Balance® is a residual herbicide that provides strong control of key weeds of sugarcane in New South Wales.

Balance has the unique ability to remain stable on a hot and dry soil without breakdown by sunlight. Balance remains stable until activated by rainfall. As immediate incorporation is not required, there is less reliance on weather conditions.

This unique ability of Balance has provided successful weed control over the past two seasons, where reliance on rainfall has limited the use of most other herbicides.

Neil Gregor (left) with Steve Leeson (right), recommend early ratoon spraying on the Clarence.

Early ratoon spraying on the Clarence
Early cut rounds on the Clarence are vulnerable to weed infestation over a long period. In the past two seasons, long periods without rain have further lengthened the time before the canopy shades over, and this has resulted in failure of herbicides dependant on rainfall.

This season, around one-third of all early cut rounds were stool raked, fertilised and boom sprayed with Balance after harvest. This new ratoon cane strategy has provided superior weed control as explained by Steve Leeson, Norco Grafton.

"Balance has provided weed control from harvest to canopy closure under dry conditions, whilst avoiding the need for repeat sprays. Many growers on early cut rounds are spinning the trash off the row, fertilising immediately (with the advantage of the ground being soft), and then boom spraying Balance. This strategy buys time to plant cane with the confidence of the ratoon's remaining clean."

This strategy has been adopted by Neil Gregor, Chairman of NSW Sugar Milling Co-Operative on his farm near Maclean for the last two seasons.

"Fertilising and keeping early cut rounds clean with Balance is providing fast ratoon growth and reducing the time until the canopy shades out grasses. The seed bank of difficult to kill perennial grasses, such as guinea grass, has declined since using Balance, which is especially important in growing 2-year old cane. One spray of Balance is cost-effective compared to tank mixtures of atrazine and diuron, where repeat sprays would have been needed in dry conditions."

Rick Beattie (left), Bernard Walsh (right) in front of clean Q136 ratoon cane sprayed with Balance in the 2nd round.

Balance suits minimum tillage
The move from conventional cultivation to minimum tillage has increased the reliance on herbicides for ratoon cane weed control in New South Wales. Rick Beattie, Manager Agricultural Services with NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative explains that while new controlled traffic systems are being trialed, there is a strong reliance on herbicides for effective weed control.

"We are currently assessing the benefits of dual rows, wide rows and single rows planted on 1.8 metre centres in comparison to the conventional 1.5 metre centres. These new systems apply the principals of controlled traffic, which offers improvement in soil health and a reduction in crop damage under wet harvest conditions. These systems would be required to handle extra in-field traffic from whole crop harvesting under co-generation however they rely on strong herbicides for weed control.

We have been fortunate in the industry that a new generation of herbicides like Balance are now available, that allow early application to ratoon cane, without the worry of degradation of the herbicide from the often hot and dry conditions
of late spring and early summer. From the NSW point of view these products fit like a hand in a glove for ratoon weed control in a minimum till system. Fertilising and spraying once after harvest with Balance is reducing workload and inputs, which is important with current low sugar prices."

Jim, Bernard and Damien Walsh produce 20,000 tonne of cane at their Empire Vale and Upper Codrington farms. Bernard explains that the high seed bank at Empire Vale and poor results from other residual herbicides has resulted in Balance being adopted into their minimum tillage strategy.

"Last season we sprayed Balance on all ratoon's after harvest with excellent results. Our strategy is to harvest, rake trash off the row, fertilise with a minimum tillage box and boom spray Balance. The fine soil tilth after raking appears to allow for even incorporation of the herbicide band when rainfall occurs.

Balance allows us to take the next step with ratoon's before the busiest part of the season, as in the past when using other herbicides we have always had to return to spray a second time. One application of Balance is cost-effective, as there is no need for repeat knockdown sprays."

Balance reduces reliance on rain
David McDonald's farm near Woodburn received less than 200 mm of rain last season, which greatly limited the herbicide choice and the window of opportunity for spraying. David explains that flexibility with weather is the reason for adopting Balance for use on ratoon cane.

"Flexibility is what I like about Balance. It is much easier to spray when you want rather than wait for the right weather. In the past two seasons, Balance sprayed after harvest on ratoon's has provided control through to out-of-hand stage. The seed bank of barnyard (water grass), summer grass and crowsfoot has declined significantly since using Balance."

This flexibility in timing of a Balance application is saving time with cane farmers on the Tweed. Bill Stainlay at Murwillumbah explains that a high percentage of plough-out replant cane requires a strategy of minimal effort in ratoon cane. Bill places a high opportunity cost on the inability to work plant cane if ratoon's need to be re sprayed, which is the reason Balance has been used for the past three seasons.

"I have never had the farm this clean. In the first three rounds, my strategy is to stool rake and band spray Balance straight after harvest, relying on the trash blanket in the inter-row. Gaining control of these early ratoon's is critical and that's where Balance offers the greatest advantage. We would have been in trouble in the last two seasons as rainfall was irregular, and many herbicides were not effective. On cane cut after October, I apply Balance as a directed spray after fertilising as the cane is rapidly growing. I prefer to spray when the first weed emergence occurs with Balance and paraquat, as this gives the best results."

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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.

© Steve Cselka 2002 - 2010