Arable Update from Corteva Agriscience UK

In the July edition

Protect your potato crop from late blight with Zorvec^™ active
The threat of sclerotinia
How to establish your OSR this season
Pioneer PT303/Belkar^® €200 cashback offer – register today
In case you missed it: Cereals Event competition winner!

Protect your potato crop from late blight with Zorvec^™ active

The season so far:

After a difficult planting period, the crop is in the ground and away. Late Blight outbreaks have been observed in many potato growing areas.

Keep up to date:

Check Met Éireann for the latest forecast of the blight pressure in your area.

Solutions available:

Zorvec Entecta^™ utilises the renowned Zorvec^™ active formulation to deliver the most flexible Late Blight control and will ensure a clean start to your blight programme, even under the most challenging conditions.

Formulation: Suspo-emulsion (SE) containing 240g/l amisulbrom + 48g/l oxathiapiprolin - Group 21 + 49 Fungicides respectively
Recommended rate: 0.25L/ha

To view the full range of solutions available, click here.

Stewardship

There has to date been no indication of new strains of P.infestans, or resistance beyond that which Ireland growers and agronomists have been managing in recent seasons. This suggests that the updated advice has been adopted and proven effective in maintaining the status quo to this point.

Amid the continuing blight pressure, which is likely to be maintained through the rest of the season, looking after the Zorvec active chemistry is key. Alternating modes of action and mixing products where necessary to ensure an effective anti-resistance strategy will provide the best defence against developing resistance within the Ireland P.infestans population and maintaining the effectiveness of the fungicides available.

View the full Zorvec stewardship guidelines here.

The threat of sclerotinia

Sclerotinia isn’t a disease that Ireland growers will see circulating every year, but when it takes hold the effect on oilseed rape yields can be devastating. Losses can be as high as 60%, but better forecasting, well-timed spray programmes and most recently, genetic advances in varieties all help prevent such circumstances becoming common.

What conditions are needed for sclerotinia?

Sclerotinia requires at least 24 hours of continuous high humidity and night-time temperatures above seven degrees for infection to occur. Wet weather during flowering creates the biggest risk to the crop because this encourages fallen petals to stick to the crop’s leaves. These petals act as a nutrient source for the pathogen, which then grows down the leaf stem to the main plant stem where it presents as large white lesions some two weeks after the plant has become infected.

Reduce the severity of sclerotinia with PT303 and PT312

Pioneer^® PT303 Protector^® Sclerotinia can provide extra support for your crop when this unpredictable and highly damaging disease strikes. Sclerotinia infection is largely eliminated from both treated and untreated AHDB trials through comprehensive fungicide applications at flowering. In commercial situations flowering treatment programmes may be more limited, and applications may be inadvertently mis-timed. PT312, the second Pioneer hybrid with tolerance to sclerotinia, provides a very high gross output yield with a very high oil content combined with turnip yellows virus resistance.

Pioneer PT303/Belkar^® €200 cashback offer – register today

We are once again running our OSR Offer to help you maximise the potential of your oilseed rape crop. We will be offering €200 cashback to anyone that purchases Protector Sclerotinia tolerant hybrid, PT303 and Belkar^® herbicide for the 2024/25 growing season. Anyone taking part in the offer will be eligible for a one-off payment of €200 if purchase is made before 1^st November 2024 and a claim is submitted using the online form by 15^th November 2024*.

Click here to find out more and register your interest.

*Terms and conditions apply.

How to establish your OSR this season

A planned approach to oilseed rape establishment this summer will help growers maximise their chances of seeing the full benefit of the crop.

Attention to detail on variety choice, drill dates and weed control programmes all contribute significantly to growing rape that can withstand the vagaries of the weather. The important role of oilseed rape in the rotation remains undiminished, and with prices currently over €455/tonne there are good financial reasons to plant it in the coming months.

Being flexible on drilling dates in order to target the right level of moisture in the soil has been a tactic adopted by many growers, avoiding dry summer days where seed can struggle to germinate quickly.

Choosing the right variety and seed treatments for the farm is also time well spent. A variety’s yield potential is an important measure but it’s not the only one.

Choosing when to invest in weed control can reduce risk too. A Corteva survey in 2023 indicated many had shifted away from pre-emergence herbicide strategies to post application sprays.

There are a lot of unknowns in farming at the moment and what oilseed rape growers want is to manage risk. Making a good plan (and actioning it!) is essential to giving crops the best possible chance. Read more here.

In case you missed it: Cereals Event competition winner!

In our June Arable Update, we highlighted some exciting moments from the Corteva stand at Cereals Event (you can watch our short video here). As an additional update, we’re thrilled to announce that Ed and Angela at E J Lankfer were the lucky winners of our Cereals Event bumper prize, and here is Corteva Area Manager, Tom Rouse, presenting the prize to Ed.

If you need technical advice or support, we're here to help

Area Manager & National Technical Manager: Liz Glynn, 00353 (86) 844 5306

General enquiries: +44 1462 457272, CortevaUK@corteva.com.

You can also visit our website www.corteva.ie for product information, labels and advice.

Our hotline team are on hand to answer any queries or concerns you have. Please do not hesitate to get in touch via email, or by submitting an enquiry.

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Use plant protection products safely. Always read the label and product information before use. PAY ATTENTION TO THE RISK INDICATIONS AND FOLLOW THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ON THE LABEL. Triple Rinse Containers and Invert to Dry at Time of 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. Belkar® contains halauxifen-methyl (Arylex™ active) and picloram. Zorvec Entecta™ contains amisulbrom and oxathiapiprolin.