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Agronomy Update header

In the January edition:

  • Protect your nitrogen and minimise losses this spring with Instinct
  • Astrokerb and Kerb Flo: winter application advice
  • PACTS maize results out now: 2026/27 PACTS book now available to download!
  • News and views from the Corteva team
  • Update your communication preferences, enter our monthly prize draw, plus ways to earn BASIS & NRoSO points
Protect your nitrogen and minimise losses this spring with Instinct®

With increasingly unpredictable early-season weather and high leaching risk, Instinct offers a reliable way to protect your fertiliser investment and maintain crop nitrogen supply until roots develop fully.

Instinct, powered by Optinyte™ technology, is a nitrification inhibitor that slows the conversion of ammonium to nitrate by inhibiting Nitrosomonas bacteria. This keeps nitrogen in the stable ammonium form for 10-12 weeks, reducing the risk of loss during early spring when soils are wet and conditions are variable.

Key benefits for January-March applications:
  • Keeps more nitrogen available for the crop: typically ~28% more nitrogen retained in the soil and accessible to roots.
  • Reduces nitrogen losses: up to 50% less nitrate leaching and 50% fewer GHG emissions, helping protect the environment while improving nutrient use efficiency.
  • Supports strong growth: more consistent nitrogen availability improves tiller development and crop uniformity during early growth.
  • Improves flexibility: enables earlier fertilisation applications with reduced risk, supporting spring workloads and operational efficiency.

Apply Instinct in February or March, ideally just before or with your first ammonium-containing fertiliser or slurry application.
Astrokerb® and Kerb® Flo: winter application guidance

With cold and snowy weather conditions in the first half of January, oilseed rape crops are opening up and with bare ground this may bring germination of weeds.

If an Astrokerb or Kerb Flo application hasn't been possible to apply in the autumn, there is still time. Astrokerb or Kerb Flo must be applied to oilseed rape by the 31st January.

Before application, remember to check the weather forecast and individual field conditions, following the propyzamide stewardship guidelines.

Don't forget to view the materials on our propyzamide hub and stewardship page.

If snow is present, before making an application, wait for it to melt, because this can increase potential for run-off. If applying Astrokerb, then wait for the leaves to become frost-free before an application.

For applications that were made in the late autumn, you should start to see Astrokerb or Kerb Flo working on the blackgrass, with swollen stem bases and root tips.

Remember it can take up to 12 weeks before symptoms appear.
PACTS® maize results out now:
2026/27 PACTS book now available to download!

Following a full programme of on-farm PACTS trials in 2025, the latest maize hybrid results are now finalised and ready to support growers in selecting the best-performing Pioneer® hybrids for the coming season. The trials once again covered the key maize-growing regions across the UK and Ireland, offering robust, locally relevant data to guide hybrid choice.

We're pleased to announce that the PACTS book for 2026/27 selection is now available, providing updated hybrid descriptions, the newest trial results and insights across both forage and grain performance. This year's line-up includes exciting additions such as P72847, alongside established high-performing favourites.
PACTS 2026/27 is now available to download!
Download here.
News and views from the Corteva Team

This month has been a busy but exciting one for Team Corteva. We recently attended the Dairygold Tillage Conference with Whelehan Crop Protection. It was great to meet so many farmers and chat Corteva solutions! This is a brilliant event that we are always happy to support.
Dairygold Tillage Conference
Congratulations to James Keneally, the winner of our hamper!
Want to hear more from us?

Update your preferences and tailor your choices to make sure you receive the communications that are right for you. Don't forget to enter into our monthly prize draw by ticking the box before submitting to be in with the chance to win!

You can also stay in the loop with all the latest updates by following @CortevaIE on X and Facebook.
Ways to stay in touch

Area Manager and National Technical Manager: Liz Glynn, 00353 (86) 844 5306. Visit our website www.corteva.ie for product information, labels and advice.

Our hotline team are also on hand to answer any queries or concerns you have.
10 IASIS points will be awarded to those subscribing to this Agronomy Update.
USE PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS SAFELY. Always read the label and product information before use. For further information including warning phrases and symbols refer to label. ®, ™ Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. All other brand names are trademarks of other manufacturers for which proprietary rights may exist. All manufacturers tradenames and trademarks are duly acknowledged. © 2025 Corteva.  Instinct® contains nitrapyrin. Astrokerb® contains aminopyralid and propyzamide. Kerb® Flo contains propyzamide.