Bayer Crop Sciences

BALANCE®

Balance is a residual herbicide that provides strong control of key weeds in sugarcane. The unique ability of Balance to remain stable on a hot, dry soil makes it easy to apply - provided these simple guidelines are followed.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Whichever of the application timings you choose, the following principles should be taken into account:

BE PATIENT. Best results occur when Balance is sprayed in a tank-mix with paraquat when weeds first emerge. This controls weeds that have germinated before Balance becomes activated by rain or irrigation.
BE PRECISE. Apply Balance at a single rate of 200 g/ha. Do not apply Balance with wetting agents, crop oils or other adjuvant's.
BE PREPARED. Spray paraquat if weeds emerge and are not controlled after spraying Balance. This may occur if light rain triggers a weed germination without carrying Balance to- the depth of the weed root zone.

PLANT CANE

Where cane is more advanced than the 4-leaf stage, apply Balance as a directed spray (e.g. Irvin leg).

Balance tank-mixed with paraquat can be safely sprayed with a boom over the top of plant cane up to the 4-leaf stage.

Balance sprayed early in plant cane establishment can provide weed control up to the fill-in stage.

The flexibility of Balance gives you the option of waiting until you are confident of a successful plant strike before spraying.

It is important to spray Balance in a tank-mix with paraquat where cane leaf or weeds have emerged at the time of spraying.
Cut-away prior to spraying Balance if the planting drill is likely to erode into the furrow.
Make sure there is sufficient soil cover over the sett (at least 60 mm) to reduce the risk of treated soil contacting the sett.

RATOON CANE

Where cane is more advanced than the 2-leaf stage, apply Balance as a direct spray (e.g. Irvin leg).

Balance can be safely sprayed with a boom over the top of ratoon cane up to the 2-leaf stage.

Balance can be sprayed on burnt or trash-blanketed ratoon's without the risk of chemical tie-up.

The flexibility of Balance means it can be sprayed over early cut ratoon's without breaking down due to sunlight (unlike atrazine, diuron and coformulations of diuron + hexazinone). Spraying early cut rounds saves time and reduces the need for later knockdown sprays.

It is important to spray Balance in a tank-mix with paraquat where weeds have emerged at the time of spraying.

WEEDS CONTROLLED	STATES	RATE	CRITICAL COMMENTS
Pre weed emergence: Barnyard grass, billygoat weed (blue top), blackberry nightshade, crowsfoot grass, green summer grass, thick head, guinea grass.	Qld, NSW, WA only.	200g/ha	General: Balance 750 WG can be applied to hot and dry soils, without the risk of breakdown by sunlight. For effective weed control, incorporation by rainfall or irrigation to the weed root zone is required, but immediate soil incorporation is not critical due to the ultraviolet stability of Balance. Pre to early post-emergence of plant cane: May be applied as a broadcast or band spray `over the top' of plant cane from planting up to the 3 to 4-leaf crop stage. ADD paraquat at label rates where green cane leaf has emerged at application, even if no weeds have emerged. DO NOT apply as a broadcast or band spray after the 4-leaf stage of plant cane. Beyond this stage, Balance must only be applied as a directed spray (see Prior to the out-of-hand stage of plant and ratoon cane below). DO NOT apply to unconsolidated soil in the cutaway situation, where rainfall or irrigation may cause soil movement into the planting drill. DO NOT apply to shallow planted cane (e.g. less than 60 mm soil cover above the sett). A greater depth of soil cover is recommended where soils have a high infiltration rate. After harvest of ratoon cane: May be applied 'over the top' of cane as a broadcast or band spray up to the 2-leaf crop stage. Balance can be applied to burnt or trash blanketed ratoon cane. Avoid soil disturbance, e.g. stool splitting, after application. If weeds have emerged at application, add paraquat at the appropriate label rate to provide improved weed knockdown. Prior to the 'out-of-hand' stage of plant and ratoon cane: Apply as a directed inter-row spray (e.g. Irvin leg) to the soil surface after the last working. Best results are obtained where the mound surface has consolidated to minimise soil and herbicide movement. Direct the spray to minimise contact with sugarcane foliage. Do not apply to sugarcane less than 0.75 m in height, If weeds have emerged at application, add paraquat at the appropriate label rate to provide - improved weed knockdown.
Pre weed emergence: Weeds as above plus: Vines (Ipomoea spp.)	Qld, NSW only.	200g/ha + 1.6kg/ha diuron (900g/kg)	After harvest of ratoon cane and prior to the 'out-of-hand' stage of plant end ratoon cane: Apply as for Balance alone (above). For best results diuron requires incorporation by rainfall or irrigation within 10 days of application. NB. Application of diuron to crops planted in very light sandy or gravelly soils, or soils low in clay or organic matter may result in crop damage. Heavy rains after the application of diuron may cause severe crop damage. Pre to early post emergence of plant cane: DO NOT apply Balance in a tank-mixture with diuron at this crop stage.

DO NOT apply to poorly drained soils, e.g. soils prone to water logging, sodic soils or soils affected by physical compaction.
DO NOT apply to crops with poor root development or to crops under stress from water logging, drought, nutrient deficiency or disease.
DO NOT apply to soils of cation exchange capacity (C.E.C.) below 4.5 meq/100 g.
DO NOT apply to soils with organic carbon content of 1.0% or less, unless the cation exchange capacity (C.E.C.) is above 9.5 meq/100 g. These values should be determined through soil analysis prior to using Balance.

RESTRAINTS:
DO NOT apply by aircraft.
DO NOT apply with wetting agents, crop oils or other adjuvant's.

WITHHOLDING PERIODS:
Harvest: DO NOT HARVEST FOR 19 WEEKS AFTER APPLICATION
Grazing: DO NOT GRAZE ANIMALS ON TREATED CROPS

The information and recommendations set out on this page are based on tests and data believed to be reliable at the time of publication. Results may vary, as the use and application of the products is beyond our control and may be subject to climatic, geographical or biological variables, and/or developed resistance. Any product referred to in this brochure must be used strictly as directed, and in accordance with all instructions appearing on the label for that product and in other applicable reference material. So far as it is lawfully able to do so, Northern Rivers Rural Buying Service & Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd accepts no liability or responsibility for loss or damage arising from failure to follow such directions and instructions.

For Technical Enquiries please call 1800 804 479
Balance® is a Registered Trademark of Bayer. -Registered trademark,
Bayer Cropscience Pty Ltd ABN 87 000 226 022 391-393 Tooronga Road East Hawthorn, Vic. 3123 Phone: (03) 9248 6888 Fax: (03) 9248 6800 www.bayercropscience.com.au Always read and adhere to label directions or the product container.