Novel chemistry from one of New Zealand’s leading crop protection specialists was in strong demand during the spring spray-out and early establishment phases, with high populations of springtails, army worm and cut worm reported.
Corteva marketing manager Glen Surgenor says a mild winter in many areas may be part of the reason.
Regardless of cause, however, with peak caterpillar and aphid season on the horizon, now’s not the time to ease up on monitoring forage brassicas to keep them thriving through the warmer months.
“The level of pest pressure we’ve already seen in these crops has been very noticeable. Springtails in particular have been rampant. Summer conditions maybe less favourable, but our advice is to stay vigilant.”
He says there are two options available from Corteva for the increasing number of farmers who want to move away from older, harsher pest control chemistry like organo-phosphates (OPs) and synthetic pyrethroids (SPs).
Sparta (Jemvelva active, Group 5) controls diamondback moth and white butterfly caterpillars as well as looper caterpillars, leaf miner and springtails in forage brassicas.
Transform (with Isoclast active, Group 4C) controls aphids in forage brassicas and cereals, as well as vegetable crops.
Many farmers may be creatures of habit, Surgenor says, but using chemistry that goes hard on insect pests while staying soft on beneficials is becoming more and more popular.
“We are seeing bigger uptake as farmers move on from products they’ve used for 20 years or more.
“Interestingly, the ones who change to the likes of Sparta don’t go back to organo-phosphates or synthetic pyrethroids. Once they start using it, they keep using it.”
With chlorpyrifos in the regulatory spotlight, and potentially facing a ban in New Zealand, he says Corteva’s decision in 2020 to exit that active ingredient world-wide has stood the test of time.
“It made a lot of sense for the business. It didn’t align with our focus on sustainable solutions and it was good to be able to demonstrate to our customers and end users that we are walking the talk.”
Sparta contains spinetoram, which is based on a naturally occurring active ingredient that poses minimal risk to people, animals and the environment.
Its unique chemistry offers proven and powerful control of diamondback moth and white butterfly, Surgenor says.
Users appreciate its speed and exceptional control as well as knowing it’s safer for them, the environment and beneficial insects.
In addition, Sparta’s unique mode of action mean OP and SP resistant insects will be effectively controlled.
Transform meantime provides best in class aphid control, with a different mode of action, high end user safety and low environmental risk.
Its active ingredient Isoclast belongs to a unique insecticide group known as the sulfoximines which do not have cross resistance to any other insecticide group, making Transform an ideal rotation partner for insecticides with alternate modes of action in resistance management programmes.
Key points of difference include Transform’s ability to provide longer residual control than some alternatives, Surgenor says.
Both Sparta and Transform are registered for aerial as well as ground application and can be combined when both aphids and caterpillars are an issue in crops.