Cereal growers have more flexibility in their herbicide tank mixes this spring as post-emergence herbicide Sumir has gained approval for joint application with a much wider range of products.

Manufactured by off-patent manufacturers Life Scientific, Sumir is a reverse-engineered formulation of Boxer containing the ALS-inhibitor herbicide florasulam.

It controls annual broad-leaved weeds in cereals such as cleavers, chickweed, mayweed and volunteer oilseed rape, and is also used extensively for controlling volunteer beans in cereal crops.

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This authorisation increases the range of products that the herbicide can be used with to include Boudha, Broadway Star, Dakota, Ergon, Hamlet, Hiatus, Laya, Nautius, Savvy Premium and Spitfire, or with one of the products previously authorised on the Sumir label.

The company points out that the product is the only ALS-inhibitor herbicide to offer all of these products for use in joint application.

“ALS herbicides have been used as the mainstay in cereal crops due to their efficacy and the broad spectrum of weeds controlled, even at larger growth stages,” says Ruth Stanley, country manager for Life Scientific UK & Ireland.

“This will prove vital this spring as many crops haven’t received any previous herbicide applications due to the weather, so they offer a really useful option.”

She points out ALS products are only used in small doses due to their high levels of activity, with stringent regulatory requirements on their use, especially when used in mixes or sequence with another ALS-inhibitor herbicide.

“Any joint applications must be approved by the Chemicals Regulation Division and products, not active ingredients, must be specifically named on the label. Any joint application must comply with all directions for use or restrictions for each product label, and users must ensure the products are authorised for use on the crop.”

Ruth adds that correct application is key to success. “Use the correct dosage, take care not to overlap or clean out spray equipment in the crop and overdose, and always wash out with an approved tank cleaner after application.”

Sumir is commercially available through distribution partners ProCam and Hutchinsons.

For resistance management, florasulam belongs to the Herbicide Resistance Action Committee’s Mode of Action Group 2, which also includes the sulfonyl ureas.