Published on 03/08/2023
Syngenta says the registration was an important step for arable farmers, offering a powerful management tool for two key yield limiting diseases in ryegrass seed crops, with the added benefit of a short, 14-day with-holding period.
Feedback on field performance has all been extremely positive, according to Paul Hassan, Syngenta technical services lead.
“Agronomists have indicated that the control of rust has been exceptional and represents a new standard in rust control in ryegrass crops. This backs up our own trial results.
“The short withholding period of 14 days has also proven very helpful for farmers in terms of grazing re-growth or feeding straw to livestock.
“After a number of years in development we are really pleased to offer this product to farmers.”
Elatus Plus provides powerful rust control by binding strongly to the leaf surface to give long-lasting, rainfast protection. It also binds to the pathogen target site to inhibit fungal germination, shutting down a potential infection at a very early stage of disease development.
“The product is best applied at ear emergence and again at flowering in a preventative programme,” Hassan says.
“As a solo SDHI formulation, Elatus Plus provides growers the flexibility to add the best mixing partner, such as prothioconazole or Amistar.
“But it can also be applied as a solo treatment in a preventative programme in alternation with an approved non-cross resistant fungicide.”
Another key benefit of Elatus Plus in ryegrass seed crops is endophyte safety.
“Long-term storage endophyte safety tests have been conducted. The results show it has a high level of safety for endophytes in ryegrass seed, so growers can use it with confidence on sensitive novel endophyte varieties,” Hassan says.
In cultivars known to be sensitive to triazole fungicides, Elatus Plus can be applied alone in a preventative programme.
But it must always be mixed with a triazole fungicide in situations where a curative fungicide is needed.
Elatus Plus is a Group 7 SDHI fungicide containing 100 grams/litre of benzovindiflupyr branded as Solatenol technology in an emulsifiable concentrate formulation.
It should be applied at 750 ml per hectare.
For resistance management do not apply more than two applications of Elatus Plus (or any other SDHI) to a ryegrass seed crop per season.
For more detail, contact your local Syngenta technical sales manager.
Free nozzle offer!
Every year Syngenta gives away up to 10,000 spray nozzles free to growers and contractors. While this might sound like a selfless gesture, in reality it is just good business.
Syngenta customer lead Raeleen Watherston says the company has worked with a nozzle supplier, Pentair/Hypro, to develop a range of nozzles that improve coverage, with less spray drift.
By supplying a set of 50 nozzles free to customers who purchase $10,000 worth of its products (herbicides, fungicides and insecticides), Syngenta helps ensure its products are used as effectively as possible.
“It is a win-win for growers and for us because it means they will get better results with Syngenta products and will hopefully keep using them.
“As far as I know we are the only company in New Zealand with such an offer to growers. It is a good deal for growers who can receive up to $1736 worth of nozzles free each year.”
Raeleen says the offer also gives the local Syngenta sales representative an opportunity to talk with individual growers and contractors to ensure they get the best nozzle typ eand size to suit their particular farming or contracting operation.
The two main nozzles Syngenta provides under this scheme are the Amistar AI (air induction) nozzle and the angled Defy 3D flat fan nozzle.
Both are designed to improve coverage and reduce spray drift, and both are made from SuperPoly, which has a similar wear pattern to ceramic.
For more information on the Syngenta product range and how to claim free nozzles, visit Syngenta.co.nz or call Syngenta on 0800 333 336 or your local Syngenta territory sales manager.