Protecting grassland effectively is vital for maximising farm profitability. Weeds such as docks, compete rapidly for space, light, water and nutrients, and reduce grassland productivity quickly if left to establish.
Ensuring the right product choice this season in a planned approach to weed control management is essential.
Dockleen Ultra, distributed by Goldcrop and Croplink, provides exactly what is needed for tackling docks and other problem weeds this season.
A powerful co-formulation containing the active ingredients fluroxypyr and triclopyr, Dockleen Ultra provides an affordable, reassuring choice for growers to protect the quality of grazing or silage.
With reliable, effective control of broad-leaved and curled docks, the product comes in either a handy 2L pack (1ha treated at full rate) or a larger 5L (2.5ha treated at full rate) pack for added convenience.
The product is best applied at rosette stage when docks are 150-200mm in size, actively growing with leaves a healthy green and not under stress.
Group crop protection manager at Goldcrop, Scott Lovell said: “Goldcrop was delighted to launch Dockleen Ultra into the Irish market in 2023.
“As we all remember it was a difficult year in terms of the weather, however, the feedback we received from farmers that used the product was very positive, highlighting the excellent control of docks achieved in the field.”
Effective control of docks is vital
Controlling docks and other broad-leaved weeds can improve grass yields (severe weed infestations can cause 10-20% yield losses) and improve silage quality which can be detrimentally affected by docks particularly.
Effective weed control increases grassland utilisation as stock often avoid grazing close to, or around, weed patches and prolongs pasture life, ensuring less productive weeds are kept out so the need for pasture renewal is less frequent.
Thriving in fertile pastures, docks compete for valuable space but only provide two-thirds of the feed value of grass from the same area.
One dock plant can produce up to 60,000 seeds which can remain viable for many years.
Open swards which can result from poaching, over-grazing or winter kill provide space for docks to establish and infest fields, so care should be taken this season especially following the very wet winter which has made conditions in established grassland difficult.
“Dockleen Ultra provides the ultimate dock control solution in grassland, and we’re looking forward this season to more growers having the opportunity to use the product and benefit from its cost-effective weed control,” Lovell added.
Click the video below to see the product being applied in a field via a tractor-mounted sprayer.
Chickweed also targeted
Dockleen Ultra gives growers the added flexibility for effective, non-label control of other troublesome weeds too.
The non-label weed control ratings are based on anecdotal use experience, limited field trials data and wider agronomy experience.
Dockleen Ultra provides good control of many annual weeds including chickweed (before flowering), a problem in established grassland, particularly silage ground, where it grows quickly and colonises bare soil areas competing strongly with grass.
Click here for product details or contact your local Goldcrop representative to find out more information.
