http://socialmedia.toilesolutions.com/syngenta-remote/rss/news/ The latest news stories posted on www.syngenta-crop.co.uk. (c) 2011 Syngenta. All rights reserved. 5 Agronomy Tool Section . Running throughout the key periods of pest activity, the HDC Pest Bulletins are produced in association with Warwick University and Rothamsted Research and use weather data collected by Plantsystems. Rosie Atwood, HDC Knowledge Transfer Manager for Field Vegetables, said: "Advance warning of pest infestations is essential for growers to assess risk and plan their control strategies. It doesn't replace in-crop monitoring and field walking, but it does give an invaluable heads-up of what to look out for and what is occurring across the country," she advised. "If you can see what's coming, then you have time to get ready." Knowledge of which pest populations are developing, and how rapidly, is also an important part of an integrated crop management (ICM) plan to aid the selection of appropriate insecticides to optimise control and to assess the potential of beneficial insects to provide biological control, she added. Ms Atwood reminded growers that it is important to re-visit and check the bulletin information on a weekly basis, especially when particular insects are developing rapidly. Syngenta Vegetables and Speciality Crops Marketing Services Specialist, Rebecca Stilton, added that the company was pleased to support and sponsor the HDC Pest Bulletin on the website, as part of the on-going plan to provide growers with topical and valuable agronomy information through the season. "Having this information available alongside the knowledge and experience of the Syngenta vegetable varieties and crop protection options provides growers and agronomists with a fully Integrated Crop Solution. It also links into the Agricast weather information and other disease forecasting services, such as BrassicaAlert, to enable them to make more proactive decisions to deliver higher yields and crop quality more effectively," she added. ]]> http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=86 Thu, 17 May 2012 09:44:16 GMT Syngenta BlightCast system is now available on-line, to give potato growers and agronomists a five-day advance warning of localised blight risks. BlightCast has been developed to enable risk based selection of appropriate fungicides and ensure application at the right time to prevent infection. Syngenta Potato Manager, Andrew Curtis, said: "In the past growers have relied on weather records indicating Smith Periods when blight risk had already occurred. That was after the event, and when it was too late to make preventative applications. "Now we have the technology and capability to forecast when conditions conducive to blight are likely to occur, and give growers the chance to take positive action to minimise the risk of infection. BlightCast has proven to be extremely valuable and reliable over the past three years." He reported that BlightCast has been activated earlier this year to aide spray timing and product selection right from the start of the season. He pointed out that whilst conditions remain cool during the early stages of establishment, there is a greater risk of infection from bight zoospores and their motility through soil moisture, where growers and agronomists should be focusing initial TO applications on Shirlan. Once crops are growing through the rapid canopy development phase, he advocates the use of Revus when BlightCast indicates risk of disease attack. The positive movement of the active across the expanding leaf area offers highly effective protection against infection, which makes Revus the leading foliar blight fungicide in the Euroblight listings. Positive feedback on BlightCast from growers has highlighted how using the forecasting system in conjunction with information of spray window opportunities, can help with spray scheduling ahead of disease risk periods. "If BlightCast foresees disease risk rising, but the Spray Window Forecast indicates application is going to be difficult, it may be better to get the necessary protection on early," advised Mr Curtis. "Fortunately the ease-of-use and rapid rainfastness of Revus, along with the use of Syngenta low-drift nozzle technology, can help growers make timely applications in a difficult season." BlightCast is free to all potato growers and agronomists registered on the Syngenta website. The local forecasts are defined by postcode, enabling those with crops across a wide geographical area to easily keep a track of conditions and risks. To register free of charge, go to Syngenta BlightCast Early focus to stop hot spot infection Andrew Curtis believes it is essential that growers are alert to the risk of blight from first emergence, with no room for complacency. "Although early infection may be contained or supressed by subsequent blight spray applications, if there is any interruption in protection or conditions turn highly conducive to blight, there's a real risk of a rapid outbreak that could prove devastating," he warned. "It is crucial to stop localised hot-spots developing." Furthermore, he highlighted that trials have shown even a very low incidence of early foliar blight can result in relatively high levels of tuber infection at harvest. "This really emphasises the importance of effective blight control, and reinforces the use of robust programmes with reliable products from the earliest applications. BlightCast is an essential tool to help growers and agronomists make proactive decisions on product choice and timing to get the best possible results." ]]> http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=85 Thu, 17 May 2012 09:32:01 GMT Rhizoctonia is running rife in cold, wet potato seedbeds and hampering crop emergence this season. The effects of stolon pruning and scarring are clearly evident on affected tubers in untreated areas of Amistar split field trials, reports Syngenta Field Technical Manager, Roger Blyth. He added that with a high proportion of the UK crop is still to be planted and little prospect of an imminent resumption in field work on saturated soils, the risk of attack on tubers is high. "For those crops still to go in, Amistar application at planting could provide essential protection against soil pathogens during establishment and prevent further delays in the crops' growth." The legacy of the severe spring infection could result in increased levels of Black Scurf on tubers at harvest, he warned. Rhizoctonia stem and stolon pruning during establishment can also trigger greater secondary tuber initiation, leading to inconsistent tuber size and maturity at harvest - which would impact on processing and packing quality, as well as overall profitability of the crop. The current conditions are also highly conducive to the Black Dot pathogen, which has historically been especially damaging on tubers harvested after a slow-growing, wet season. "This year's later sown crop may need an extended growing season to bulk up, which will increase the risk. Reducing soil pathogen populations now is especially important in wet conditions, and will have a significant role in protecting tuber skin quality at harvest," added Mr Blyth. He said that inspection of crops in Amistar trials in Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Suffolk last week (10 May 2012) had all revealed the extent of Rhizoctonia infection. "It was clear to see that plants in the treated areas of the field were emerging consistently, compared to just odd plants in the untreated rows. "Inspection of the seed tubers showed evidence of severe lesion damage and scaring on stolons and sprouts being attacked by Rhizoctonia in untreated areas, whilst stems in the Amistar treated areas were growing evenly and cleanly." All trials would be taken through to harvest and the results assessed for yield and tuber quality, he added. ]]> http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=84 Thu, 17 May 2012 09:18:26 GMT Carrot crops face a high risk of Cavity Spot attack this season, with wet soil conditions a precursor for a high incidence of infection by the damaging pathogen. The good news for growers, is that the current high soil moisture levels will assist activity from SL567A fungicide treatments. Pythium violae, the main causal pathogen of Cavity Spot in the UK, needs sufficient moisture to become active in the soil, warns Syngenta Field Technical Manager, Ian Holmes. Speaking to growers at a Syngenta Vegetable Field Trial Site in Lincolnshire this week (9 May 2012), he reported that the vast majority of the UK main crop carrot crop is expected to once again be sown with the variety, Nairobi. "It remains the most commercially attractive variety, but it has a low tolerance to Cavity Spot, so growers have to be especially aware of the risks." Whilst extending the rotation, shortening the growing season and sowing more resistant varieties can all reduce the incidence of Cavity Spot, he highlighted commercial pressures for quality roots and the demand for late-lifted or stored crop means fungicide control remains imperative. After an economically challenging season for carrot growers last year, root quality has been paramount to achieve viable prices, particularly in late lifted crops from under straw. Mr Holmes advised that growers currently only have one chance to tackle Cavity Spot - with SL567A during the early phases of establishment. This is the timing when the Pythium violae pathogen is believed to be attacking the crop roots. "Treatment with SL567A offers the best protection against infection of newly developing roots, and the potential to harvest high quality clean roots later in the year." Trials have consistently shown the best results have been from application at the one to two-leaf stage of the crop. "Although overwintered crops often suffer late attacks, treatment in the spring is still the most effective way to minimise damage, helping prevent initial Pythium infection, as well as limiting infection of secondary pathogens that can enter the root through Cavity Spot lesions." Mr Holmes noted that both earlier and later applications have been tested, but neither have shown the same levels of efficacy and robust protection as the crucial establishment timing. Application advice In a dry establishment period Mr Holmes would advocate irrigation prior to SL567A application, to raise soil moisture and optimise fungicide activity. Spraying can then be undertaken with a water volume of 200 l/ha, which is faster and more efficient than applying in a very high water volume - which in reality would not provide sufficient moisture to make a difference. He added that carrot growers can take advantage of the Syngenta Vegetable Nozzle to target application at the soil surface for Cavity Spot pathogen control. This will reduce any risk of drift, gives greater flexibility in boom height compared to standard nozzles and the high velocity spray pattern can help achieve good penetration of any cover crop canopy to reach the soil surface and seedling carrots. ]]> http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=83 Thu, 17 May 2012 09:16:08 GMT Driving up oilseed yields Delivering the demand for oil will be two new Syngenta hybrid oilseed rape varieties on show at Cereals, SY Fighter and SY Alister. With a short, easily managed canopy and high-yielding results, SY Fighter offers growers a long-awaited replacement for Excalibur, reported Mark Britton of Syngenta. "SY Fighter also offers the additional strength of a broad-based phoma stem canker resistance rating of 8." "SY Alister offers an exciting new development as a high-yielding clubroot resistant variety with good Light Leaf Spot resistance, which gives all growers the option to extend the crop's use in the rotation," he added. All the oilseed rape varieties will be grown with the Amistar-based agronomy programme, specifically designed to drive more oil yield from oilseed rape crops. Sugar rush for beet Sugar beet growers at the Cereals Event will have the chance to see SY Muse, a new very high-yielding variety, available for the first time for 2013. With consistent results over three years of official trials and a 3-year mean of 113.6 adjusted tonnes/ha, MUSE offers a 2.5% increase in sugar yield over the best of the current varieties. "We have high expectations of MUSE," says Richard Powell, Syngenta's sugar beet portfolio manager, "it has all the characteristics essential for UK growers." Also prominent will be AIMANTA, the top performing Fully Recommended variety. AIMANTA is particularly interesting because of its early maturity. With high root and sugar yields from crops lifted early, growers can get a good return on their beet and have more time to prepare a seed bed for following winter wheat crops. Combined with the leading Syngenta seed treatment and agronomy programme, these varieties will be an important step to help deliver the BBRO 4x4 yield initiative - to increase yields by an average of 4% over each of the next four years. ]]> http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=82 Fri, 11 May 2012 11:46:29 GMT Wheat research shows increased photosynthetic efficiency with new generation SDHI fungicide New research at the University of Nottingham has shown that new generation SDHI fungicide Seguris is able to increase the efficiency of a key part of the photosynthetic pathway in wheat in the absence of noticeable disease - and that plants with improved photosynthetic capacity are able to produce greater biomass and higher yield. Conducted in the field by Dr Rumiana Ray, using the winter wheat variety Gallant, the research assessed fungicide performance on photosystem II (PSII) - a key component in the photosynthetic pathway concerned with capturing sunlight. Applied at 1 l/ha at growth stages 32 or 39 (T1 or T2), results showed a consistent increase in the efficiency of PSII photochemistry following application of Seguris, reports Dr Ray. "Our results showed that light energy was not wasted but was used productively by Seguris-treated plants," she notes. Moreover, Dr Ray says Seguris had a significant influence on a second parameter called the performance index of wheat - which she says provides information of the overall physiological status of the plant at the time of assessment. Five days following T1 application of 1 l/ha of Seguris - which contains 125 g of the SDHI isopyrazam and 90 g of the triazole epoxiconazole - a 12% increase in the performance index was detected, she says. That was compared to plants receiving 93.75 g/ha of epoxiconazole, she adds. "Towards the end of the growing season, following anthesis, there was a strong positive correlation between PSII efficiency, performance index, crop biomass and yield," explains Dr Ray. "Ultimately, the higher the PSII efficiency and performance index, the higher the yield. Treatment with Seguris achieved 11.9 t/ha. The untreated and epoxiconazole-treated yielded 0.4 t/ha less." In a second experiment in the glasshouse, plants of Gallant were grown with as little as 15% water availability, to see if a similar effect on PSII efficiency was observed in water-stressed plants. "The evidence from the field and the glasshouse is that the effect of Seguris on photochemistry is consistent," Dr Ray adds. David Ranner, technical manager for Syngenta who sponsored the research, says with plans to use SDHI fungicide chemistry on-farm, it will be useful for growers to hear what these results have shown. "We already know that Seguris offers potent and long-lasting disease control," says Mr Ranner, "and that it delivers improved green leaf retention. If there are also benefits for photosynthesis, it is extremely encouraging to know that these can occur in the absence of appreciable disease."]]> http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=81 Fri, 11 May 2012 11:40:06 GMT For further information please click on the click below to direct you to this week's technical update. ]]> http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=80 Tue, 08 May 2012 14:06:57 GMT http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=79 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:04:26 GMT http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=78 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:18:50 GMT http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=77 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:10:01 GMT Application tips Residual potato seedbed herbicides should be applied with angled nozzles to get the best all round coverage, especially if the dry conditions have left more clods on the surface, according to Stephen Williams. "The angled Syngenta Potato Nozzle is far more effective at giving an even coverage of the soil surface, compared to flat fan nozzles where the shading effect of clods leaves a shadow area untreated, especially at faster spraying speeds," he warned. Sprayer operators should also take care to avoid side drift in windy conditions that can leave one side of the ridge or bed untreated. "Where there is heavy weed coverage, the angled nozzles are also more effective at getting the even coverage of residual Defy spray under the weeds and down to the soil surface," he added. Syngenta trials have shown there is no advantage to residual herbicide performance by increasing water volumes; waiting for the optimal conditions and crop stage, and then using a lower water volume to get around spraying as quickly as possible will give better overall results. ]]> http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=76 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 09:34:41 GMT Visit our Nemathorin stewardship page which has been created to provide both growers and operators with the necessary knowledge to make safe and effective applications of Nemathorin. Without effective stewardship of these products, legislative authorities will not continue to register them for use. Syngenta have a considerable commitment to stewardship of all of their products and aim to make this as accessible as possible to the user. To access go to www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/nemathorin]]> http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=75 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:58:44 GMT http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=74 Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:38:46 GMT Oilseed rape could go through a relatively short, but very intense, flowering period after the recent cold snap checked crops. This will make Pollen Beetle control especially important to conserve all available buds through to pod formation, according to Syngenta Oilseed Rape Technical & Solutions Manager, Chris Charnock He highlights a short flowering period will give the crop less opportunity to compensate for bud damage caused by foraging beetles. "Growers need to be alert for the first signs of Pollen Beetle activity, and be ready to treat as soon as thresholds are reached at the green bud stage. The cold weather in February could have also hit beneficial predator numbers this season, which would enable Pollen Beetle numbers to develop quickly," he warned. Increasing levels of pyrethroid resistance will mean more growers using Plenum as a first option at the green bud stage, advised Mr Charnock. Latest monitoring results from the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) indicate the situation has continued to deteriorate - with 75% of sampled Pollen Beetle populations now showing signs of resistance that will result in reduced control by pyrethroids, compared to 60% in 2010 and less than 50% the previous year. Growers need to be targeting Pollen Beetle at the green bud stage, to prevent flower buds being damaged. Research suggests that beetles are actively attracted to yellow petals, so once crops are in flower remaining buds can develop relatively unscathed. "This highlights the need to firmly focus Pollen Beetle control at the pre-flowering bud stage, with Plenum proving especially valuable to control any populations that may appear resistant to pyrethroid treatments." A further advantage of using Plenum for early Pollen Beetle treatment will be that growers can still retain Hallmark Zeon applications for the control of Seed Weevil, and reducing the effects of subsequent Pod Midge damage. "Whilst direct losses from Seed Weevil may be minimal, the damage it causes to pods facilitates Pod Midge activity that can result in far more serious losses. Targeting adult Weevils with Hallmark Zeon before egg laying can thus reduce the impacts of Midge. Thresholds for treating Weevil are lower in northern England, compared to the rest of the country." He pointed out that sprayer operators should not spray whilst bees are actively foraging in the crop. Beetle warning Oilseed rape growers and agronomists should monitor crops regularly from the formation of the first buds for the first signs of Pollen Beetle invasion, advises Chris Charnock. "Initially most beetles will be found around the headland, so it's important to get into the crop to assess the true level of infestation. Ideally take a white tray, and tap the plant heads on the edge so the beetles fall out and can be counted easily." "The current HGCA treatment thresholds advocate application when populations reach five beetles per plant on small or backward crops, rising to 15 beetles per plant in strong, well grown crops that are better able to produce side shoots," he said. These thresholds are the same for hybrid varieties. In spring crops the threshold should be reduced to three beetles per plant. Revised HGCA threshold levels for Pollen Beetle are currently under evaluation. ]]> http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=73 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:11:49 GMT Feeding in high energy maize will deliver the greatest power output from anaerobic digestion systems. And for the most efficient methane gas production you need to be harnessing the highest possible levels of energy per hectare from maize crops, according to Nigel Padbury of Syngenta. Coinciding with the International Biopower Generation Congress in Rotterdam this week (13/14 March 2012), Mr Padbury urged that concentrated power, in the form of high levels of maize metabolisable energy (ME), is the route to optimising performance. "Maximising the power output from any given anaerobic digestion plant capacity relies on the amount of readily available energy going into system," said Mr Padbury. "Essentially, more megajoules in, equals more power out." Growing the right maize variety can make a significant difference in the performance of any system. Varieties grown for biogas feedstock that contain a high proportion of indigestible fibre will slow down the system and reduce its generating capability, he warned. Whereas growing a highly digestible, high ME yield maize variety can produce more power, more efficiently. Furthermore, growing a high ME yielding maize variety reduces the tonnage required for any given energy output, and thereby cuts the volume and costs of transporting and ensiling the crop, compared to high-biomass varieties - making it a greener energy source, he added. "Growers must look at a maize variety's yield of ME per hectare to get the maximum return from the crop," advised Mr Padbury. "Independent trials have confirmed the variety NK Bull consistently delivers the highest energy yield per hectare at harvest, and it retains the high energy levels over an extended period in the autumn - giving growers greater flexibility in harvest timing, whilst still achieving desired high quality feedstock for biogas production." He highlighted that the ME of NK Bull is even more important where maize is combined with lower value waste stream feedstock. Utilising the highest possible ME yield per hectare is crucial to getting the most efficient power production from the AD investment and the land area, to assure a sustainable biofuel source. Some maize varieties on 2012 UK NIAB Descriptive List produce ME yields below 200,000 MJ/ha, or around 15 per cent less energy per hectare than NK Bull, warned Mr Padbury. The list shows NK Bull produces the highest ME yield of over 228,000 MJ/ha - with an ME content of 11.66 MJ/Kg DM and exceptional levels of over 60% cell wall digestibility. The Syngenta maize breeding programme, focussed on combining high energy and high digestibility, has produced other varieties with very high ME yields per hectare, such as Paddy and NK Jasmic, he reported. The performance of high energy varieties is echoed by Jos Groten, Head of the Dutch PPO Applied Plant Research, which undertakes the official maize trials in Holland - where on-farm biogas from maize is now producing a significant part of the country's energy requirement. "If metabolisable energy yields are low or dry matter percentage is poor, methane yields are also likely to be low. "Following three years of specific biogas variety trials we can give clear advice to biogas farmers: for the most profitable biogas production, grow varieties with high energy yields." ]]> http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=72 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:31:08 GMT A higher-than-normal number of reports of wild oats in wheat and barley crops this season means growers should be on their guard for this damaging grass weed, Syngenta is urging. Attention to detail with control timing could be especially important, the company says, to prevent large weeds slicing into yield. "It isn't clear whether it's the mild winter which has led to increased wild oat growth," says Syngenta field technical manager, Iain Hamilton, "or because black-grass herbicides were applied early last autumn, which allowed wild oats to germinate afterwards. But either way, we've had more reports of wild oats in winter wheat and winter barley crops than usual for this time of year. "With many of these wild oats now over-wintered and therefore well-established, it will be important to control them before they grow too large." According to Mr Hamilton, just five wild oats per metre squared can cause a 5% yield loss, and the longer that wild oats are left uncontrolled in crops, the more yield damage they cause. Trials plots have shown that yield dropped by 1.2 t/ha when wild oat treatment was delayed until flag leaf, compared with spraying earlier before growth stage 30, he says. But significantly, it also costs less to control wild oats earlier, rather than later, if using the herbicide Axial, he points out, because a lower dose can be used against smaller weeds. "Once germination has finished, Axial can be applied at 0.2 l/ha for wild oats between one leaf unfolded and the end of tillering, or 0.3 l/ha if wild oats are between stem extension and the flag leaf stage. "In the interests of removing weed competition as early as possible, research also shows that Axial gave faster control than using a fop-based herbicide. Axial also maintains control in cold conditions, in case the weather turns cold again," he explains. For early removal in wheat and barley, Mr Hamilton suggests treating wild oats once germination is complete but before the crop canopy grows too tall and closes over, which can shield weeds from the spray. "Wild oats are one of the most competitive weeds affecting UK cereals," adds Mr Hamilton. "Each wild oat plant can produce 75 seeds and, if you let them slip through the net, seeds can persist in the soil for more than five years. "For best control, it is also important that application technique is correct. Axial can be used in both wheat and barley, but it must be used with the correct dose of Adigor adjuvant. Best advice is to spray at around 100 l/ha of water, using Adigor at 1% of the spray volume - so, for example, 1 litre in 100 l/ha or 1.25 litres in 125 l/ha," he says. ]]> http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=71 Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:50:07 GMT Maize growers will have a new option for effective weed control this spring, with the launch of Peak from Syngenta. The straight prosulfuron herbicide can be used as a post-emergence treatment on its own, or as a tank-mix with other products. Syngenta Maize Herbicides Manager, Gary Jobling, highlights Peak has a highly flexible application window, right through to the 10-leaf stage in the crop. "Ideally growers will use Peak to remove weeds at the earliest opportunity, to prevent competition and help the crop establish quickly. However, the option for delayed application will be useful where there are late emerging weeds, or as a follow up to an early Callisto or pre-emergence treatment," he advised. The introduction of Peak will be extremely welcome by growers and agronomists, following the withdrawal of a number of maize herbicide options for the coming season, he added. "Peak will be a highly cost effective herbicide option and is especially strong on cruciferous weeds and difficult species including sowthistles and docks. This will make it a perfect partner herbicide with selections targeting grass weeds, such as Calaris." Mr Jobling believes that Peak will be a natural successor to Jester, the herbicide widely used in maize and game cover crops. However, he pointed out that Peak cannot be used in conjunction with any other sulfonyl urea products. Peak is already the core of many maize growers' herbicide programmes in mainland Europe. Casper introduction Syngenta has also announced the introduction of a new pre-formulated maize herbicide, Casper. This extremely robust mixture of dicamba and prosulfuron gives growers an easy-to-use solution covering all the important broad-leaved weed risks, with the useful benefit of a boost in residual activity for long-term spring weed control, added Mr Jobling. ]]> http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=70 Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:45:43 GMT http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=68 Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:53:02 GMT http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=67 Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:47:36 GMT Forward growth has put winter wheat and barley crops at high risk of lodging this season, an independent ADAS expert is warning, with possible weaknesses in stems and roots. According to Dr Peter Berry, senior research consultant at ADAS High Mowthorpe in Yorkshire, a combination of early drilling and the mild autumn means many wheat and barley crops have been left with much bigger canopies than usual for this time of year. This has been compounded where high seed rates were used, he says, for example after many growers found that crops drilled early at higher seed rates last season produced the best yields. Additionally, where crops were lower yielding last year, because of the drought, he says residual soil nitrogen carryover is likely to have been high, also exacerbating this season's growth. "The high density of tillers present in crops is important because it leads to weak stems which are lodging-prone," Dr Berry explains. "Dense crops also have a built-in shade avoidance mechanism, where they put resources into shoot growth rather than root growth, to escape from shade. Which results in weaker root anchorage in the soil." Although cold weather could still slow crop growth down, Dr Berry believes that, in terms of lodging risk, the damage has already been done. "It would have to be a very prolonged cold spell to change things," he adds. In response, he urges growers to look at three courses of action to alleviate lodging pressures - rolling crops to consolidate soils, using plant growth regulator (PGR) programmes, and adjusting the timing and dose of nitrogen fertilisers to rein back the number of tillers. "Crops need 500 ears per square metre to achieve yield potential. Most crops have at least that, so can afford to lose a few tillers. Most farmers look at applying nitrogen in early March, but if you've got a big canopy you may look at incorporating this into the main dressing at growth stage 30-31. "Rolling crops before growth stage 30 increases anchorage because it strengthens the soil around roots." To reduce lodging risks using PGRs, Dr Berry says a programme based on two applications around early stem extension and a later application at growth stage 37 is best employed. "With Moddus + chlormequat at early stem extension, we know you get a bigger effect if you split the application at growth stage 30 and 31." Syngenta lodging expert Jason Tatnell agrees that growers must take account of high lodging risks this year, and echoes the use of a programme approach to PGR use. "As well as shortening crop height, Moddus has been shown to improve rooting and strengthen stem bases in wheat," says Mr Tatnell. "So it tackles all the key causes of lodging. "Early-season, our lodging management guidance for targeting both roots and stems in winter wheat and winter barley is to apply Moddus at up to growth stage 30, followed by Moddus + chlormequat at growth stage 31-32. "When assessing a variety's lodging risks, identify its standing power on the recommended list, but also be aware of both stem base and root lodging. Remember, even a variety with high standing power will lodge if pushed hard enough. By targeting all the causes of lodging, it improves your chance of keeping it standing. Later on, a follow-up PGR at growth stage 37 may use different chemistry," he adds. ]]> http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=66 Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:37:28 GMT Sustainable swedes Technology is the key to sustainable crop production, according to John Sedgwick, Swede Crop Manager for Stewarts of Tayside. Speaking at the ADAS Syngenta Vegetable Industry Conference, he said that adopting many of the latest tools to enhance the working efficiency of men and machines has brought incredible improvements in the utilisation of resources, as well as significant cost savings. Coupling GPS guidance with an automatic shut off system on the sprayer, for example, has added a new level of precision that has improved accuracy and results, as well as minimised waste. Variable application of fertiliser has also proven highly successful improving efficiency of use. "We now have incredible gadgets and amazing technology involved with modern production systems, and it has unending opportunities of where that might take us. That's exciting for future generations and ought to be an encouragement to join the industry, which we need for a sustainable labour source." Mr Sedgewick also urged vegetable growers to support the R&D initiatives of global crop protection businesses. "It's physically impossible to grow vegetable crops without crop protection products; they are essential for the long-term sustainable production," he said. "If we don't support the businesses that invest in new product development, then we'll end up with nothing to use." Growing Dutch The Buijsman family are among the largest specialised cauliflower growers in Holland, with around 150 hectares of the crop in the north west of the country. Strong clay soils, the maritime climate and access to an ample supply of water, with every field linked to an irrigation canal, enables consistent supply from April to December. But, like all growers, they face increasing pressure to deliver ever higher quality and to produce all year round; traceability, certification and sustainability are the major drivers, he said. A move to liquid fertilisers and GPS guidance application had cut fertiliser use by 30% and the business is making big efforts to improve irrigation efficiency. Labour availability is also a key concern, with the system set up to achieve cutting to cold store in just 10 minutes. "Five years ago we could produce some crops with no fungicide inputs; now the supermarkets' quality demands for the cleanest curds have increased so much, that fungicides are an essential part of the crop agronomy," advised Mr Buijsman. All crops will receive Folio Gold, with later season crops also treated with Amistar Top. And to deliver year-round supply, the business now has 40 hectares of cauliflowers growing in Greece; a decision certainly not taken for the economic situation of the country, but the climate, soil type and water availability that could best match the production system in Holland. "Our customers wanted continuity of supply, but were nervous about further reliance on Spain and Portugal; Greece has given us differentiation over other producers," he added. But it has also presented some significant challenges, not least the lack of mechanisation, finding a stable and committed partner and changing the culture and mentality of the growers, particularly when it comes to assuring the 100% perfect quality criteria for Holland are met, compared to the local market. Mr Buijsman believes the operation in Greece will play an important role in managing the threats he foresees for future production in Holland. These include growing competition from neighbours and Eastern Europe, the challenge of finding sufficient competent labour and especially the increasing legislative pressures on fertiliser and pesticide use - which he considers may be possible for cauliflower production, but could prove extremely difficult for other vegetable crops. Attracting birds Vegetable cropping has some potential advantages for management options that could encourage farmland birds. Gavin Siriwardena of the British Trust for Ornithology highlighted the significant area of spring cropping, the mix of cropping and the open nature of crops that allows greater access to the soil surface could make vegetable crop areas more attractive to birds, compared to large scale arable fields. He reported that a study had shown bird numbers were generally more abundant in areas where there was a higher percentage of vegetable cropping, and that trends in farmland bird populations in particular were more positive in those areas. However, he qualified that there may be other factors involved and the findings could not be directly attributed to the vegetable cropping without further research. Mr Siriwardena cited the Farmland Bird Index indicated bird numbers have continued to fall at the same rate as before the current stewardship schemes were established, but he added that without ELS and HLS, declines could have been even faster. "The right actions can have useful positive effects on bird populations," he said. "But hitherto they have not been widespread enough or of sufficient magnitude to redress the terminal decline in numbers of some species." Growers now need to be encouraged to adopt the right strategies that can provide the greatest benefits to birds; winter feed sources from over wintered stubbles or planted areas have been shown to be especially important, whilst hedgerow or habitat creation has a less beneficial impact, he reported. ]]> http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=65 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:55:04 GMT Crop protection innovation Jon Ogborn of Syngenta reported the company's new fungicide active, isopyrazam, has shown excellent results against a broad spectrum of diseases and across a wide range of vegetable crops in trials, he reported. It is planned to offer the product as a single active formulation, which growers and agronomists will be able to mix or integrate into programmes as required. "The intrinsic disease activity of isopyrazam and the fact that it offers an alternative mode of action will make it especially useful for UK growers," he said. "We believe that it will have an important role in alternation with strobilurins and triazoles, such as. Amistar Top." A further new development from Syngenta could see the introduction of a novel biological disease control agent for use in fruit and vegetables reported Mr Ogborn. An extract of Giant Knotweed (Reynoutria sachalinensis), known as 'reysa', it stimulates the crop plant's own immune systems to counter infection. With several mechanisms potentially involved, this multiple action may be the reason for the greater reliability of 'reysa' seen in trials, compared with other bio-fungicides tested. Trials across Europe have shown "quite remarkable results," he said, including reductions in powdery and downy mildew and Botrytis. Activity on bacterial diseases has been observed in the USA and will also be a target of further investigation in Europe. As a product of natural origin, residue studies are not required for approval and a zero harvest interval should be expected. "This is an exciting development and our trials indicate it will have real potential, as a complement to the rest of our range. For instance, in high value salads we can see conventional fungicides being focussed earlier in the season to eradicate disease, with 'reysa' used towards the end to keep the crop clean through to harvest." ]]> http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=64 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:46:02 GMT BBC iPlayer For more information on Syngenta's initatives, please visit our Environment section: Environment]]> http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=63 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:24:16 GMT http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=62 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:25:11 GMT http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=61 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:19:35 GMT http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=59 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 09:11:06 GMT http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=58 Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:45:30 GMT http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=57 Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:15:19 GMT http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=56 Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:13:01 GMT There will be 15 Syngenta Application Stewardship Workshops, taking place on farms across the UK from December to February. Each will provide practical hands-on training from leading industry experts for both granular nematicide and in-furrow Amistar spray applications. Although primarily aimed at machinery operators, Mr Williams believes growers would also benefit from the experience - to ensure in-field practice continues to run at the highest level of accuracy and effective stewardship. For further information and to book places on a local Syngenta Application Stewardship Workshop contact your local Area Manager.]]> http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sm/newsview.aspx?newsid=55 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:30:50 GMT