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Bringing plant potential to life is our company purpose. We bring plant potential to life by working to our values: Innovation, Intensity, Health and Performance. These values are at the core of everything we do at Syngenta. They help to guide our actions and decisions.

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Innovationmeans always seeking a better way: turning breakthrough ideas in science and business into new solutions. We do that by fostering our people’s creativity and working closely with customers.

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Intensityis about mobilizing a “can-do” approach: focusing our passion and energy. That enables us to build new partnerships to create a winning edge.

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OurHealthvalue contributes to the quality of life. It reflects our profound respect for nature and the environment, together with our commitment to releasing employees’ vitality and potential.

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Performancemeans delivering high-quality results and achieving benchmark standards: building our company safely and ethically, and keeping our promises.

 

[llamedos]

Beetle hits to protect emerging OSR​

Most oilseed rape growers have opted for earlier sowing this season, in an effort to get crops up and away ahead of Flea Beetle damage. Warm soils has certainly helped with germination, but the bright hot weather has now increased insect activity.

Timely spray applications can help to get seedlings safely established, with some useful tips to get the best possible results, reported Syngenta Field Technical Manager, Max Newbert.

“Pyrethroid applications when Flea Beetle or Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle feeding is seen to be hitting seedlings remains the key first step for growers,” he advised. “But with pyrethroid resistance a recognised issue for some growers, it means Hallmark Zeon should always be used at the full approved rate.” Application at the full rate will also give the highest level of repellency action to minimise damage.

Research at Syngenta Jealotts Hill in Berkshire has demonstrated the repellency activity of Hallmark Zeon can halve the number of Flea Beetles attacking treated seedlings for more than 24 hours after application, compared to untreated. Protection of plants through to the second true leaf emerging has been identified as having a significant impact on overall survival rates.

Growers and agronomists should be looking to differentiate Flea Beetle and Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle attacks, added Max. Flea Beetle feeding results in the severe shot holing damage; they are more difficult to control, requiring Hallmark Zeon rates of 75 ml/ha, he advised. Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle also cause the initial damage at establishment, along with the potential severe effects of larvae feeding in the spring, from eggs laid in the soil now; the approved Hallmark Zeon rate for CSFB control is 50 ml/ha.

Max warned that cloddy seedbeds, often created in dry conditions, provided ample opportunity for adult beetles to hide, especially if consolidation had been difficult following stubble incorporation. Application with angled Defy 3D Nozzles, alternated

to face forward and backward along the boom, could deliver far more effective spray coverage all around clods and seedling plants, he advised.

In the Flea Beetle hotspot of Essex, John Haynes, farm manager for MJ & SC Collins, based at Kingstons Farm, Harlow, has gone to greater lengths to create a firm, fine seedbed this season - and sown earlier, in the first week of August. But even then crop have been emerging with visible Flea Beetle shot holing on the cotyledons, requiring repeated early treatment to try and prevent further damage.

“We have introduced hybrids for autumn vigour, and also given it a bit more nitrogen in the seedbed, to keep it growing strongly from the early sowing,” advised John. But conditions have been extremely difficult this season, with significant areas lost to slug damage and set to be resown with barley, he added.

“Furthermore, last year in particular plants suffered severely from effects of Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle larvae feeding damage in the spring, so we have to remain focussed on controlling egg laying adults now.”

The farm’s sprayer operator, Garry Chambers, advocated application at a water volume of 175 l/ha using 04 Defy 3D nozzles when targeting Flea Beetle, which he believes gives the optimum combination of effective coverage and sufficient concentration to deliver an effective hit. Applications of Hallmark Zeon are always maintained at full rate.

Garry also pointed out that spraying at no more than 14 km/hr helped assure even coverage, even though the smoother seedbeds and sprayer capability would allow him to go faster.



Night-Night beetles

New Syngenta application trials this autumn will be looking at maximising Flea Beetle control from Hallmark Zeon treatments - including nozzle selection, water volume and even the option of spraying at night, when entomologists highlight Flea Beetle are more active.

Syngenta Field Technical Manager, Max Newbert, added: “With the formulation of Hallmark Zeon you get over 7800 times more active capsules per ml of product, compared to some other lambda-cyhalothrin products; that significantly increases the chance of hitting beetles with sufficient active.

“Furthermore, we know the UV protection built-in to the Hallmark Zeon formulation can make it more effective in warm, bright early autumn conditions, when Flea Beetle

are most active on newly establishing OSR. New research is also being investigated on its repellency activity, which could further help to keep beetles off treated crops for longer and allow them to grow away.”



Top Tips for Flea Beetle control

* Fields close to last year’s OSR are at highest risk

* Cloddy or loose seedbeds more susceptible

* Treat at the first signs of damage

* Use Defy 3D Nozzles for coverage

* Always use full dose rate applications

* Spray at 100 – 200 l/ha water volume

 

[llamedos]

BYDV risk hots up​

Continued hot weather means cereal crops face a high risk of BYDV infection this season. Last year proved the worst incidence for over 50 years of records in many areas, to leave a legacy of inoculum now being spread by aphids.

Furthermore, large numbers of the key aphid species responsible for BYDV spread have been identified on the rapidly emerging green bridge on stubbles.

Background levels of BYDV has been building up over recent years, compounded last year by the mild autumn weather that extended aphid activity, according to Syngenta insecticide specialist, Max Newbert.

“Warm conditions increase the numbers and movement of aphids, but also shortens the persistency of any seed treatment,” he warned. “Growers should be ready to tackle rising aphid numbers as soon as possible, to prevent early BYDV infection.

“Earlier infection will result in more severe yield effects, and increases the risk of secondary spread from initial hot-spot foci through the season. Early sown crops are most at risk, however delayed drilling - to aid blackgrass control - means crops will be slower to develop and remain at more susceptible early growth stages for longer.”

Max advised that once aphids have become infected with BYDV, they will continue to spread disease as they feed throughout their life. Rhopalosiphum padi (Bird cherry oat aphid) and Sitobion avenae (Grain aphid) are the primary vectors growers should be looking to control as quickly as possible to prevent transmission.

“Fast knock-down of aphids is important to stop feeding activity and prevent further virus spread,” he advocated. “The UV stability of Hallmark Zeon, provided by its titanium dioxide formulation, is especially valuable to maintain better persistence and effective results in bright, sunny autumn conditions.



“Insecticides with poor persistency can offer little protection just days after application; aphid activity quickly resumes and crops will require retreatment.”

In trials, Hallmark Zeon was still giving better control of aphids seven days after application, compared to results that other pyrethroids achieved just three days after treatment – providing more cost-effective control and reducing the risk of potential BYDV infection.

Max also recommended that Hallmark Zeon should always be used at the full rate of 50 ml/ha. “Field trials and lab research indicates even Grain aphid with KDR resistance remain susceptible to full rate treatment; whilst reduced rate applications achieved a lower level of kill and increased risk of resistance developing. Independent resistance monitoring has shown no pyrethroid resistance among populations of Bird cherry oat aphid,” he added.

Numbers of Bird cherry oat aphid are currently the highest of all aphid species according to aphid monitoring results, and they were found at every monitoring site across the UK. Grain aphid populations were also above the seasonal average for most monitoring sites.

Top Tips for BYDV control:

* Break the green bridge

* Consider delayed sowing in high risk areas

* Monitor crops for first signs of aphid activity, indicating when seed

treatment protection has run out

* Treat with Hallmark Zeon for fast knockdown and persistent results

* Always use Hallmark Zeon at full application rate of 50ml/ha

 

[llamedos]

Stay alert for Phoma activity this autumn​

Phoma leaf spotting could start to become evident by early October, predicts ADAS plant pathologist, Faye Ritche.

.But this year growers can be better forewarned and prepared to take action against the most damaging early infections, thanks to Syngenta’s new Phoma Alert.

Managed by Faye and her ADAS team, to monitor reference crops in Herefordshire, Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire, it will give a valuable update of pending disease pressure - to enable more proactive spray timing - along with assessing the relative value of varietal disease resistance ratings.

“We know that many areas have already received the critical 20 days with rainfall from the 1st August, which has primed cankers on last year’s crop trash to release ascospores,” reported Faye. “With each further rain event, repeated spore releases would be triggered and, with crops infected, the onset of characteristic leaf spotting.”

She warned that, unless leaf spots are controlled, infection will imperceptibly move down the petiole to reach the stem. The earlier that stems are infected, the greater the size of canker that will develop in the spring, and the worse the effect on yield.

“Backward crops are more susceptible, since infection will move to the stem faster on smaller leaves; particularly if weather conditions remain mild when disease development is faster,” she advised.

“Varietal resistance appears to help growers by slowing the development of infection on the leaf, which could gain valuable flexibility in fungicide timing. The Phoma Alert monitoring will help give practical guidance as to how the resistance ratings could help tailor fungicide programmes.”

Faye pointed out that first treatments should be applied as soon as leaf spotting is identified on a threshold 10-20% of plants. Small plants, warm temperatures, repeated rain showers and susceptible varieties would all be factors to warrant earlier treatment at lower thresholds, she suggested.

Phoma would typically be the prime target for treatments in early to mid-autumn. However, growers may look to introduce some additional Light Leaf Spot activity with later follow-up applications if required, later in November – and then monitor crops through to January or February for LLS development and treat then accordingly.

Syngenta Technical Manager, James Southgate, advised growers should look to treat with straight Plover in the first instance, to provide cost effective control of the most damaging early Phoma infections.

​

“Protecting yields on the significantly reduced area of oilseed rape that appears to have been established this season will ensure growers can benefit from any resulting further increase in oilseed values,” he advised. Phoma trials have repeatedly shown yield loss of 0.5 t/ha without treatment - worth around £155 at current prices.

James pointed out that for later season applications - often as second sprays in the Phoma programme - growers and agronomists should be assessing risk of initial LLS infection and may consider adding tebuconazole to Plover. “That will remain a highly cost effective way of providing Phoma and LLS protection for the winter months.”

Growers and agronomists can get more information and updates from Phoma Alert on the Syngenta website, or stay instantly in touch on Twitter by following #phomaalert

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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements



This document contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as ‘expect’, ‘would’, ‘will’, ‘potential’, ‘plans’, ‘prospects’, ‘estimated’, ‘aiming’, ‘on track’ and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. We refer you to Syngenta's publicly available filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for information about these and other risks and

uncertainties. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors. This document does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer, to purchase or subscribe for any ordinary shares in Syngenta AG, or Syngenta ADSs, nor shall it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection

 

[llamedos]

Great result for new SDHI fungicide


​

Independent 2016 field trials have once again proven Syngenta’s powerful, new, SDHI fungicide, SOLATENOL™, to deliver consistent yield results and exceptional disease control.

In extensive trial work carried out by ADAS, Prime Ag and Teagasc, this year, the independents have all confirmed the performance of SOLATENOL™ as an effective T2 fungicide.

Jason Tatnell, Syngenta’s technical indication expert, explains the results.

“Being a new active, SOLATENOL™ has been through vigorous trial work over several years, in which it has consistently proven itself in both high and low disease pressure years, across numerous field situations. The independent results this year have once again confirmed this.

“The intrinsic characteristic SOLATENOL™ has of providing complete leaf protection has really shone through this year, particularly with the high disease pressures we’ve seen,” adds Mr Tatnell.

“For example, in trial work ADAS has carried out this year, the direct correlation between green leaf area duration and yield response has clearly been seen.

“SOLATENOL™ outperformed competitor SDHIs in both the percentage green leaf area maintained on leaf one over a four week period, and delivered a 0.28t/ha yield average increase when compared to fluxapyroxad plus metconazole.”

Mr Tatnell also explains that trials carried out by Prime Ag, led by Tom McCabe, which looked specifically at Septoria tritici and brown rust control, found that SOLATENOL™, when mixed with BRAVO, had much better control of both diseases when compared to other fungicides.

“By the middle of July, this trial was showing that plots treated with SOLATENOL™ saw, on average, control of Septoria tritici at 75%, with brown rust up to 85% control, which was substantially above the control achieved by other fungicides trialled. This is really promising to see considering the season we’ve had,” he explains.

He also adds how the findings of the Irish field trials are a really valuable resource to prove the efficacy of SOLATENOL™. “The variation in climate, and increased rainfall in Ireland compared to the UK, means the conditions often lead to much higher disease pressures than we experience, even in bad years.

“Hence, trial work over there really puts fungicides to the test, and acts as a sound testing ground for new actives,” he says.

During 2016, the team at Teagasc have looked at trials focusing on the importance of spray timings and which actives perform well together, within a programme. “From the results we’ve seen, it has really highlighted how applying a powerful SDHI at T2 can show real yield benefits.

“By applying bixafen plus prothioconazole at T1, followed by SOLATENOL™ at T2, a yield increase of 0.49t/ha was recorded when compared to bixafen plus prothioconazole followed by fluxapyroxad plus epoxiconazole,” he explains.

“We know that SOLATENOL™ is a class leading fungicide, through the extensive trial work we’ve carried out, and how it’s already performing in other countries.

“But to see this confirmed in 2016 independent trials brings to the forefront the potential SOLATENOL™ has for controlling key economically damaging diseases for UK growers,” says Mr Tatnell.

 

[llamedos]

Class leading SDHI fungicide launched​

Syngenta’s powerful, new SDHI fungicide ELATUS™ ERA, based on the novel active ingredient SOLATENOL™ in co-formulation with prothioconazole, has been registered ahead of the 2017 season.

Speaking of the good news, Andrew Curtis, cereal fungicide campaign manager, explains the significance of this announcement for the Syngenta team. “This fantastic product is a direct result of our sustained investment into research and development over a 15 year period.

“It’s been no mean feat, and a lot of hard work has gone into what we’ve achieved, right from the lab through to the field.

“This is the biggest Syngenta UK product launch in over 10 years, and it’s great to see Syngenta back in the T2 market with a product that has been described as ‘class leading’ by independent experts.

“We’ve already seen the fungicide registered in Latin America and Europe, and performing very well for growers, so we’re delighted to have registration in the UK in good time for the 2017 season,” says Mr Curtis.

The label states that ELATUS™ ERA is registered for use on wheat, barley, rye and triticale for the control of all major cereal diseases, at a maximum rate of 1l/ha, providing a powerful and consistent option for growers to use as part of their crop protection programme.

Jason Tatnell, technical indication expert at Syngenta, explains what this means for growers.

. “To have registration ahead of season is a huge bonus for growers, meaning they can get stocks in, well ahead of the critical T2 timing in wheat.

“With hundreds of field trials carried out within the UK and Europe since 2011 ELATUS™ ERA has proven itself to consistently deliver yield benefits due to its ability to enhance green leaf area, and offers excellent activity on Septoria tritici and market leading activity on rusts.

‘Images © 2016 Syngenta’

“It’s performed well in both high and low disease pressure years, and across multiple locations, varieties and crops.

“We’re delighted to have registration confirmed so that we can now deliver this fungicide innovation to the market,” says Mr Tatnell.

To find out more about ELATUS™ ERA, please contact your local area manager, or visitwww.syngenta.co.uk

 

[Chris F]

New BlightCast foresees risk of aggressive blight

Potato growers will have a better opportunity to predict blight risks, and tailor their proactive fungicide programme to specific seasonal challenges this year.

The new Syngenta BlightCast, launching for the 2017 season next week (24 April), uses local weather forecasts and sophisticated disease modelling algorithms to predict blight risk for up to five days ahead – enabling growers and agronomists to plan strategies more effectively.

Now, BlightCast has included three prediction models: one for conventional Smith Periods; a New Criteria of blight development at lower temperatures and, new for 2017, a forecast using the Hutton Criteria proposed to model strains of blight capable of developing at shorter periods of 90% relative humidity.

Syngenta Potato Technical Manager, Douglas Dyas, pointed out that websites or information systems that simply report historical data of weather conditions when blight might have already infected have a limited role in proactive disease management.

“With BlightCast you get prediction of blight risks with the chance to select appropriate strategies to prevent infection,” he advised. “It has always been the most forward-thinking system, and has continued to improve to reflect developments in our understanding of this disease.”



Douglas recalled frequent reports in recent seasons of blight incidence occurring in crops, even when weather conditions had indicated no Smith Periods. BlightCast is designed to be better equipped to reflect in-field conditions, where temperatures and humidity within a dense irrigated crop canopy, for example, could be significantly more conducive to infection and development.

“An improved understanding of risk allows growers to target Revus timings to offer the best and longest protection from each application,” he advised.

“It also remains crucial to stay fully aware of blight risk when attention turns to Alternaria treatments,” advocated Douglas. “BlightCast can help ensure growers get the best performance from Amphore Plus and tank mix combinations of Amistar plus Revus or Shirlan.”

Application timing

To further aid practical blight treatment programmes, BlightCast can also be used in combination with the unique Syngenta Spray Window Forecast – which indicates potential opportunities for in-field application over the next seven days.

“In recent years many growers’ blight programmes have been severely disrupted by persistent strong winds or prolonged wet weather that has prevented application,” warned Syngenta Application Specialist, James Thomas.

“If the Spray Window Forecast sees problems arising, it can be the trigger to get preventative treatments on earlier, and better utilise the long-lasting effects of Revus if future treatments are delayed,” he advised.

James pointed out that the Spray Window Forecast also provides a guide of the timing to utilise low-drift nozzle technology to increase application opportunities in catchy conditions and get blight fungicides onto the crop.

“When conditions are difficult, the practical advantages of Revus’ low application rate to enable faster sprayer turnaround - and its unrivalled rainfastness to ensure protection is locked onto the leaf – is a real benefit for growers,” he added.

Sign-up now

Potato growers and agronomists can sign-up now for the free Syngenta BlightCast covering local conditions on their own farms on the Syngenta website, www.syngenta.co.uk/blightcast

Where potato managers or agronomists are covering large geographic areas, or experience differential local conditions, they can now register multiple postcodes for BlightCast warnings.

 

[Chris F]

InContact, which this month focuses on maximising the potential of maize crops, a topical agronomist update and the latest on rural payment and farm business income.

https://soundcloud.com/user-757235564/incontact-episode-7-april-19042017-1746

 

[News]

Green Headland Mix Special Offer now available for all potato and vegetable growers to protect resources

Potato and root vegetable growers could better utilise unproductive field headlands to deliver significant environmental enhancements, as well as protect valuable soil and water resources, according to Dr Max Newbert, Syngenta Field Technical Specialist.

At this year’s Potato Science Live events, he reported that Syngenta Operation Pollinator research, in conjunction with ASDA, had demonstrated clear improvements in soil protection and structure on areas sown using a Green Headland seed mix alongside crops, along with the opportunity to reduce nutrient leaching.

Green Headland Mix NOW available for all growers

After two years of successful trials with ASDA potato and root vegetable suppliers, the Green Headland Mix is now available to all growers, as the special Syngenta Operation Pollinator Offer** at cost of £35/ha.

For more information and to order your seed for the 2018 season, please contact [email protected]

** Special Offer limited to the first 200 hectares of Green Headland seed mix


The Green Headland mix, developed by seed specialists, Kings, incorporates vetches, clover, phacelia and radish. Sown in the spring to achieve fast growth, it generated 36 tonnes/ha of green organic matter over the summer, including capturing 106 kg N/ha, that would help improve soil structure and fertility.

The cover crop can help to trap and retain soil movement in the field, whilst the rooting acts to stabilise the soil surface and protect from damage by tractors and irrigation equipment through the crop’s growing operations.

Furthermore, independent insect monitoring of the ecologically enhanced Green Headland sites in 2017 sampled 41,000 invertebrates, involving 312 different species. Of those, 60 species were identified as being positive pollinators for crops and 113 known to be predators or parasitoids during their life cycle, including targeting crop pests.

Dr Newbert pointed out there were few, if any, aphids caught from the headland areas in any of the sampling timings. “Given that aphids very quickly lose the capability to transfer non-persistent viruses, the Green Headland areas could potentially act as a barrier to reduce disease spread into potato and vegetable crops,” he believed.

Belinda Bailey, Syngenta Environmental Initiatives Manager, highlighted that potato and root vegetable headlands are typically left uncropped, to aid management and harvesting of the field area. However, these bare soil areas are potentially exposed to soil erosion or damage by headland-turning of heavy machinery and have little or no ecological value.

“The Green Headland Mix has demonstrated a practical and viable technique to both protect the soil structure and provide a valuable feeding and habitat resource for invertebrates and other farmland biodiversity,” she reported.

“We are now really keen for more growers to get involved, and to see how it can be integrated more extensively throughout farm rotations and situations, as well as to explore new agronomic aspects of the Green Headland potential.”

Chris Brown, ASDA Senior Director of Sustainable Sourcing, highlighted the project demonstrated the good stewardship of farmland by growers. “This initiative highlights the efforts of UK growers to work towards increasing biodiversity and protecting resources.

“Planting up Green Headlands is a genuinely sustainable solution. It can offer a simple, cost effective and time efficient option to make better use of a hitherto unused area of land, that will improve the environment and to protect soil and water.”

 

[News]

Early trigger for Bruchid warnings


The welcome surge in hot sunny weather has triggered the unwelcome start of Bruchid beetle warnings – just as the winter bean crops are reaching the danger point of first truss set.

Despite the slow start to spring it has had a limited the impact on species that typically invade later in the season, such as Bruchid. These species that over winter in hedge rows and dense foliage are less affected by winter weather conditions, pointed out Dr Max Newbert, Syngenta Field Technical Specialist.

“Adult Bruchid become more active in warm settled weather and, when there are two consecutive days above 20°C, you can expect the onset of egg laying on any existing pods,” he warned.

“The early warning system, BruchidCast, has already predicted this occurring over the weekend and into next week, as a trigger to control adult beetles with Hallmark Zeon treatments, before they lay eggs.”

PGRO qualifies the danger period being from when crops have 50% of pods on bottom trusses over two cm long. Adult have already been spotted in crops, but do check your crop for the presence of adults beetles before applications.

Dr Newbert pointed out that crops with no trusses present as yet do not need treating, but with the first warnings at such an early stage of the crop’s flowering and set, it could prove a long season for Bruchid activity.

Early egg laying gives longer for Bruchid beetles to mate and produce larger numbers of eggs and larvae, with greater levels of damage. It comes on the back of an extremely bad year for bean damage in 2017, when a prolonged hot dry period in June saw sustained beetle activity.

Syngenta BruchidCast provides localised warnings of conditions that trigger beetle activity, to help growers to better time control treatments. It had been acclaimed by PGRO for helping achieve reduced beetle damage for several successive seasons, prior to last year.

Use of the tool is important as the adults are the target, due to the larvae being able to burrow directly into the pod after being laid, so are not exposed for chemical control. Applications should be applied so that control is achieved before substantial egg laying occurs.

Registration now on the website - www.syngenta.co.uk/bruchidcast - will ensure growers are forewarned of risks for the rest of the season, and help prioritise control to catch first egg laying.

 

[News]

Hutton hits highlight blight risk building

Potato crops are under increasing blight pressure, with repeated hits of Hutton Criteria that indicate infection risks.

The Hutton Criteria has now largely replaced conventional Smith periods, since blight outbreaks were still occurring even when a Smith Period had not been triggered, reports Syngenta eastern counties potato specialist, David Wilson.

“This season BlightCast disease risk forecasting has already repeatedly triggered Hutton Criteria warnings, particularly in hot, humid thundery weather with localised downpours,” he warned. “Many crops are emerging and going through rapid canopy growth, with new leaves which are especially vulnerable to infection, just as the risk is building.

“During this time it is essential to maintain the most effective foliar protection available, with leading EuroBlight foliar fungicides such as Revus for combined leaf blight, new growth and protectant properties.”

Hutton Criteria is believed to better reflect conditions where new strains of blight can actively develop, by reducing the period of relative humidity at 90 per cent or above down to six hours, from an eleven hour period used to trigger a Smith Period,

Mr Wilson pointed out experience at the Eurofins trials site in Derbyshire last year demonstrated the effectiveness of new Hutton Criteria in forewarning blight outbreaks.

“BlightCast showed the first Hutton Criteria hits for the site were on the 18th August, but no Smith Periods triggered until 22nd August; in that time the visual assessment of blight inoculated trials went from virtually nothing detectable to widespread infection.” (Pictured below, left)

“Furthermore, Syngenta remote sensing of the trials site by aerial crop health imagery clearly indicated when and where infection was running through untreated plots.” (Pictured above, right)

“Where growers and agronomists can use this information for better timing of Revus applications, it could help protect from foliar blight more effectively,” he advocated.

“Alongside the use of products with tuber blight activity, part of the clear AHDB advice this season is to prevent foliar blight infection to minimise the risk of tuber blight, using the best EuroBlight foliar fungicides available, and avoiding stretching application intervals beyond the weakest link in any mix application.”

He also cited the importance of Revus’ rainfast properties, which is recognised as being a significant advantage in catchy wet conditions - which are the most challenging for application during high blight risk periods.

“With a new blight option this season, there is the real chance to beef up protection when it’s used in a programme with Revus and other effective blight products.



“The challenges posed by dark green 37_A2 and reduced sensitivity to fluazinam are well documented. Robust programmes, as part of an integrated approach to blight management, that follow AHDB and FRAG-UK advice will offer the best way to counter this challenge and protect crops that have emerged into high blight risk conditions he added.

Growers and agronomists can register for localised BlightCast warnings for their crops at www.syngenta.co.uk/blightcast

 

[News]

Check the date for potato harvest interval

Potato maincrop harvesting is set to get underway, with most growers now counting the cost on yield potential after the late planting in difficult conditions, followed by extreme heat and drought.

Where establishment was significantly delayed, growers are being reminded to check the pre-harvest interval from the date of planting, to desiccation and lifting, advocates Syngenta Potato Technical Manager, Michael Tait.

After the use of Nemathorin, there is a 17 week (119 day) minimum interval from application to desiccation or green-top lifting.

“Typically most second-early and maincrop fields have a significantly longer growing season than this PHI,” he pointed out. “However, it is essential that growers check and record the harvest interval, to ensure they fulfill the requirement.”

This year, following the late planting season, many growers could leave crops for longer to bulk up, after slow development in hot dry conditions. That could extend their time in the ground beyond the PHI, Michael added.

To help growers and agronomists check the length of growing season for individual fields this year, and in future seasons, Syngenta has introduced the on-line Nemathorin Harvest Interval Calculator.

Users simply log onto the web page, key in the details for a field and the tool calculates the minimum 119 day interval from Nemathorin application to desiccation or green top lifting (above).

The calculator enables multiple fields to be checked and a record of the results to be printed (below).

Furthermore, if there is any reservation over the influence of seasonal conditions when lifting close to the PHI, Michael recommends a pre-harvest sample dig and residue test is conducted.

Click here to use the Nemathorin Harvest Interval Calculator