In the process it’s putting paid to the preconception that so-called ‘soft’ chemistries which are safe to use and selective to beneficial insects are a compromise for product efficacy.
“Far from it – nothing works better than Sparta,” says marketing manager Nick Koch.
Described by the company’s R&D specialist Bernard Harris as providing best in class control of target pests, Sparta has this year continued its roll out to different markets, with label claims for thrip control in citrus and onions the most recent new registrations.
Nick Koch says these add further value to the product’s presence in horticulture where it is now a proven performer for control of
TPP in potatoes, and diamond back moth and other caterpillar pests in vegetable brassicas and stone fruit.
Across all markets the consistent point of difference for Sparta is simple and effective.
“This is game changing chemistry, both in terms of efficacy and user safety. The active ingredient in Sparta is selective to most key beneficial insects such as ladybirds which are hugely important for the natural control of aphids.
“Our focus on Sparta’s contribution to integrated pest management (IPM) and insect selectivity is the key to our message of ‘Be
more selective’.
“This not only relates to beneficial insects, but also to the safety of the farmer who is concerned for his or her health, or the contractor who is frequently exposed to chemicals and is acutely aware of the dangers of handling some of the older toxic chemistries.”
Twelve months after it was registered for diamond back moth, white butterfly, leaf miner and looper in forage brassicas, Koch says Sparta has as expected come through with flying colours and no shortage of positive feedback from happy farmers.
“They’re impressed by the speed and efficacy of the kill, the fact that ladybirds are still present in the crop after application and the lack of smell – it is very user friendly as well as environmentally friendly.”
Farmers have also welcomed a product which helps keep forage brassicas in their feed budget.
“The impact of pest damage is one of the main reasons why alternative forage crops have taken off in recent years. But these aren’t always the best solution, for various reasons. Being able to grow profitable, high yielding brassica crops is still really important for farmers in many parts of the country and Sparta has definitely made it easier for them to achieve that.”
Contractors and neighbours alike appreciate the lack of smell and contractors especially value the low tox profile, which gives them piece of mind that they are in a safe working environment and that they’re not going to put themselves at risk when handling and applying Sparta.
Low application rates are also seen as a bonus because this means contractors don't have to cart around a lot of chemical on their trucks.
But there is a less obvious and more important benefit as well, he says.
“Sparta contains a unique class of chemistry which means that insects that have become resistant to the older chemistries are going to be well controlled by Sparta. Diamond back moth in particular has developed resistance to some of these chemistries and many farmers have noted that they don’t seem to work quite as well as they used to.”
For more information contact your Dow AgroSciences territory manager.