BAYER is expecting solid sales of its much-hyped pre-emergent herbicide Sakura in its first full year on the market.
Sakura has achieved impressive trial results in terms of ryegrass control in both trials and in its limited commercial release last year.
With farmers desperate for more herbicide rotations to combat ryegrass, it is likely to be popular.
However, it’s not going to come cheap. Bayer has said the weighted price across the country will average out at around $37.70 a hectare. Glyphosate, by contrast will cost between $6-7/ha, but farmers are anxious to maintain its efficacy so are turning to alternative modes of action such as Sakura and Boxer Gold. Sakura’s price is equivalent to an application of Boxer Gold and trifluralin, which would provide similar results.
Farmers are warming to the idea of Sakura, in particular in disc-sowing situations, because of its extra crop safety, especially in wheat.
Bayer Victoria technical advisor Alistair Crawford said he expected a 50pc increase in sales this year with full commercial registration.
He said he thought the major application would be in paddocks where farmers were wary about over-use of glyphosate.
“We see it being a bit fit in wheat for ryegrass control where resistance is beginning to be a problem, as it provides a different mode of action.”
Mr Crawford said along with ryegrass control Sakura was also effective on toad rush, phalaris, silver grass and barley grass.
Bayer technical advisor Craig White said Sakura had achieved up to 90pc efficacy on hard-to-kill problem weeds such as ryegrass.
It contains the active ingredient pyroxasulfone, a new mode of action.
Gregor Heard
National grains writer for Fairfax Agricultural Media.
National grains writer for Fairfax Agricultural Media.
