Linseed growers have gained a pre-emergence herbicide option for next season, following the approval of Katamaran (metazachlor + quinmerac).

Premium crops has secured an extension of authorisation for minor use (Eamu) for the herbicide in both winter and spring linseed from the Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD) of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

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The residual herbicide will be familiar to oilseed rape growers, offering control of a range of broad-leaved and grassweeds, including cleavers.

Company agronomist Hannah Foxall explained that recent changes in the approval of mesotrione-based herbicides had left the winter linseed crop with very few herbicide options.

“The approval of Katamaran at 2 litres/ha, pre-emergence, for both winter and spring crops helps take the pressure off post-emergence weed control and will increase the number of actives available for the linseed crop to reduce resistance risk.”

She explained that the reregistration of mesotrione (Basilico) at EU level, with an associated fall in the on-label application rate for maize from 1.5 litres/ha to 0.75 litres/ha, resulted in the Eamu for mesotrione on linseed being limited to a rate of 0.45 litres/ha and for use only in the month of May.

This effectively ruled it out for use in winter linseed altogether.

An ongoing application for another mesotrione product, Callisto, is anticipated soon, but this too is expected to have similar application rate and date restrictions.

Full details of the on-label information for Katamaran can be found on the Basf website.