Brought to you by Bayer Crop Science
'Get rid of all important weeds in one go'
Harrie Nies from Huissen (Gelderland) is a grain grower in heart and soul. He goes for maximum yield and top quality with the highest possible hectolitre weights. This strategy also includes thorough and complete weed control, he believes. In recent years he has opted for Cossack Star† "That product fits here perfectly. You can remove all important weeds, such as annual meadow grass, speedwell and purple dead nettle in one go."
Harrie Nies' company is located on the Huissen industrial estate. A remarkable location that - if there were no sugar beets in front of the industrial hall - you would not directly link to agricultural activities "Yes, I am not really in a place where you would expect an arable farming or contracting company. Still, it is good here. The access is fine and there are no neighbors who could be bothered by my work. And I have a beautiful, modern hall at my disposal that I can use for years to come."
The fact that he ended up here is mainly due to the fact that he built his company more or less from scratch. "In the past I have worked as a consultant for several companies, but the practical work on the land has always beckoned. Over the years I have slowly built up my own arable farming and contracting business. This is simply what I love to do most", says Nies as he gives a short tour of the company hall.
High hectolitre weights
Nies is fully equipped for grain cultivation. Besides contract work (sowing, spraying and threshing) he also grows some 30 hectares of grain himself; mainly winter wheat, but also some winter barley and 'nature-inclusive' spring barley for the province. "Wheat has traditionally been a major crop in this area and cultivation has appealed to me from an early age. Apart from the fact that the heavy Betuwe clay is very suitable for cultivation, I have also made it a real specialty over the years. I try to get the most out of it for myself and for my customers, both in cultivation and with contract work."
Nies says that he has had a partnership with Bongers' Agro in Mill (North Brabant) for years, with a strong focus on growing wheat with high hectolitre weights. This wheat goes to broiler farmers, among others, and is also processed into special feed for young animals. "Every year we aim for a hectolitre weight of 80, which puts us about 4 points above the regional average (76). We achieve these high hectolitre weights through a targeted choice of varieties, by carefully targeting the optimal number of ears per square metre, a to grow crops as healthy as possible and to harvest exactly at the right time. If all these factors are given maximum attention, then there is really more to get out of grain cultivation," the grower/contractor has now experienced. This extra attention also translates into higher yields. Last season, for example, he obtained an average of 11,2 tons from one hectare; an excellent performance in a changeable grain season. "With just a little more attention and effort, you can quickly boost the wheat balance by €100 per hectare. I find that a great challenge every year," says Nies.
Cossack Star
According to the grower, healthy cultivation also includes an early and comprehensive approach to weeds. The biggest 'nuisances' on the Betuwe clay are annual meadow grass, speedwell and purple dead nettle. In addition, about 10 percent of the plots contain black tar, but specific measures against this are hardly necessary. For the past 3 years, Nies has only used the means Cossack Star (+ Robbester) and he really liked it. "With this product you can remove all important weeds in one go. Meadow grass in particular can grow very explosively on these soils and therefore remove a lot of nitrogen and water for the wheat. And speedwell and purple dead nettle have sometimes escaped the then common substance cocktails Cossack Star we can now manage these weeds just fine and you can really finish the weed control in one go."
In addition to a good, covering effect on all important weeds, Nies also looks at the ease of use and the cost of the product. And that's fine too Cossack Star† "In recent years we have always applied the standard dosage of 180 grams per hectare, which means that I can use the common 75% drift-reducing nozzles and do not have to take cultivation-free zones into account. That makes it easy to use. I also come with the combi Cossack Star + Robbester just above €70 per hectare. This makes it cheaper than other combinations of drugs with a comparable effect," says Nies.
Due to the complete operation of Cossack Star according to him, extra autumn spraying is rarely necessary (with Herold). "If you Cossack Star early in April - when growth has just started again - and when the humidity is high, then you don't really need anything anymore. Only Cossack Star That's fine then," concludes Nies.
Also view the Bayer Crop Science crop page Cereals for a complete overview of articles, recommendations, products and more.
