Given the current conditions, grass is still growing rapidly with growth rates still up and over 80kg of dry matter (DM)/ha, but that means weeds are thriving too.

Weeds can be a serious headache at this time of year, springing up in the heat a fortnight ago and blossoming in the current moisture, making them hard to control.

The wet and windy conditions means there are not too many sprayers on the go.

But with grass growth well beyond demand, there is plenty of toppers being used to correct quality, and subsequently control weeds.

However, before weed control ever starts, it is important to identify what weeds are a problem in order to make a plan to deal with them.

Topping

There is always the argument that topping is not needed if grassland management is up to standard, but in reality it can still be a useful practice.

37% of farms recording grass on PastureBase are still over target, entering paddocks with a pre-grazing yield of 1,789kg DM/ha.

These farms should be taking paddocks out for surplus bales, but topping can also help correct grass quality rather than constantly playing catchup.

As well as that, topping paddocks helps prevent the spread of weeds by making their growth less vigorous and reducing their competitiveness in the sward.

Topping is most effective at weed control when it removes the flower head and upper leaves in dense areas of thistles, docks, and nettles before the bud opens.

It is recommended to top a paddock again a month after the first topping to stop the weeds from flowering.

The fear with topping is that it will affect the regrowth rate of the sward if paddocks are not topped immediately after grazing, as the pre-grazing cover of the next rotation may be affected.

Weed control

Realistically, topping will control weeds in the short-term, and may work in the long run if you are persistent for the next number of years, but often farmers will have to use some herbicides to get full control.

Knowing your fertility status is important, as it will indicate whether or not your soil needs lime, phosphorus (P), or potassium (K), which will allow you to grow more grass, limiting space for weeds.

Dock control at this time of the year is vital as they are at the rosette stage (measuring 150-200mm in diameter), which is the easiest stage to kill the weed.

Best practice is to spray docks shortly after a reseed, which will stop them from establishing due to competition in the sward. A well-established reseed will also limit and suppress weeds.

Thistles should also be sprayed now, as now they will begin to develop stolons, branch out, and cover the grass, which will kill what is underneath.

The products used to target weeds are not cheap, so application must be precise and accurate to get optimal results.

To ensure precise spraying, it is important to read the label of the product carefully to make sure you are applying at the correct rate.

Tips for spraying:

Make sure the product is suited to killing the weed;
Read the label carefully, adhering to buffer zones and rates;
Keep a record of the product being used;
Spray in suitable conditions – not windy or wet;
Wear protective gear;
Wash spraying equipment after use;
Adhere to recommended time between spraying and grazing, or cutting of silage (around seven days after);
In the case of ragwort, animals should not be allowed in until the weed is completely rotten and unpalatable.

There are a few product options for the control of docks in your clover swards; however, for the treatment of chickweed, nettles, thistles, or dandelions, there are limited options.

If clover is present in your swards, you must select a clover-safe product, which rules out a lot of conventional products. If the seed and stem are present, the weeds should be topped first and then sprayed a couple of weeks later.

Farmers should target the non-clover paddocks first and get the weeds completely under control and then look to establish clover in these paddocks next April or May.

Controlling weeds prior to clover establishment will prevent issues further down the line.

Controlling weeds in your paddocks this summer will maximise grass yield, improve silage quality, increase grass utilisation, and eliminate any health risks to livestock caused by certain weeds.