The majority of Irish cereal crops are in a “medium to high” disease risk situation as farmers approach flag leaf sprays in the next two weeks.
University College Dublin’s tillage specialist Dr Tom McCabe says septoria and rusts are increasingly visible as crops accelerate through their growth stages in warm May temperatures.
Dr McCabe says the interval between T1 and T2 sprays will be crucial this year in order to prevent yields being hit, and that tillage farmers need to adapt their strategies accordingly.
Product choice is also likely to be important, he advises, and preference should be given to a consistent, reliable fungicide.
“You underestimate septoria at your peril,” Dr McCabe said. “Later-sown crops can look really clean after T1 sprays but it’s at the end of May and the first week of June the latent disease comes through.
“This is after you’ve made your big investment in crop protection, so it’s important to get it right.”
Much of the Irish wheat crop has experienced turbulence during the growing season caused by difficult drilling conditions during the autumn or a wet spring hampering fieldwork.
As a result, the quality of wheat crops varies from field to field as flagleaf sprays loom.
Liz Glynn, National Field Manager for Corteva Agriscience in Ireland, said: “A warm February was followed by a very wet March which continued into much of April.
“As things warmed up in May, we’ve seen rapid crop development, particularly in the past two weeks.
“Many T0 applications were abandoned due to weather or ground conditions, while timing T1 sprays appropriately has been a challenge and were delayed in many instances, closing the interval between T1 and T2.”
Dr McCabe added: “Because sowing dates were so varied we have crops at varied growth stages and disease pressure ranges from medium to high.
“It’s a year for rust as well as septoria which is being factored into programmes.”
Independent trials have shown that Corteva’s Univoq fungicide is the most effective product available in Ireland for the control of septoria in wheat.
It is available for the first time in Ireland this year and packaged in a single bottle for ease of use.
Containing Inatreq active with prothioconazole, and strengthened by Corteva’s patented i-Q4 formulation, Univoq has provides preventative and curative activity against wheat’s most damaging disease.
Dr McCabe said: “Univoq should play a central role in T2 programmes this year for a number of reasons.
“It has also shown us to be remarkably consistent. I can say that after working with it for the past five years in Ireland and the UK.
“The yield benefit we have seen is connected to the disease pressure. It ranges from 0.25t/ha to 1t/ha in high-pressure situations.
“One of the other most valuable aspects is that Univoq has its own unique mode of action which is so important to resistance management.”
A standard application of Univoq at the T2 timing is recommended at 1.5l/ha to 1.75l/ha.
“Univoq should always be applied with a multisite such a folpet,” Liz added.
Corteva has urged growers to follow its best practice application advice when applying products containing the Inatreq active.
ENDS
About Corteva
Corteva, Inc. is a publicly traded, global pure-play agriculture company that provides farmers around the world with the most complete portfolio in the industry – including a balanced and diverse mix of seed, crop protection and digital solutions focused on maximising productivity to enhance yield and profitability. With some of the most recognised brands in agriculture and an industry-leading product and technology pipeline well positioned to drive growth, the company is committed to working with stakeholders throughout the food system as it fulfils its promise to enrich the lives of those who produce and those who consume, ensuring progress for generations to come. Corteva Agriscience became an independent public company on June 1, 2019 and was previously the Agriculture Division of DowDuPont. More information can be found at https://www.corteva.co.uk/products-and-solutions/pioneer.html.
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23/5/24
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Media Contact: Ben Pike
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