How to use Starane^® Advanced

Starane Advanced is a broadleaf herbicide used for the control of a wide range of weeds in fallow, grazing lucerne, maize, millets, pastures, poppies, sorghum, sugar cane, sweet corn, winter cereals as well as woody weeds in agricultural non-crop areas, commercial and industrial areas, forests, pastures and rights-of-way. Starane Advanced is a non-scheduled poison that is selective to pasture grasses, rainfast within one hour and has a short plantback period to major crops.

For most weeds the rate of Starane Advanced to apply as a foliar high volume spray is between 300 and 600 mL per 100 litres of water.

As a cut stump or basal bark treatment, for most weeds the rate of Starane Advanced to apply is 100–200 mL per litre of diesel or Biosafe.

Always check the label for the correct rate. A copy of the label can be accessed here.

For high volume foliar applications only mix Starane Advanced with clean water sourced from town supply or rain water tank. Generally dam or river water should not be used as it can contain particles like clay that bind to the chemical and reduce efficacy.

Half fill the spray tank with water and then add in the Starane Advanced before adding in the remainder of the water. If one is required (as directed on the product label), mix in spray oil, a penetrant or wetting agent once the spray tank is full.

Once mixed, the spray solution should ideally be kept agitated and used immediately. However, if circumstances conspire to interrupt spraying, then a mixture of Starane Advanced and water can be stored for up to seven days provided that it is well agitated again before use.

If mixing with diesel or Biosafe for cut stump or basal bark treatments, quarter fill the spray unit with diesel then add in the Starane Advanced. Complete the filling with diesel and agitate well. Only mix enough for each day’s work and use the mix within 24 hours.

Starane Advanced is most effective when applied to weeds that are not stressed due to lack of moisture, excessive heat, insect damage, etc. and are actively growing. Actively growing weeds will draw the chemical into the vascular system and transport it through the stems and down to the roots to ensure maximum efficacy.

In general, smaller weeds are easier to control than large ones.

Starane Advanced needs to penetrate into the leaves of treated weeds before any rainfall occurs and so do not make high volume foliar applications if rain is possible before the spray is completely dry – usually one hour. Similarly, avoid application if the leaves are wet from rainfall or dew.

Provided the target weeds are not stressed, application of Starane Advanced via foliar, cut stump or basal bark treatment method can occur throughout the year. However, if applying at a basal bark treatment, do not apply the mix to charcoal-coated or wet stems as this will compromise penetration and minimise efficacy.

A general guide to the best time of the year in which to treat common woody weeds can be found in this table.

a) Foliar application

Apply as a foliar spot spray to completely wet all leaves and stems. Coverage should be to the point of run-off in that the chemical mix is just beginning to drip from the leaves once the spraying is completed.

This type of application is called high volume spraying as you are applying a large amount of spray mixture to the target weeds. Provided that good coverage of the target weed is possible, then high volume spraying can be completed using a variety of equipment, from a small hand pump unit to a knapsack sprayer through to a large motorised pump and hand gun unit.

Remember that with a foliar spray you are looking to capture enough chemical on the foliage to kill not only the above-ground portion of the weed but all of the root mass as well so good coverage is essential.

A video demonstrating the correct techniques for high volume spraying can be accessed here.

b) Cut stump application

Dilute Starane Advanced with diesel or Biosafe as per the label directions and using a knapsack or small pressure sprayer, apply the spray mix to the cut surface of the trunk, the sides of the stump and any roots above the soil surface.

It is important that the spray mix be applied within five to 10 seconds of the trunk being cut to maximise the penetration into the stump.

Ensure that the sprayed surfaces are thoroughly wet but not to the point where the spray is running off and puddling on the soil.

A video demonstrating the correct technique for cut stump applications can be accessed here.

c) Basal bark application

Using a knapsack or small pressure sprayer, apply a mix of Starane Advanced and diesel or Biosafe to the stems or trunk of the target weed from the ground up to a height of 30 cm. Ensure that the entire circumference of the stems or trunk is treated.

Ensure that the sprayed surface is wet but not so much that the spray runs off and puddles on the soil.

For weeds with multiple stems, ensure each one is sprayed around the entire circumference.

Basal bark treatment is generally effective when weed stems are up to 5 cm in diameter. When stem diameter exceeds 5 cm, a cut stump application is recommended.

A video demonstrating the correct technique for basal bark applications can be accessed here.

Stock must not graze in areas where Starane Advanced has been applied until at least seven days have elapsed since time of application.