Published on 23/11/2023
Words: Neil Waddingham, brand marketing manager –arable, Bayer.
That is the message from the Bayer field team this season.
It is all too evident that farmers are under economic pressure and are looking to trim budgets where they can.
And the temptation will be to cut fungicide inputs at flag leaf (T2) and ear emergence (T3).
But let’s remember, yield is king when it comes to growing a profitable wheat crop.
And one of the most effective ways to protect yield is to apply a comprehensive fungicide programme.
What are the disease targets as we head into summer? Speckled leaf blotch (SLB) is always an important threat to wheat crops. If left uncontrolled SLB can lead to severe loss of green leaf area and consequently yield.
However, with El Nino now confirmed, with its associated drier and warmer conditions, leaf rust is also likely to be an important threat. Probably a bigger threat than we have seen in recent years.
Fortunately, Bayer has several very effective fungicides to control SLB and leaf rust.
At T2, flag leaf emergence, when the target is SLB and leaf rust, an application of Vimoy iblon plus a stacked DMI fungicide such as Prosaro, or an application of Caley iblon if you prefer a ready formulated fungicide, will very effectively control both diseases.
Then at T3, ear emerged, the target switches to leaf rust and general ear disease control.
At this time an application of Prosaro plus a strobilurin fungicide will provide very effective control.
The importance of adopting sound practices to delay the onset of fungicide resistance is now well understood and at this time in the season there are two key approaches you can adopt.
1) Apply different fungicide modes of action.
2) Achieve high levels of disease control.
Prosaro is the premium DMI stacked fungicide which has proven itself over many seasons and is trusted by many farmers.
Mixing Prosaro with Vimoy iblon, an SDHI fungicide which provides excellent control of SLB and leaf rust, or a strobilurin fungicide which provides control of leaf rust and ear diseases, ensures a good range of fungicide modes of action are applied.
In terms of achieving a high level of disease control, two of the most import factors are applying the label dose rate and correct application timing.
The dose rate of Bayer fungicides has been established by the Bayer field solutions team under New Zealand climatic conditions, so by applying the recommended dose, you can be sure that under most circumstances it will provide excellent disease control.
Possibly even more important in the experience of the Bayer team is to maintain an interval of 25-28 days between fungicide applications.
In the research trials that support this systematic and highly effective approach to disease control, the GS32 fungicide generally was applied in early October and so this means the flag leaf fungicide should be applied early November and the ear fungicide three to four weeks later.
Now is the most important time to protect the health and yield potential of wheat crops.
Don’t lose out, apply a robust fungicide programme now.