Summary of Minutes of the SCEPTRE Weeds Research Group Meeting, ADAS Boxworth, 8th Dec 2010

Present : Andy Richardson (ABC), Cathy Knott, John Atwood (ADAS), Lynn Tatnell (ADAS), Tim O’Neill (ADAS), Vivian Powell (HDC).

Apologies :

Simon Jackson (ABC), Cheryl Brewster (HDC), Becky Turner (HDC), Wayne Brough (HDC), Harriet Duncalfe, John Sedgwick, Roma Gwynn (RBS).

1. Programme of work Y1

Programme of work is unchanged from original proposal.

Field Vegetables

Vegetable screening trial – CK

2 new active ingredients to be trialled (1 residual and 1 residual/contact) giving a total of three new treatments NB. the residual/contact herbicide will be trialled both as a residual and as a contact.

13 vegetable crops to be grown in the screen (bulb onions, leeks, carrots, coriander, spinach, swede, mizuna, potatoes, parsnips, lettuce, cauliflower, celery, vining peas, dwarf green beans). Trial to be grown on silt soil at Elsoms trial ground, nr Spalding.

Asparagus had previously been included in HDC funded trials but it was felt that this crop was now relatively well served with herbicides. However any relevant new actives which showed promise could be tested in an established commercial crop. Asparagus group to be kept updated on progress and trials included in Y2-4 if appropriate.

GLP residue trials

Whilst not under the direct control of the Weeds Group it was agreed that a watching brief should be kept on progress.

The original LINK proposal outlined the following priorities for residue generation :

Celery - Stomp Aqua (pendimethalin)

Lettuce – coded residual herbicide (preplanting)

Cauliflower/Sprouts/Calabrese/Kale/Collards – coded residual herbicide (preplanting), Stomp Aqua (pendimethalin) post planting, coded incorporated residual herbicide (preplanting)

Cabbage – coded incorporated residual herbicide (preplanting).

Soft Fruit – JA

Three pieces of work programmed :

Strawberry residual herbicide screening trial – to be undertaken in a commercial crop. Final actives yet to be finalised but 4-5 treatments planned.

Perennial weeds in bush/cane fruit - herbicide screening trial for a CasoronÔ replacement. Suitable products for controlling nettle, thistles and docks to be investigated. Trials in Y1 to be conducted in pots at ADAS Boxworth before moving out into the field in Y2.

Electrical weed control – preliminary trials investigating weed species susceptibility, voltage required, contact time and the persistence of treatments.

The group agreed that assessment to ORETO standard was unnecessary for all Y1 herbicide trials for the following reasons:

·  It is recognised that the most likely form of approval for a herbicide on a vegetable or soft fruit crop is as a SOLA, as such efficacy data to ORETO standard to support a full label approval is unnecessary.

·  The aim of herbicide screening is to test a relatively large number of treatment/crop interactions. Where such are conducted to ORETO standard it becomes costly severely limiting the scope of work that the group could undertake.

2. ‘Bio-herbicides’

A number of products could be tested in Y2 of the project AR had requested guidance from Roma Gwyn on approval status and potential. RG to advise the group in Spring 2011.

3. AOB

Action : AR to write to Richard Davis (cc David Richardson) of CRD to request an early indication as to the likely approval of the coded incorporated residual herbicide in order that residue work can commence in 2011.

Andy Richardson, Allium & Brassica Agronomy, 12 December 2011.