Biostimulants

[Chae1]

What are people's views/experiences of using biostimulants as a replacement for fungicides? Particularly Scyon.

I questioned the inclusion of it from agronomist today and said it would replace ctl.

 

[Luke Cropwalker]

The only place it would replace CTL is on the invoice, but I doubt it would genuinely provide any sort of multi-site protection against septoria.

 

[T Hectares]

Your Agronomist has his shown his true colours to you with that statement !!
I hear Vaseline is useful in such mixtures too...

 

[Chae1]

I did ask him if it was snake oil. He said he would provide trials data to prove it served a purpose.

I didn't have to use it. Could easily have returned it.

 

[T Hectares]

Out of interest, how much did it cost ??

 

[Chae1]

Out of interest, how much did it cost ??

I stupidly didn't ask. I've only 50 acres of winter barley so it's not going to break the bank. Will post it here when invoice comes in.

 

[Farmer Fin]

https://www.uniumbioscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Scyon-April-2020.pdf

bulls**t baffles brains.
13 page document but not any proper evidence there for proof of efficacy.

 

[Brisel]

What are people's views/experiences of using biostimulants as a replacement for fungicides? Particularly Scyon.

I questioned the inclusion of it from agronomist today and said it would replace ctl.

No, it won't replace fungicides. There is some yield response to some biostimulants in a very low input programme.

I'd be having a short conversation with that agronomist along the lines of "stop fecking around or feck off." The sooner that these snake oils come under heavier regulation the better in my opinion. It's a high distributor profit margin unproven way of farming.

 

[teslacoils]

I stupidly didn't ask. I've only 50 acres of winter barley so it's not going to break the bank. Will post it here when invoice comes in.

Every little helps.....them hit their sales & profit targets.

As with all these things, unless they tell you what's in it rather than just "unique" or "proprietary" then send back.

I can make you a unique proprietary blend of nutrients featuring rapid sugars, plant extracts and high calcium and potassium boosters......it's called a cup of tea. It's proprietary because of the unique way I stir it and leave the bag in.

 

[CJS]

Out of interest, how much did it cost ??

Think someone told me it was £6 ha Assume it is Hutchinson’s exclusive If I had a CTL replacement for £6 ha I would have made sure everyone new about it There lack of publicity for the product tells you all you need to know There was an article about it in crop protection magazine last year I think

 

[woodylane]

What are people's views/experiences of using biostimulants as a replacement for fungicides? Particularly Scyon.

I questioned the inclusion of it from agronomist today and said it would replace ctl.

Ridiculous statement

 

[teslacoils]

Think someone told me it was £6 ha Assume it is Hutchinson’s exclusive If I had a CTL replacement for £6 ha I would have made sure everyone new about it There lack of publicity for the product tells you all you need to know There was an article about it in crop protection magazine last year I think

Bloody hell. Even if it's a litre per hectare I'm in the wrong business. I'd be asking for it to be credited as a freebie, or giving the chap his marching orders. I'd hazard a guess the distributer and producer will each be making a big, big margin on it.

Can't decide if I'd like this stuff regulating better, or just for us all to get a bit wiser before we dump it in the tank thinking it's only £20 or whatever.

 

[T Hectares]

Bloody hell. Even if it's a litre per hectare I'm in the wrong business. I'd be asking for it to be credited as a freebie, or giving the chap his marching orders. I'd hazard a guess the distributer and producer will each be making a big, big margin on it.

Can't decide if I'd like this stuff regulating better, or just for us all to get a bit wiser before we dump it in the tank thinking it's only £20 or whatever.

It’s situations like this where I value my NIAB TAG membership, the subscription has paid for its self many times over by giving me an independent view on such products
And stopping the “well it’s only a few quid, can’t do any harm” mentality that can see £££’s drip through your fingers for no results
A full AminoA programme buys a lot of fungicide, proven trialled fungicide that is...

 

[Chae1]

Just so we're clear. He didn't say it will replace ctl. Said it worked great last year with no CTL in mix.

 

[T Hectares]

I think adding Mn did a great a job on Septoria last year, in a mix with Ascra that is...

Sorry @Chae1 not poking fun but these products are a wet dream for distributors !!

£6/ha slipped in twice a year x their acreage pays for the bubbly at the Xmas party

 

[woodylane]

Just so we're clear. He didn't say it will replace ctl. Said it worked great last year with no CTL in mix.

Everything worked well last year as there was very little disease pressure due to the weather.

 

[Chae1]

I think adding Mn did a great a job on Septoria last year, in a mix with Ascra that is...

Sorry @Chae1 not poking fun but these products are a wet dream for distributors !!

£6/ha slipped in twice a year x their acreage pays for the bubbly at the Xmas party

I don't mind anyone poking fun at me. Just don't want my agronomist getting a hard time!.That's my job!

As I said it's my choice what I put in tank, I can and have left stuff out in the past.

Just a bit suspicious about this stuff and interested in the collectives opinion on it.

 

[CJS]

I don't mind anyone poking fun at me. Just don't want my agronomist getting a hard time!.That's my job!

As I said it's my choice what I put in tank, I can and have left stuff out in the past.

Just a bit suspicious about this stuff and interested in the collectives opinion on it.

Surely the manufacturer looks at posts about these kinds of products They could come and post their thoughts and any proven results Might even persuade a sinic to try some

 

[teslacoils]

Just a bit suspicious about this stuff and interested in the collectives opinion on it.

You are wise to be suspicious. Tbh you're agronomist is probably under pressure to get it out of the warehouse.

After last year, I'd expect a spring with reduced need for fungicides etc to be a complete pain for some firms.

 

[Hedger]

Out of interest, who is your agronomist? Are they part of a national or local company or an independent?