Published on 06/08/2025
Words: Neil Waddingham, Bayer New Zealand
Sivanto prime contains flupyradifurone, a new Group 4D insecticide for the very effective and rapid control of the forage grower’s most destructive establishment pests: Nysius (wheat bug), springtails and green peach aphid in forage brassicas and fodder beet.
Springtails and Nysius are recognized as damaging pests through direct feeding, with significant plant loss possible at establishment.
As well as causing direct feeding damage, green peach aphids can transmit a range of damaging viruses in both beet and brassica crops. These viruses can result in stunted, deformed crops and serious crop yield losses.
Sivanto prime rapidly causes cessation of feeding by aphids which reduces virus transmission very quickly. Sivanto prime controls the target species in five ways.
Pests receiving direct contact are controlled, as are pests walking across treated soil or plant surfaces (indirect control), and pests ingesting Sivanto prime via feeding.
The product is also systemically moved within the plant to protect new growth and finally, but very importantly, Sivanto prime exhibits very effective two-way translaminar movement.
In other words, Sivanto prime landing on the top of the leaf will move to the underside of the leaf, and product landing on the underside of the leaf will move to the leaf surface.
Coupled with observations that Sivanto prime can provide seven to 10 days’ effective control, there’s no escape for the forage growers most destructive pests.
Sivanto prime is very convenient to use. It is formulated as an innovative soluble concentrate liquid formulation that is easily handled, odourless and which instantly dissolves in water to give a clear solution.
It penetrates the plant very effectively which means it acts rapidly and doesn’t need adjuvants. It is applied at a low dose rate, offers very good compatibility with other products and can be applied aerially by helicopter.
Sivanto prime is a Group 4D insecticide, the sole member of a new insecticide sub group for New Zealand. While sharing a mode of action with other Group 4 insecticides, that is where the similarity ends, as Sivanto prime has its own pest spectrum and is not cross resistant to other Group 4 insecticides.
With insecticide resistance a concern of many in the industry, having a new active ingredient to choose from is very helpful.
Sivanto prime can be integrated into IPM programmes. With little impact on the commonly encountered beneficial insects in New Zealand including bees, Sivanto prime fits well into an IPM approach when used according to label instructions.
The Bayer team is proud to have developed, registered and made available Sivanto prime to NZ farmers.
Bayer is committed to supporting farmers in NZ and the fact it is made in Australia completes the picture.
To learn more about Sivanto prime talk to your local Bayer representative.