A new post-emergence maize herbicide could offer an option for effective weed control this spring.

Peak from Syngenta has a highly flexible application window, right through to the 10-leaf stage in the crop. Syngenta maize herbicides manager Gary Jobling says, ideally, growers will use the product to remove weeds at the earliest opportunity to prevent competition and help the crop establish quickly. “However, the option for delayed application will be useful where there are late emerging weeds,” he says.

The introduction of this product may be welcome by growers following the withdrawal of a number of maize herbicide options.

“Peak will be a highly cost-effective herbicide option and is especially strong on cruciferous weeds and difficult species including sowthistles and docks. This will make it a perfect partner herbicide with selections targeting grass weeds, such as Calaris.”

Mr Jobling believes that Peak will be a natural successor to Jester, the herbicide widely used in maize and game cover crops. However, he pointed out that Peak cannot be used in conjunction with any other sulfonylurea products.

Another new pre-formulated maize herbicide from the company, called Casper, also gives growers an easy-to-use solution covering all the important broad-leaved weed risks, with the useful benefit of a boost in residual activity for long-term spring weed control.