As all arable farmers know blackgrass is an ever-increasing problem and is causing financial problems for farms across the country, giving them the choice to either harvest their crops and accept that the blackgrass seeds are going to spread or to spray or top areas infested with blackgrass to try and reduce the spread. 

With more and more interest in regenerative agricultural and the idea that it may be the future for agriculture, farmers are questioning how they are going to control blackgrass whilst following the regenerative principle of not disturbing the soil.  When we visited Groundswell Show one of the talks was about blackgrass control in an arable rotation.  The speaker was Dr Steven Moss who has over 30 years of expertise focusing on disease resistance.  He has put together a Blackgrass agroecology five key plan which is designed to help farmers plan to control blackgrass.  They are as follows:

Dr Moss found that blackgrass seeds will decline by 70% each year when they are at a depth of below 5cm.  It is important to note this was at a farm that was cultivating at least once a year.

Blackgrass seeds will only germinate within 5cm of the soil surface.  Dr Moss somewhat controversially said at a regen event that ploughing at a depth of 20-25cm may become a part of regen practices as it is beneficial in reducing blackgrass.  He did however go on to say that ploughing should only be done every 6-8 years depending on the farmers system.

80% of blackgrass seeds will emerge in September to October which means this is the best time for controlling the problem.  It is easiest to kill blackgrass before drilling when a non-selective herbicide can be used.  For this reason, the later farmers are able to drill the more chance they will have of reducing their blackgrass burden early on.

Blackgrass sheds seeds when the days start to get shorter not just when the climate gets hotter.  For this reason, mid-June is the time when farmers should expect shedding to commence with 95% of the blackgrass seeds being shed by harvest.

Farmers drilling winter crops earlier with widespread resistance has helped blackgrass to establish and begin to dominate some farmers arable crops.  If not controlled blackgrass issues can get 10x worse every year.  To stop a problem escalating farmers need to control 95% of the blackgrass problem each year to start to see a reduction in the blackgrass issue. 

Dr Moss’s five key plan does help to give farmers a better idea of when and what they may need to do to control blackgrass.  However, it is by no means a straightforward process and there is no easy solution for blackgrass control.

To discuss further, please contact Edward Metcalfe at edwardmetcalfe@fcgagric.com