Welcome to the Corteva™ Agriscience
Forage Agronomy Update
These regular technical notes come with CPD points and will help those interested in improving grassland and forage productivity on dairy, beef, sheep and equestrian enterprises. We post frequently on our social media channels, so you’ll want to make sure you’re following @CortevaUK on X and Facebook and @CortevaUKI on Instagram.
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Autumn use of ProClova® XL on established grassland | Best options for autumn broad-spectrum weed control | Weed control for newly sown leys | Instinct® – a look back at the season so far | FAQs | Contact us | BASIS and NRoSO points
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Autumn use of ProClova® XL on established grassland
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Where docks are an issue in established grassland and clover leys, ProClova XL can be applied to actively growing weeds for effective control. Good soil moisture is essential, as drought stress can reduce herbicide uptake by target weeds. For optimal control ensure overnight temperatures are above 8°C. Autumn is an ideal time to control docks as they are naturally moving sugars from the leaves to the roots to support winter survival. This then enhances the movement of the herbicide within the plant and will maximise long-term control effects. ProClova XL can be applied up to 31 October, provided suitable growing conditions and temperatures are present.
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Best options for autumn broad-spectrum weed control
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Treating weeds in the autumn helps reduce pressure during the busy spring workload, ensuring pastures are cleaner and more productive before the next growing season.
Weed control options where clover is not a concern:
Where docks, nettles or buttercups are present in grazing or silage fields, use ProGrass™. Apply before 31 October.
If spear thistles or creeping thistles are present in grazing fields (sheep and cattle only) then Forefront® T is the best option. There is no cut-off date for Forefront T applications, so where conditions remain suitable, it can be used through to the end of the year.
Both ProGrass and Forefront T have a short grazing interval of 7 days.
Forefront T can be applied to fields that were previously cut for silage or hay once the last cut of the season has been taken. In the following calendar year, any silage, hay or haylage produced from the treated field must remain on the farm of origin and must not be sold or transferred off farm. Likewise, all manure produced from livestock fed on this forage must also remain on the farm and may only be spread onto agricultural grassland. These stewardship requirements are essential to prevent residues of aminopyralid affecting sensitive broad-leaved crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, peas and beans.
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Weed control for newly sown leys
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Envy® provides broad-spectrum post-emergence control of many of the key broad-leaved weeds encountered in newly sown leys, optimising establishment and protecting the investment made in re-seeding.
It is particularly effective against seedling docks, buttercups, mouse eared and common chickweed as well as mayweeds. Early removal secures a more even sward and helps maximise the productivity and longevity of the ley. For optimum results, apply to actively growing weeds under good growing conditions and follow label recommendations for crop and weed growth stages. Envy can be used up to 30 November and will work well in cooler conditions. It will kill clover.
For newly sown grass leys that include clover, weed control with ProClova® XL has to wait until the following spring (application window 1 April to 31 July). If weeds ingress then topping may be the best option.
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Instinct® – a look back at the season so far
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The 2026 forage season will be remembered for its exceptionally dry summer, with moisture becoming the key limiting factor for crop growth across many areas. While dry conditions reduced the risk of nitrogen losses typically associated with prolonged rainfall, they also reinforced the importance of ensuring every unit of applied nitrogen remained available to support crop growth when conditions allowed. This season highlighted the value of efficient nitrogen management and careful stewardship of fertiliser investment.
Instinct helps keep nitrogen in the root zone for longer by slowing the conversion of ammonium to nitrate, reducing the risk of nitrogen loss through leaching and denitrification for around 10-12 weeks. By helping retain nitrogen in a plant-available form, Instinct supports improved nitrogen use efficiency and helps maximise the return from applied fertiliser.
With rapidly changing weather patterns nitrogen management needs to be resilient to both wet and dry conditions. Growers continued to focus on maintaining productivity while making fertiliser inputs work harder, with increasing interest in technologies that improve nitrogen retention and utilisation. Ongoing farm-scale commercial trials continue to build evidence of Instinct's role in supporting more efficient nitrogen management across forage and maize systems.
As plans begin for the autumn, protecting and managing nitrogen efficiently is vital, whatever the weather. With slurry and digestate starting to be applied, now is a good time to think about adding Instinct. Instinct provides a practical tool to help growers maximise the value of their nitrogen investment, improve nutrient use efficiency and support sustainable crop production across a number of crops including grass, cereals and oilseed rape.
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Q: If I have used Forefront® T on my grass, can I drill maize in that field next spring?
A: Yes, plough as soon as possible and ensure four months have passed between spraying Forefront T and drilling maize.
Q: I have sprayed Forefront® T to control ragwort - how soon after application can I cut it?
A: In the first year, it must only be grazed, as long as the ragwort is dead before livestock goes back in the field. In the second year, you can cut it as long as all silage/hay/manure remains on farm. Only two years after application can the hay/silage be moved off farm.
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Click here to find the contact details of your local forage specialist.
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USE PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS SAFELY. Always read the label and product information before use. For further information including warning phrases and symbols refer to label. ®™ Trademarks Corteva Agriscience Limited and its affiliated companies. All other brand names are trademarks of other manufacturers for which proprietary rights may exist. All manufacturers trade names and trademarks are duly acknowledged. © 2026 Corteva. Instinct® contains nitrapyrin. ProClova® XL contains florpyrauxifen-benzyl and amidosulfuron. ProGrass™ contains fluroxypyr-meptyl, halauxifen-methyl and triclopyr. Envy® contains fluroxypyr and florasulam. Forefront® T contains aminopyralid and triclopyr.
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