Project Overview & Results
Year 2: 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
We worked with Redekop and NIAB to explore harvest weed seed control (HWSC) in the UK as a method to control grassweeds and reduce dependence on chemical control. It aims to help farmers establish reasonable expectation of what proportion grassweed remains at harvest and available to SCU (or other similar control measure). Watch this video to see our results and read about them in full below:
After taking into account the results from Year 1, we were ready to go full steam ahead with Year 2. Although harvest proved a difficult one for most farmers across the UK this year, we are hoping for some insightful results. Make sure to join the Seed Circle for project updates and to be alerted when Year 2 results are released:
Year 1: 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
The results from Year 1 found that Italian ryegrass was grassweed enemy number one for Warwickshire grower and Velcourt farm manager Ted Holmes, who has been trialling a unit fitted to his New Holland CR9.90.
In Suffolk, Adam noticed a build-up of blackgrass in the chaff lines behind his Claas Lexion 8800, running on a no-till 12/36m controlled-traffic farming system. He’s also hoping the SCU keeps meadow brome in check.
Will developed a protocol for farmers to take their own pre-harvest sample. “It’s impractical to have to wait for a weed scientist before you get the combine out. But just a little instruction on how to sample helped the farmers take good, representative samples. They sent these into NIAB for assessment.’ More information on how to sample weed seeds can be found in this video:
On the 18 May 2023 a webinar took place discussing the Harvest Weed-Seed Control project. The panel addressed questions and discussed suggestions live from webinar attendees. The focus of this webinar was to bring in prospective Seed Scouts to refine how the sampling will work. This webinar included discussions with Will Smith, Adam Driver and Trevor Thiessen. If this webinar seems like something you feel you missed out on, click on the video to give it a watch:
To find out more about Year 1 of this project, click the button down below!
Every farmer taking part in the study get tailored information on the likely level of efficacy of HWSC, which opens up a new chemical-free form of grassweed control and helps reduce dependence on glyphosate. The Seed Scouts will be taking part in the UK’s first ever farmer-led survey of grassweeds left standing at harvest. Experience in other countries has shown this is a valuable window to tackle tricky grassweeds, such as ryegrass and meadow brome. This will be tested using the Redekop Seed Control Unit.
