Mission may help potato growers

Apr 1 2008 by Tom Patterson, The Journal

RIDDING potato crops of weed competition early and safely is important in order to protect yield potential and make the crop easier to manage.

But it has become a more challenging task as a number of key active ingredients are no longer registered.

One novel formulation of diquat, Mission, may help growers who are looking for a practical solution to their weed control problems this spring.

Dr David Stormonth, technical manager, Interfarm (UK) Ltd, said: “Last year the registration of paraquat as in PDQ was annulled.

“Growers are allowed to use paraquat up until the 11th July, but there is very little product in the system and many growers will be forced to take a different tack.

“Containing 200 g/l diquat, Mission can be used for weed control.”

Mission is particularly effective on broad-leaved weeds such as chickweed, cleavers, fat-hen, groundsel, knotgrass, speedwell, and small nettle.

It also has some activity on small meadow-grass.

Mission contains 200 g/litre paraquat as a water soluble concentrate formulation.

It is approved for weed control in potatoes and in edible and non-edible row crops such as sugar beet and ornamentals.

It is also approved as a desiccant for potatoes, oilseed rape, combining peas, red and white clover for seed, field beans, barley and oats for animal feed and linseed and for hop stripping.