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Economical Fungicide Use in Grain Crops

Economical Fungicide Use in Grain Crops. Don Hershman Extension Plant Pathologist University of Kentucky. “Should I spray?”.

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Economical Fungicide Use in Grain Crops

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  1. Economical Fungicide Use in Grain Crops Don Hershman Extension Plant Pathologist University of Kentucky

  2. “Should I spray?” Decision greatly influenced by crop price, management style, yield potential of crop in question, disease risk, past experience with diseases and fungicides, economic “health” of farming operation, contemporary opinion, advertisements and incentive programs, need for, availability, and timing of custom applications.

  3. “Should I spray?” SIMPLE QUESTION – COMPLICATED ANSWER!!! Decision greatly influenced by crop price, management style, yield potential of crop in question, disease risk, past experience with diseases and fungicides, economic “health” of farming operation, contemporary opinion, advertisements and incentive programs, need for, availability, and timing of custom applications.

  4. Objectives of Spraying • Increased profitability • Yield • Quality • Increased production efficiency • Longer harvest season (when maturity, treated and non-treated are all added to the equation) • Faster combine speed (corn) • Compensate for stress, increase growth efficiency.

  5. Fungicide Realities • Fungicides do not increase yield potential; they simply help maintain the potential by protecting crops from losses caused by certain fungal diseases. • Fungicide and application costs are significant. • Applying unneeded fungicides can waste lots of money. • When needed, the cost of treating is almost always more than offset by the benefit received. • Scheduled applications are not as consistently economical as risk-based applications. • It is impossible to make perfect fungicide use decisions consistently, but the odds of success can be stacked in your favor so you win more often than you lose. • A good fungicide use decision can be rendered ineffective if application is not timely or if coverage is poor. • Agricultural marketing is often not very realistic when it comes to fungicides.

  6. Main Target Diseases in Corn

  7. Main Target Diseases in Soybean

  8. Main Target Diseases in Wheat

  9. Important Diseases NOT Controlled by Fungicides • Corn: Ear and kernel rots; all diseases caused by viruses and bacteria; anthracnose; stalk rots; smut; some foliar diseases; nematodes. • Soybean: SDS, SCN, stem canker, charcoal rot, Phytophthora root and stem rot, all diseases caused by viruses and bacteria. • Wheat: Viruses (BYD, WSSMV, WSMV, WSBMV), take-all, smuts, black chaff/bacterial streak.

  10. Results of University Replicated Field Studies EXAMPLES

  11. Response in Corn to Fungicide Application in University Trials in 20091 1One application at VT/R2 or R2. 2At dent stage. Provides an estimate of overall disease pressure.

  12. Response in Soybean to Headline Fungicide1in University Trials2in 2006 1One application at beginning pod (R3). 2Replicated, randomized tests conducted in DE, KY, IA, IN, IL, MD, MI, MO, MN, NE, ND, NY, OH, SD, WI and Ontario Canada. 3P<0.05; some disease pressure in test.

  13. Wheat Response to Strobilurins Randy Weisz • NC State University http://www.smallgrains.ncsu.edu 2008

  14. “Should I spray?”

  15. Economic Considerations • Yield and price of treated area • Cost of fungicide and additives, if any • Cost of application, including crop run down if ground application • Hauling cost • Yield, price and hauling cost of non-treated “check” area

  16. Profitability of Scheduled Applications: Wheat Randy Weisz • NC State University http://www.smallgrains.ncsu.edu

  17. Profitability of Scheduled Applications: Wheat

  18. www.isafarmnet.com/calc/index.php

  19. www.agmanager.info/crops/prodecon/decision/CropSpray.swf

  20. Economics of Fungicide Use in Wheat Randy Weisz • NC State University http://www.smallgrains.ncsu.edu

  21. Example: Corn Disease Risk Factors

  22. “Greening Effect” NT NT Quadris

  23. Application Technique • Both aerial and ground applications are acceptable as long as: • Sufficient volume is applied • Sufficient spray pressure is used • Combo of tips and pressure results in medium-sized spray droplets • Adjuvants are used according to label instructions • Timing is good: • Corn: Tasseling (VT) through silking (R1) • Soybean: R3 (early pod) • Wheat: Mid head emergence (Feeke’s 10.1-3) to early flowering (Feeke’s 10.51).

  24. Air Induction Imperfect application technique • Variable application and equipment technique resulting in insufficient spray coverage • Improper droplet size and distribution in canopy • Low spray pressure • Inadequate spray volume Photos by Phil Needham, Needham Ag Technologies, LCC Twin Jet

  25. Poor application technique or timing can negate, or at least significantly reduce, benefits obtained.

  26. Game Changers • Severe mid- to late-season drought • Significant damage caused by insects • Serious diseases not targeted by fungicides • Major crop lodging/matting; hail damage • Significant delay in harvest

  27. “Should I spray?” Thanks and have a blessed day!

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