"There was definitely a lot of early insect pressure apparent in spring-sown crops of summer turnips and leafy kales,” says the
company's Waikato and Taranaki territory manager Adrian Parkinson, who is based in Hamilton.
"So it was just as well Sparta was available, because it ended up being quite sought after.”
Launched into the local forage brassica market in spring 2013, Sparta is a new type of insecticide. It contains the active ingredient spinetoram, which is based on a naturally occurring active ingredient that poses minimal
risk to people, animals and the environment.
Its unique chemistry provides powerful control of diamondback moth and white butterfly and it is also very effective at controlling
other pests such as leaf miner and looper.
Even at an early stage, farmers and contractors gave it the thumbs up, Parkinson says.
"They like the lack of odour; compatibility is very good, and they like the crop safety profile as well. Contractors in particular are
pleased about the low application rate because it means they don't have to cart around a lot of chemical on their trucks.”
The fact that it is not an organophosphate (OP) insecticide also scores plenty of points, he adds.
Dow AgroSciences marketing manager Nick Koch says Sparta has already earned a good following among NZ vegetable and stonefruit growers, and it looks as though farmers won't be far behind.
That's because it ticks all the boxes for anyone looking for a new way of combating the damaging influx of diamondback moth,
white butterfly and leaf miner.
“Growers are demanding a robust alternative to old harmful chemistries such as OPs and synthetic pyrethroids (SP), they want
a safe insecticide that delivers results.”
"There is an increasing incidence of OP and SP resistance resulting in control failures across New Zealand and Sparta is needed to break the resistance cycle.
"Additionally, there is an increasing awareness of the health and safety concerns associated with OP’s and SP’s and chemical users are becoming more concerned for their well being.
"Farmers also want an insecticide that has minimal impact on key beneficial insects; Sparta delivers on all three counts.”
Effective, predator friendly control remains a must for crops during summer as caterpillars become the main risk.
“Using a product soft on beneficial insects such as Sparta allows good bugs such as ladybugs and lace wings to work hand in hand with the chemistry to reduce the pest population in a balanced way,” Nick Koch says.
For more information contact your Dow AgroSciences territory manager