Belchim Crop Protection

Vegetable growers are obliged to keep their crops weed free for different

reasons. Proper weed control programs enable vegetable growers to deliver

high quality and safe food to European consumers in an economical way. Many

factors influence the constant change seen in herbicide programs in vegetables

in Europe. To support the distribution channel and growers in this constantly

changing market, Belchim Crop Protection continues to pursue technical

excellence and to investigate further development possibilities with pyridate.

The selective post-emergence broad-leaf weed

control market segment in vegetables

Current situation:

The selective post-emergence broad-leaf weed control market segment in

vegetables is very volatile on an annual basis and continuously changing over

the years. The main market driver for this segment is weather conditions in the

main field vegetable growing areas across Europe. Generally warmand semi-dry

weather conditions increase the need for contact post-emergence herbicides.

Weed growth is significantly higher in warm conditions and controlling bigger

weeds requires the use of higher doses of post-emergence contact herbicides.

Soil herbicides generally perform less well in semi-dry weather conditions,

increasing the Super Developed Area (SDA) of post-emergence contact

herbicides. On the other hand, conditions that are too dry could limit weed

emergence, resulting in a lower need for post-emergence contact herbicides.

In dry years, there is a small tendency to use less soil herbicides. In such years

the lower use of soil herbicides doesn’t compensate the extra use of contact

herbicides for several reasons. All these factors have their relevant impact on

the total market segment size of post-emergence broad-leaf contact herbicides

Vegetable post-emergence broad-leaf weed control market

segment Europe

Segment super developed area (million ha)

2.0-3.2

Segment value at farmer level (million €)

90-150

Pyridate: the crucial link for future-proof

weed control in vegetables

Jan Vanherck – International Crop Manager Vegetables

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