Protect potato crops with pre-emergent herbicide

Weeds are more than just an inconvenience in potato crops, they are relentless competitors, robbing young plants of essential nutrients, water, and sunlight. Left uncontrolled, they cause significant yield losses, complicate harvesting, and even reduce the marketable quality of potatoes.

The challenge is compounded by the fact that some of the most problematic weeds, including broadleaf weeds and aggressive grass species, emerge at the worst possible times, choking young potato plants before they have a chance to establish. Herbicides can sometimes be ineffective, inconsistent, or even damaging to the crop itself.

“Growers need a weed control solution that is powerful, dependable, and most importantly, safe for their crop. That’s where Artist comes in,” says Craig Watson, Product Manager – Horticulture with Fruitfed Supplies.

Introduced in 2019 following several years of joint trial work by Fruitfed Supplies and Bayer Crop Science, Artist combines two active ingredients, metribuzin and flufenacet, into a single pre-emergent herbicide. This dual-action formula provides broad-spectrum control of key weeds in potato crops.

Click here to read about the trial work and its findings

Artist is formulated as a Water Dispersible Granule (WG) and is applied once per season at a rate of 2.5 kg / ha before weeds and potatoes emerge. It offers protection against problem weeds such as cleavers, fumitory, and other broadleaf weeds.

Craig explains, “You get one main shot to get weed control right during the early part of the season. Our R&D team found that using Artist in combination with an effective tank mix partner eliminates a range of problematic weeds and gives potato crops the best possible start. with its excellent crop safety, Artist has been a gamechanger for our clients.”

Marc Fox, Horticulture Brand and Product Manager for Bayer Crop Science, adds, “Artist’s ability to tackle a broad spectrum of weeds, including some of the most difficult-to-control species, means fewer applications, reduced weed pressure, and ultimately, a cleaner field throughout the growing season.”

A major concern when selecting a herbicide is ensuring it won’t harm the crop. Artist has been carefully developed to deliver outstanding weed control while remaining completely safe for potatoes.

“Growers can apply it with confidence, knowing their crop is protected from both weeds and herbicide damage.”

An experienced potato grower provided Marc with additional feedback about Artist. “The grower found that the two active ingredients covered the main weed spectrum in their operation. They didn’t need to create complex tank mixes or add extra additives which helped eliminate any mixing errors, simplified application, and saved valuable time during the busy planting season. They could also easily add a product like Roundup Ultra® MAX where needed.

“The grower also said that one of the standout features of Artist is its long duration of activity. They found that a single application delivered effective weed control from planting all the way through to row closure. This allows the grower to focus on other jobs to grow the crop rather than constantly fighting emerging weeds.”

With seven years of successful use by commercial growers, Artist delivers safe, high-performance weed control that maximises yield potential, reduces input costs and ensures long-lasting weed control by eliminating early weed competition.

Artist best use guidelines: 

• Artist needs to be applied to damp soil or when irrigation / rainfall is expected as moisture is required for the product to work effectively. 
• Artist should be applied before weeds germinate and the crop emerges, as its mode of action means it controls weeds only as they germinate. Weeds growing from rhizomes or other survival structures are unlikely to be controlled as effectively, i.e. thistles, twitch, corn bind etc.​

Contact your Fruitfed Supplies Representative to find out more about Artist’s role in your weed control programme.

ACVM registration numbers: Artist® #P009555, Roundup Ultra® MAX #P008725. Read registered label before use.