific publications by prominent researchers like Professor Steve Powles, Dr Roberto Busi and David Brunton.

Mr States said the Luximax 30/30 Plan will help growers ease into using the newer chemistry with the reassurance that they will be able to go on using other older alternatives more widely and effectively for longer.

“We’ve got to protect what we’ve got.”

Mr States said both replicated trial results and commercial use have repeatedly confirmed that Luximax can match the high level of weed control growers expect from Sakura.

It has similar tank-mix compatibilities to Sakura, which brings flexibility to 30 on 30.

“Over the course of a few seasons, the weed seedbank in each paddock will be exposed to an entirely new mode of action through the introduction of Luximax.”

While Luximax is very effective as a standalone treatment, Mr States said it would seldom be applied that way.

“The premium grassweed pre-ems are generally applied in tank-mixes with multiple extra products.

“All the most likely mix partners like glyphosate, paraquat, trifluralin, triallate, prosulfocarb, carfentrazone and metsulfuron are on the Luximax label.”

Mr States said BASF’s early trial work highlighted Luximax and prosulfocarb (Arcade) as a particularly effective combination.

“Now we have an even better recommendation because since then we’ve launched Voraxor, which can do several jobs at once.”

Mr States said growers who have not already tried Voraxor could take the mini-rotation concept one step further and use it as part of 30 on 30.

“Voraxor can play the same role as trifluralin in spiking the superior grassweed herbicides’ control of annual ryegrass, but with the massive added benefit of extended residual pre-emergent control of key broadleaf weeds.

“Adding both Luximax and Voraxor to the mix is all part of spreading the load to maintain the highest standards of control while also protecting the chemistry our broadacre cropping has become so reliant on.

“That’s what The Luximax 30/30 Plan is all about.”

You can get more information here or by contacting your local supplier.

Source: BASF