Prosaro & VIMOY iblon will help you deliver crop yield

Published on 03/08/2023

Last year commodity prices were riding high, and as this was enough to offset higher input prices, there was a feeling of optimism about the profitability of arable crops.

Now, as we approach spring it is a different story. Commodity prices are under pressure for several reasons and input prices continue to increase, albeit at a slower pace than last year.

But one thing that hasn’t changed is that yield is a very important driver for growing arable crops profitably and disease is one of the key factors leading to yield loss.

So, this spring while options are being considered to keep a lid on input costs, remember to think very carefully before reducing fungicide use.

Historically commodity prices are still high and not controlling disease effectively will lead to major financial losses.

Bayer trials carried out in the past few years have consistently shown applying a comprehensive fungicide programme has led to impressive yield increases and higher profits.

In wheat trials carried out by Bayer in recent years, yield increases have ranged from 2.0 t/ha to 9.0 t/ha.

While a yield increase of 9.0 t/ha per hectare is extreme, and doesn’t happen often, yield increases of 2-4 t/ha are commonplace in Bayer trials and these result in very profitable returns.

To achieve these types of responses in wheat Bayer would recommend applying a GS32, GS39 and GS65 fungicide programme based on the DMI fungicide Prosaro and the SDHI fungicide VIMOY iblon.

Both provide every effective control of the three key wheat diseases, namely speckled leaf blotch, leaf rust and stripe rust.

However, in recent years the key yield delivering applications in Bayer’s fungicide trials have been flag leaf emergence (GS39) and ear fully emerged (GS60-65).

Therefore, the recommendation is to apply Prosaro + VIMOY iblon at GS39 and to follow this with an application of Prosaro + strobilurin fungicide at GS60-65.

Thinking about barley, in recent years the trend has been for growers to switch from growing autumn planted barley crops to late winter/spring planted barley crops to improve crop profit-ability.

But regardless of sowing date, disease control remains important and with either autumn or spring barley this can often be achieved with a two spray GS32 + GS39 fungicide application.

Bayer would recommend applying Delaro + Folpet at GS32 and then Prosaro + VIMOY iblon + Folpet at GS39. This programme will deliver broad spectrum disease control and will keep the plant healthy through the growing season.

Prosaro plays a very important role ineffective disease control. Containing both prothioconazole and tebuconazole, Prosaro is the only fungicide to offer ready formulated DMI stacking.

DMI stacking is a term that has been recently adopted to describe the application of two differently performing DMI fungicides at the same time, the aim being to deliver enhanced disease control and to delay the development of disease resistance to DMI fungicides.

While there are different types of DMI fungicides, DMI stacking is thought of in Europe and New Zealand to describe the mixing of two specific groups of DMI fungicides – the triazoles (e.g. tebuconazole) and triazolinthiones (e.g. prothioconazole).

By applying two DMI fungicides in mixture, prothioconazole (from the triazolinthiones group) plus one from the triazole group, both of which control the target fungus, you hit the fungus hard.

So, when making your choice of DMI fungicide, always consider Prosaro. Why settle for one DMI fungicide whenyou can have two?

For more details talk to your agronomist or visit www.cropscience.bayer.co.nz.

Words: Neil Waddingham, customer marketing manager, Bayer Crop science

Novachem New Zealand Agricultural Manual

Novachem Login

Prosaro & VIMOY iblon will help you deliver crop yield