Black-grass weed is emerging as one of the biggest threats to arable farms in the UK.
It is the major weed of winter wheat, one of the UK’s most valuable crops. A 2016 study for the NFU estimated black-grass weed reduces wheat yield by 16%. In worst case scenarios, losses equate to £448/hectare.
These costs are completely unsustainable for UK farmers and the challenge is getting worse: To date, control of black-grass weed has relied on the intensive use of herbicides, however, over 80% of farms are now stating they are seeing resistance to all three major herbicide groups used.
There are also growing concerns over evolving glyphosate resistance, a broad spectrum herbicide that kills weeds and crops, of last resort in this system.
An alternative to herbicides needs to be found to control black-grass weed for longer term sustainabilityin arable farms.