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Burdekin cane grower winning the war on weeds
With a family legacy of more than 100 years of growing sugarcane to draw on, fourth-generation producer Ben Nielson of JNL Farming Company Pty Ltd, in Far North Queensland’s Burdekin knows what it takes to get the best out of his crop.
When it comes to weed control, he can’t go past the herbicide Valor from the Sumitomo Chemical range, which he used in its original granular form (Valor 500WG) since its inception about 10 years ago until transitioning to the new liquid SC formulation (Valor EZE) when it was launched in 2024.
Mr Nielson, who grows sugarcane with his brother David over 273 hectares east of Ayr, said Valor was a fantastic product to control a multitude of weeds while being safe enough to use near commercial vegetable operations.
“I had been using the granular product since it came out and was keen to try the new liquid form. We did some trials and had the same good results that we were used to with the granular,” he said.
“What I like about the liquid form is there is an ease of use. It can just go straight in the sprayer without the need to dissolve granules first.
“We’ll put Valor EZE down in spring when the cane gets about a foot high. One application a year is enough to give residual protection,” he said.
Company info:
Established in 1998, Sumitomo Chemical Australia provides innovative solutions including a range of conventional and biological products for Australian agriculture. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical Co, Japan which traces its origins back to the 1600s, and USA-based Valent Biosciences which produces a range of biologically derived, environmentally compatible pesticides and plant growth regulators. Based in Sydney, Sumitomo Chemical Australia has a team of sales and technical support personnel in key agricultural regions of Australia.
Company website: www.sumitomo-chem.com.au
Company email: orders@sumitomo-chem.com.au
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