Shark

Bites Buds and Savages Suckers

• Fast and effective Grape Vine Disbudding
• Control of tough weeds in Vineyards and Orchards

Innovative Vine and Weed Management

Innovative new SHARK technology offers growers a very effective new bud and sucker control option that dramatically reduces disbudding labour requirements and gives longer control.

Suckers compete for productive canopy and harbour pests and disease. Management by back-breaking manual bud rubbing is very labour intensive and the results disappointing at times.

Shark is a purpose built formulation with a unique adjuvant system to maximise control of suckers and tough weeds whilst reducing drift. This revolutionary use is patent protected.

Benefits

• Revolutionary labour saving innovation for vineyards
• One pass, very consistent results
• Fast activity - vine growth rather then sucker growth
• Longer lasting - re-treatment of new sucker growth delayed
• Much less hassle than manual disbudding and a more professional job
• Very cost effective

Sharks Teeth (Features)

• Fast and very effective burn off
• Rainfast in less than 1 hour
• Not temperature dependant
• Robust and reliable - controls what it contacts and no residues
• Only kills green tissue
• Longer lasting control than hand disbudding
• Low toxicity, good environmental profile

Comparison with Hand Disbudding
	Hand Disbudding	Shark
Time	***	***
Labour	***	**
Labour OH&S	***	***
Wounds and disease entry	**	***
Sucker regrowth	**	**

Directions for Use - Grapevine Disbudding

Use rate

300 mls Shark / 100 L. Apply 50 to 100 litres of spraymix per km of row to ensure thorough coverage of all sucker growth.

The use of a shrouded sprayer is mandatory.

Do NOT apply to young grape vines that have trunks with green tissue not lignified.

Do NOT spray in windy or dead calm conditions.

Shark Attack

Timing

The ideal sucker size for treatment is 10 to 15 cm but Shark is highly effective from bud stage to 30 cm. More buds and subsequent suckers may emerge dependant on variety, age, soil fertility etc and retreatment may be required.

Weed Control

Shark will also give excellent control of tough weeds including mallows, nettles and tall willow herb. However it will not control the full range of vineyard weeds and Buster® is an ideal tankmix partner to provide fast and highly effective control of broadleaf weeds, grasses and clover.

Shark Alarm

Shark is a highly active contact herbicide in a specially formulated low drift formulation. It is non volatile but any drift into the canopy will result in ‘spotting’ of leaf, stem and fruit. Drift damage can be severe if not controlled, therefore use of a shrouded (shielded) sprayer for grapevine disbudding is mandatory. Use the following guidelines for safe and efficient use.

Getting the best "BITE" out of Shark (Grapevine disbudding)

1. Use a shrouded sprayer to stop spray drift into canopy
2. Avoid spray contact with shroud brushes and subsequent ‘flick’ or brushing onto foliage
3. Use 80 degree low drift nozzles (air induction are best) at lowest manufacturer pressure
4. Limit speed to 4 to 6 km/hr to reduce turbulence
5. Apply in a wind speed of less than 15 km/hr

Shark works fast - %age activity after 1 day

Treatment (Rate/100 L)	At Budswell	<5 cm Long	5-10 cm Long	> 10 cm Long
Shark 300 mls	100.0	99.3	94.3	92.7

Geelen Research Hawkes Bay Chardonnay - Mature Vines

Percent control of Vine suckers 1 day after application (27 Oct 06)

Total Sucker control after 7 days

Treatments Rate / 100 L	Sucker Control 5-10 cm Long 7 DAT	Sucker Control >10 cm Long 7 DAT
Shark 300 mls	100	100

Geelen Research Hawkes Bay Pinor Noir - Young Vines (3 years old)

Percent control of Vine suckers after 1st spray

No regrowth from treated suckers: %age regrowth after 29 days

Treatments Rate / 100 L	% Sucker Control 7 DAT	% Vines with new suckers 29 DAT
Shark 300 mls	100	0
Manual Bud Rubbing	100	57.1

Fruitfed Supplies Research Nelson 2006 trial results

Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Applied 09.11.06

Shrouded sprayer mandatory

For disbudding of grapevines only, apply Shark through a shrouded (shielded) sprayer. The shrouded sprayer needs to be set up to avoid any spray drift or wiping/flicking of the spray solution onto the crop. Avoid any spray contact onto shrouding or brushes.

Herbicide spraying

Apply Shark with a knockdown herbicide. Make every effort to reduce drift, including low boom height etc. Use of low drift air induction nozzles is recommended. If flat fan nozzles are used, the addition of Li-700 is recommended. Use 80 degree nozzles at manufacturer’s minimum pressures.

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