Farmers warned to be clear on crop definition before spraying
6th March 2025
Agronomy firm Hutchinsons is reminding growers with late-sown cereals of the importance that sowing date plays in determining the plant protection products that can be applied this spring.
Rules set out by the HSE’s Chemicals Regulations Division (CRD) define a winter cereal as one that has been sown on or before 31st January, and any cereal drilled after that—even if it is a ‘winter’ variety—is legally classed as a spring cereal and must be treated as such in the eyes of CRD.
Equally, a ‘spring’ variety sown before the end of January will technically be considered as a winter variety from a regulatory viewpoint, explained Hutchinsons’ technical support manager, Duncan Connabeer.
Important implications of sowing date
“Although sowing date doesn’t change the genetic traits of a winter or spring variety, these drilling date definitions do have important implications for the herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and growth regulators that can be legally applied on those crops.
“When winter cereals are sown after the end of January, they can only be treated with products approved in spring cereals,” Mr Connabeer added.
Likewise, any product authorised for use in winter cereals can legally be used on spring cereals when they are sown before the end of January, however, the expert warns that such use may not necessarily be supported by product manufacturers or agronomists.
Indeed, there can be an increased risk of crop damage from using some chemistry on winter cereals drilled in the spring, or spring cereals sown in the autumn, therefore growers must check product labels carefully and discuss the most suitable options with their agronomist, the expert concluded.
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