As of mid December, sales for Sparta from Dow AgroSciences had trebled compared to the same period in 2013, its first year registered for forage brassicas in the New Zealand market.

Dow AgroSciences marketing manager Nick Koch says three factors are driving this rapid level of uptake:

proven efficacy against key pests; good user safety and an excellent IPM and environmental profile.

Hence the brand tag line ‘be more selective,’ he says.

“Selectivity is the key with this product. Sparta is soft on beneficial like ladybirds, but hard on those costly pests like diamond back moth, white butterfly and leaf miner which are a particular challenge at this time of the year.

“There’s no compromise with efficacy while at the same time it is very safe to use, with a very low toxicological profile in terms of both the operator and the environment.”

Farmers, contractors and retailers have all seized the opportunity presented by Sparta to get away from older insecticide actives like organo phosphates and synthetic pyrethroids in favour of smarter, more sustainable chemistry, Koch says.

“Environmental stewardship is becoming such an important part of farm production systems and Sparta is the first real alternative to those older actives that ticks all the boxes in this regard.”

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.”

On a more immediate level, users appreciate the lack of odour as well as good compatability and crop safety.

“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.”

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.

For more information contact your Dow AgroSciences territory manager.