Oilseed farmers should combat the black grass weed early on by developing a 'comprehensive' herbicide programme, according to an expert.
Black grass is widespread throughout UK farms and has built up a resistance to a number herbicides, further increasing its prevalence.
It can pass on diseases, such as ergot, to surrounding crops, making it essential for oilseed growers to eliminate the weed as quickly as possible if they are to maintain yield levels for oil extraction.
Agronomist Seumas Foster has advised farmers to use a variety of herbicides to tackle the weed as many other preventive techniques do not have the desired results.
He told Farming UK: "Successful oilseed rape crops need to be established early and well.
"If you have difficult black-grass, it is essential that it is tackled hard across the rotation and in oilseed rape that means a full scale herbicide programme starting with a 'pre-em' herbicide, followed by a 'post-em' contact graminicide and finished off with 'post-em' residual."
Typical Guttridge equipment used in the oilseed industry includes; conveyors – screw conveyors – chain conveyors – belt conveyors
