Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
June 10, 2013
- Monitoring and assessing pest pressure is key to maximizing crop quality, especially after a dry season and prolonged spring
- Syngenta agronomic service representatives note that early fungicide applications to prevent disease are more effective than managing damage later
Although weather conditions across the spring wheat growing region have varied greatly this year, Syngenta suggests the same key management practice for all growers: Start scouting and making proactive product applications now to prevent pest damage, mitigate environmental stress and grow more wheat.
Compared to recent years, it has been an abnormal season for spring wheat. Until late spring showers, conditions in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) started the season relatively dry after several years of above average moisture. Meanwhile, in large sections of the Northern Plains, winter reared its head well into the beginning of May.
Don Drader, an agronomic service representative for Syngenta based in the PNW, encourages all growers to be proactive with fungicide applications and to scout their fields at multiple points during the season. With rust already appearing in parts of the PNW, he said it is critical to monitor for and start managing disease.
“I recommend protecting the crop even before signs of disease,” he says. “Early applications of a product like a Quilt® brand fungicide allow growers to minimize plant stress due to disease.”
Getting ahead with a fungicide application is equally important in the Northern Plains, says Jill Herold, an agronomic service representative for Syngenta based in Montana.
“It isn’t just for protection from yield-robbing crop diseases – growers should also take into account the physiological benefits,” Herold says. “Wheat treated with a fungicide like Quilt or Quilt Xcel® has been found to better handle conditions of too little or too much water, as well as maximizing the sun’s energy for extended grain fill with fuller kernels. In other words, these crops are well-prepared for any conditions – especially important with the unpredictable weather this year.”
As growers plan their scouting and fungicide applications this season, Drader and Herold recommends the following:
- Scout early and often. Scouting is important at multiple stages of the growing season, and it’s best to start early. The first scouting trip should be to identify the pest species already present. “If you see any pests, think back to what was effective in past years,” Herold says. “Especially when conditions are rough, it’s sometimes best to go with what you know.” After initial product applications, remember to scout two to three weeks later to ensure good pest control. Maintain consistent scouting practices throughout the season, and increase the frequency as needed during times of high pest pressure.
- Make proactive product applications. It’s important to get ahead of pests, especially with conditions as unpredictable as they’ve been in much of the country. Drader recommends that growers think of their fungicides like a shield, holding off pests before they arrive and helping to maintain – and improve – crops’ performance. “Many wheat growers are using a herbicide/fungicide combination such as Axial® herbicide products along with the lower labeled rate of Tilt® or Quilt fungicides,” Drader says. “Considering the early presence of rust this season, this approach offers the benefit of multiple products in one application and ensures the best plant performance.” Find what works best within the growing area, and stay ahead of disease and weed pressure.
- Keep a sharp eye out for resistance. To be effective, document the presence of weed species, especially before and after product applications. Drader suggests keeping an eye out for dead weeds in close proximity to the same species of still-growing weeds – indicating a possibility of resistance. To best avoid this scenario, alternate product applications over time and strongly consider incorporating cultural practices such as tillage and crop rotation.
As long as growers employ sound management practices, like scouting and proactive product applications, both Drader and Herold are optimistic about crop conditions this season.
“Weather has dealt wheat growers their share of challenges this year,” Herold says. “That being said, with strong management plans, they can still have a strong year.”
For more information and agronomic advice, visit www.cereals.farmassist.com, and follow us on Twitter (@SyngentaUS) and Facebook (Facebook.com/FarmAssist).
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