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As you prepare for the 2024 season, creating a disease management plan for your cereal crops is crucial to keeping your fields protected. While field management, fungicides and planting strategies are important factors to this plan, consider what you can do to protect your crops and maximize yield potential before the seed even goes in the ground.

Seed treatments for cereal crops allow your seedlings to have the strongest possible start from day one by providing greater protection against early-season stressors like Pythium to help ensure proper root development and optimal stand.

With more than 50 known species in the U.S. – and found in every agricultural soil in North America – Pythium is one of the most persistent, pervasive and resistant disease pathogens. It is so common in wheat that it is often misdiagnosed as winter injury, poor soil fertility or toxicity from crop residue. The adverse impact of this disease on yields is clear:

  • In winter wheat, when Pythium populations were experimentally reduced or nearly eliminated, yield typically increased by 15-20%1  and sometimes up to 50%2.
  • Pythium has been described as more limiting to stands and seedling vigor of wheat during more years and over a greater portion of North America than any other disease3.

Seed treatments like Vayantis® are particularly effective at preventing early-season diseases, like Pythium. Vayantis utilizes novel modes of action to provide robust protection against early-season disease and can be customized to further meet the needs of your fields. With proven results, seed treatments like Vayantis help seedlings thrive, while increasing overall crop quality, stand establishment and yield potential.

1Hans Kok, WSU/UI Extension Conservation Tillage Specialist, UI Ag Science 231, PO Box 442339, Moscow, ID 83844 USA Redesigned by Leila Styer, CAHE Computer Resource Unit; Maintained by Debbie Marsh, Dept. of Crop & Soil Sciences, WSU

2Degrees of Sensitivity to Metalaxyl Within the Pythium spp. Pathogenic to Wheat in the Pacific Northwest. R.J. COOK, Research Plant Pathologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Washington State University, Pullman 99164, and BING-XINGZHANG, Visiting Plant Pathologist to Washington State University from Zhejiang Agricultural University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, Peoples Republic of China

3CA data, A. Dickson, and EU data, S. Torrian

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Although one of the top fresh market crops in the U.S., watermelons can be vulnerable to disease, especially in the Southeast. Cool and wet conditions in early spring open the door for fungal disease to infect seedlings whereas hot and humid Southeastern summers cause additional stress that makes it difficult for plants to outcompete pathogens.

Fusarium wilt in watermelons is caused by the host-specific seed- and soil-borne pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (FON), which invades the roots of the plant. Seedlings infected by Fusarium wilt may experience damping off, resulting in decreased stands. As the disease advances in older plants, extensive damage to the vascular tissue results in permanent wilting of the entire plant. Fusarium wilt can drastically decrease marketability as fruit produced by infected plants is likely to split or become sunburned.

According to the University of Florida, Fusarium wilt can eliminate all marketable yield in an infected field. It is also one of the most difficult diseases for growers to manage because FON spores can survive in the soil for up to twenty years without a viable watermelon host. The pathogen spreads readily on infected seeds, in soil transported by water runoff, and on equipment and boots. These factors make it extremely challenging to control Fusarium wilt with cultural practices alone.

Fusarium Wilt Protection Starts with Soil

In the past, watermelon growers relied on soil fumigation to augment cultural practices and manage Fusarium wilt. Despite this, the University of Georgia finds that watermelon crop yield losses due to Fusarium wilt are increasing. This is because soil fumigation fails to eliminate all the spores in soil and long-term crop rotation is not often feasible. Until recently, growers have had limited success with fungicides.

Soil applications of Miravis® Prime fungicide, powered by ADEPIDYN® technology and fludioxonil, is a new option for growers looking to suppress Fusarium wilt in watermelon fields. When applied before or at planting, soil applications of Miravis Prime offer growers a new tool to protect their bottom lines and set their fields up for long-term success.

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What sets Syngenta crop protection products apart? Here’s a hint: it goes way beyond active ingredients.

Syngenta crop protection products are developed by a global team of industry-leading experts. Our products contain other components in addition to active ingredients—and each one has an important purpose. Our experts spend at least two years optimizing precisely balanced formulations to ensure our products deliver the right quality every time. Check out the full infographic to learn more about what helps branded products stand out.

An infographic providing data and examples that set Syngenta products apart from generics.

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The 2018 Farm Bill introduced an advocacy and policy research initiative designed to uplift a group of historically underserved farmers and ranchers. The Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Policy Center was authorized for two reasons:

  • First, to make sure there is a coordinated voice for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers as they advocate at the agricultural committees of the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and the USDA, and
  • Second, to ensure that there’s data-driven information ready for ag policymakers as they work on farm bill legislation.

Eloris Speight, executive director of the Policy Center, has a long, accomplished career in policy and human resources strategy executive leadership. She has collaborated with congressional representatives and advocated for policies that will have enriching effects on socially disadvantaged growers around the country. She also brings first-hand farming experience to her position after working on her grandparents’ farm as a child.

“I grew up spending my summers on my grandparents’ 200-acre farm in North Carolina. That’s where I had my start in ag,” she says. “My first job was working on the farm. The first vehicle I learned to drive was a tractor. I’d buy my school clothes with the money I earned there.”

Impacting Policy With Engagement

Speight and her team established the Policy Center with four areas of focus:

  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Active research
  • Policy development
  • Strategic outreach

“Stakeholder engagement involves wide-reaching touchpoints across the land grant communities, particularly the 1890 land grants,” Speight says. These institutions were established to strengthen research, extension and teaching in the food and agricultural sciences at 19 historically black universities. While the Policy Center is located at one of these institutions, Mississippi’s Alcorn State University, Speight notes that she and her colleagues work across other communities as a national organization.

Much of their work centers around six research priorities: policy analysis, the impact on disadvantaged growers, USDA programs participation analysis, youth programs, urban agriculture and access to resources. “We have a focus on access to resources — especially addressing the decline in Black farmers, the only ethnic group at the time that was declining in numbers,” Speight says. “Youth programs are a priority, considering the average farmer is 59 years old, as we focus on cultivating the next generation.”

While the Policy Center does not provide direct technical assistance to farmers, it does facilitate knowledge through workshops and training opportunities. “We educate around the farm bill to teach socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers what’s in it that will benefit them,” Speight says. “Then, we conduct focus groups and surveys to drive strategy. That is followed by policy development when we take the data we collect and work it through the Congressional Black Caucus to get that policy implemented in the farm bill.”

Addressing Inequalities in Ag

Reflecting on what’s made the Policy Center successful and distinct from other efforts to address inequality in agriculture, Speight attributes much of it to the broadness of their impact. “We are one of the only organizations that I’m aware of where we have both public and private representation,” she says. “We have an advisory board consisting of 24 members that’s chaired by the president of Alcorn State University, with representatives from seven additional land-grant universities.” Some of the other groups represented include the Texas AgriForestry Small Farmers and Ranchers, the National Black Growers Council, the Federation of Southern Cooperatives and the Mississippi Minority Farmers Alliance.”

Representation also comes from large and small farms, agribusinesses and national leaders like former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy and former USDA Director of Civil Rights Lloyd Wright. “We’ve also held focus groups with more than 5,000 active farmers and ranchers in the last couple of years,” Speight says. “If you look at all of our contributors, we’re a group that’s very far-reaching and broad.”

Gaining Partnerships for Progress

The Policy Center seeks support from large corporations to fund its research and initiatives. “Walmart recently funded a grant for the Policy Center to look at how Black farmers finance their operations,” Speight says. “When the American Rescue Plan came out, we found that only 8% of all Black farmers were recipients of direct USDA loans. If only 8% are getting federal funding, where are the other 92% getting funds? We were able to share this data with USDA and Congress.”

Other ways big companies can provide support is by providing technical assistance and sharing best practices so farmers are equipped with the latest tools and knowledge. “We also hope large companies will fund opportunities for students,” Speight says. “We want to contribute to the next generation of ag professionals, whether that is by offering internships or through the funding of internship programs.”

“Finally, we’d like these businesses as well as the whole ag community to participate in policy discussions,” Speight concludes. “As we collect information and come back with recommendations, there is a role that everyone can play in advocating for those policies.”

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Citrus thrips are tiny insects known for posing a significant threat to California citrus. They pack a powerful punch, causing significant damage to crops if left unchecked. Small, slender insects, citrus thrips typically measure about 0.6 to 0.88 millimeters in length. They are usually yellow to orange in color with fringed wings.

Illustration of a citrus thrips
Citrus thrips insect illustration.

How Do Citrus Thrips Cause Damage?

Citrus thrips primarily feed on citrus leaves and fruit, puncturing epidermal cells to extract plant fluids and nutrients. Larvae tend to feed actively on tender leaves and under the sepals of young fruit, while adults feed more actively around the tree foliage.

This feeding behavior can make citrus fruit unmarketable by causing:

  • Fruit scarring: Blemishes or scars on the outer rind of the fruit, rendering it unsuitable to be sold at market value.
  • Leaf deformation: Infested leaves that become distorted or discolored, affecting the overall health and photosynthetic capacity of your citrus trees.
  • Reduced fruit quality: Misshapen or smaller fruit that cause a reduction in market value.

Weather Challenges Contribute to Pest Problems

The University of California found that citrus thrips thrive during spring and summer. They can produce as many as eight generations in years with favorable weather conditions, as was evident during the prolonged wet and warm weather of the 2023 summer. These weather-related disruptions had a significant impact on the prevalence of citrus thrips during an already difficult year and underscore the importance of a strong early-season management plan.

Early detection of citrus thrips can help minimize destruction, but they can still cause immense damage to your yield if you are not careful. You never know what Mother Nature can bring, which is why proactive pest management is critical every season.

Proactive Citrus Thrip Management

To fight back against these tiny but mighty pests, you need an effective management solution that maintains the health and productivity of your citrus trees. In addition to regularly scouting your citrus trees for signs of thrips infestations, consider an effective insecticide with lasting residual control like Minecto® Pro to shield your trees from yield-robbing pests.

Bar chart showing citrus thrip damage in citrus crops treated with Minecto Pro vs competitors
In a trial testing citrus fruit sensitivity to scarring from citrus thrip pests, citrus fruit treated with spray programs that included Minecto Pro developed fewer fruit with scarring than citrus fruit treated with competitor programs.

A broad-spectrum, foliar insecticide, Minecto Pro controls not only thrips, but also Asian citrus psyllid, citrus leafminer and mites. Minecto Pro helps protect your yield from pests by harnessing the power of two complementary active ingredients into one convenient premix formulation.

For the best results when applying an insecticide for citrus thrips, target the spray on the outside canopy of the tree as citrus thrips gravitate toward the sun.

Learn how you can reduce the risk of unmarketable fruit and safeguard your citrus yield with Minecto Pro. For additional information, reach out to your Syngenta representative.

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Producing a potato crop with high quality and yield potential requires, among other things, planting healthy seed in optimal soil conditions. That’s a great start, yet it’s no guarantee of success given the wide-ranging challenges growers face each year from climate conditions, disease pressures, labor shortages, rising production costs and more.

Early-season crop management is crucial to battling many threats and establishing plant health.
Although potatoes are affected primarily by bacterial rots, they are also susceptible to fungal diseases, such as dry rot caused by Fusarium, silver scurf from Helminthosporium and black scurf from Rhizoctonia. These diseases can infect seedlings, leading to weakened roots, stolon and stem decay and stunted plant growth.

Potato dry rot, for example, is a devastating fungal disease worldwide. According to Michigan State University researchers, soil- and seedborne inoculum can affect the plants in the field; however, more severe damage occurs during storage, potentially infecting seed pieces for the next planting season. During their research, they found that although dry rot inhibits crop stand development and can cause losses up to 25%, infection as high as 60% can occur during storage.1

To reduce risk and jump start your success in a new growing season, it’s important to implement a management plan that targets both insects and diseases at planting. Utilizing a strong seed treatment is recommended to protect against these potentially devastating seedborne diseases, as well as early-season insects, such as Colorado potato beetle, aphids, potato leaf hopper and potato psyllid.

Using a quality seed treatment helps prevent fungi spreading in early stages of potato plant growth. You can start strong and maximize potential yield and quality by protecting potato seeds from the moment they are in the ground. Starting with a broad-spectrum fungicide and robust neonicotinoid seed treatment, like CruiserMaxx® Vibrance® Potato or CruiserMaxx Potato Extreme, offers thorough protection against damage from early-season insects and soil- and seedborne diseases.

CruiserMaxx Vibrance Potato:

  • Features sedaxane, fludioxonil and difenoconazole fungicides with thiamethoxam insecticide in a convenient formulation effective at a single use rate.
  • Delivers comprehensive control of Rhizoctonia, Helminthosporium and Fusarium, in addition to a multitude of below- and above-ground pests.
  • Improves stand establishment and protects young roots and stolons.
  • Aids in wound healing and suberization.
  • Available in an efficient and convenient liquid formulation with low dust off, without the need for additional polymers or additives.
  • Exhibits optimized handling and application characteristics (in all temperatures and treating conditions).
Comparison photo showing increased root mass and health in potatos treated with CruiserMaxx Vibrance Potato compared to untreated.
CruiserMaxx Vibrance Potato boosts RootingPower for healthy roots and stolons, which leads to increased nutrient uptake and water use efficiency.

CruiserMaxx Potato Extreme:

  • Created for convenience – with two fungicides (fludioxonil and difenoconazole) for controlling seedborne diseases, plus thiamethoxam insecticide that delivers reliable insect control, this all-in-one liquid formula helps get potato crops off to a great start.
  • Delivers effective protection against key seedborne diseases, including strains of Fusarium resistant to fludioxonil.
  • When applied according to label directions, it results in less chemical exposure and less mess than dust alternatives, so you can spend less time cleaning up and more time focusing on building your bottom line.

Watch as three Idaho potato farmers share why they recommend CruiserMaxx Potato Extreme seed treatment:

Start Strong for Best Results

Enhancing germination, increasing vigor and improving stand establishment are the keys to minimizing risk and optimizing marketable yield and quality potential. Getting potato crops off to a strong, healthy start can lead to better tuber distribution and greater uniformity at harvest, both of which are important for marketability and profit potential.

To learn more about potato seed treatment options, talk with your local Syngenta representative or visit this page.

1Wharton P, Hammerschmidt R, Kirk W. Fusarium dry rot. Michigan potato diseases series. Michigan: Michigan State University; 2007. pp. 531–532.

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Time is money when it comes to growing soybeans. You want to get the most bang for your buck from your field, and that means being efficient with your time and applications. As you’re evaluating your in-season crop protection plan, get the most value out of your foliar inputs by tank-mixing a long-lasting insecticide with a powerful fungicide.

Applying a fungicide-insecticide tank mix to soybeans is an effective way to cut down time and fuel investment, and applying the right fungicide-insecticide tank mix may also help boost potential yield and ROI. A recent Syngenta trial shows adding an insecticide, like Endigo® ZCX, to a fungicide, like Miravis® Neo or Miravis Top, can boost yield over using the fungicide alone and over untreated acres.

A bar chart showing the yield advantage from Endigo ZCX insecticide with Miravis Neo/Miravis Top fungicide
Breakeven return on investment (ROI)*: Product cost = $7/A; soybean price $10/bu = ~ 0.7 bu/A. Data from 21 replicated trials from 2018-2022; IA (4), IL (4), IN (4), KS (1), KY (4), MO (1), NE (2), TN (1). Applied at R1. *ROI based on the addition of Endigo ZCX to the fungicide product and application cost.

Endigo ZCX is a great solution for long-lasting residual control of pests like stinkbugs, soybean aphids, grasshoppers and Japanese beetles. The value is even greater when combined with plant health fungicides like Miravis Neo or Miravis Top that help fight key diseases like frogeye leaf spot and help plants yield their best even under drought stress.

Talk to your local Syngenta representative or retailer to learn more about your tank-mix options and choosing the right products for your operation. Or, visit BoostYourBushels.com to see local fungicide trial results near you.

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Summers in the South are hot and humid, two weather conditions that create the perfect environment for diseases like frogeye leaf spot (FELS) to develop. The Crop Protection Network estimates that FELS can cause yield losses of up to 35% under the right conditions. Severe disease outbreaks early in the season or shortly after flowering have the highest impact on yield, whereas late-stage disease outbreaks after R5 can have a reduced impact on your bottom line.

FELS can be difficult to diagnose and is often mistaken for other diseases and disorders such as herbicide injury or target spot. In addition, strobilurin-resistant FELS has been confirmed in 18 states across the South and Midwest, according to North Carolina State University. If your fields have a history of FELS or you see signs of disease after using a strobilurin-containing fungicide, contact your local agronomist or extension service to see if strobilurin-resistance may be an issue in your field.

Staying Ahead of the Disease

You still have time before signs of frogeye leaf spot begin to develop. Consider these tips to prevent the threat of FELS:

  1. Consider crop rotation: The fungus that causes FELS survives on residue, so rotations to a different crop can prevent the likelihood of residue surviving from season-to-season. Tilling can also help break up the remaining residue and reduce the amount of fungus.
  2. Keep an eye on the weather: Like many foliar diseases, frogeye leaf spot thrives in warm (80-85°F) and humid conditions. Keep in mind that younger leaves are more susceptible to the disease and that symptoms become visible 7-14 days after infection.
  3. Provide effective protection: Scout early and often for signs of disease in your fields and consider adding a high-performing fungicide to your disease management plan.

The best way to stay ahead of FELS is to include a preventive fungicide in your disease management plan. We recommend Miravis® Top fungicide. Custom-built with two effective active ingredients with proven activity against strobilurin-resistant pathogens, Miravis Top helps you stay ahead of resistance and protect yield potential.

Plus, with excellent plant-health benefits, Miravis Top can help your soybeans stay cleaner and greener, even under stressful or low disease conditions. Regardless of disease pressure, Miravis Top can boost yields.

2018 Trial data showing that Miravis Top delivered yields in soybeans over competitor products
In a 2018 trial in Illinois, Miravis Top delivered higher yields in soybeans over competitor products.

Try out our revenue calculator to see what your ROI potential could be with Miravis Top.

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Commonly grown pulse crops are susceptible to destructive foliar disease like Ascochyta blight, a fungus that can be very damaging to crops if left untreated. Entire growing seasons can be threatened if crops are left untreated, so it’s important to plan ahead to protect crops against this and other foliar diseases every growing season.

Ascochyta blight is caused by Ascochyta rabiei, a fungal pathogen that can be seed-borne and occur on infested crop residues. For Ascochyta infections to develop, it needs a combination of moisture and temperatures ranging from 41-86°F. Once the disease is established on one plant, it can spread in splashing water and windy conditions. Spores spread most quickly in cool, wet conditions.

Ascochyta may not become visible until 4-5 days after infection. As the disease progresses, lesions will appear on the leaves and stem which can lead to stem girdling. If left untreated, the disease can penetrate pods and infect seeds, reducing marketability and quality as a food item.

It is important to treat Ascochyta blight as it has been known to wipe out entire yields and affect yield quality. Foliar fungicide management requirements vary by crop variety and weather conditions.

Chickpeas

Using Miravis® Top fungicide can help prevent foliar diseases such as Ascochyta blight in chickpeas. Applications should be proactive and made prior to disease development.

Dry Field Peas

Miravis Top on dry field peas provides protection against numerous yield-robbing foliar diseases including Ascochyta blight. Miravis Top also targets other diseases like white mold, Alternaria blight, rust and powdery mildew. The first application of Miravis Top should be at R2 or full bloom.

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Strawberry growers know that gray mold, also known as Botrytis rot, can decrease marketable yield and destroy profit potential. It can affect all areas of strawberry production, causing challenges not only in the field, but also during storage, transport and marketing of strawberry fruit.

What Causes Gray Mold in Strawberries?

The disease gets its name from the visible, fuzzy, gray-colored mold that appears in masses that infects all parts of the strawberry plant. The most damage to potential profit occurs when flowers and fruit are affected. According to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, gray mold can result in yield losses greater than 50%.

A combination of high temperatures and wet conditions is optimal for gray mold development in strawberry fields. Recent weather conditions and hurricanes in the Southeast region may be cause for concern for strawberry growers in these areas.

Precautions must be taken sooner rather than later to prevent this disease from affecting your strawberry yield potential this season.

Gray Mold Management Tips

The University of Florida recommends cultural and chemical practices for gray mold management, including the removal of diseased fruit from under the plant canopy to reduce the spread of infection. You should also consider preventive applications of an effective fungicide spray to control gray mold infections in your strawberries.

Under intense gray mold pressure, Miravis® Prime fungicide can recharge your spray programs and help produce more marketable strawberries. Miravis Prime is powered by one of the highest-performing succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) molecules available — ADEPIDYN® technology (FRAC group 7) and fludioxonil (FRAC group 12). In a trial testing strawberry disease sensitivity to botrytis (gray mold), strawberries treated with Miravis Prime fungicide produced fewer infected fruit than competitors.

LSD test used to indicate the statistical significance and differences.
LSD test used to indicate the statistical significance and differences. Variety: Florida radiance. University of Florida – Gulf Coast Research & Education Center; 2018-2019.

In addition to gray mold, Miravis Prime can also help control powdery mildew and anthracnose in strawberries. It remains stable on the leaf surface for even distribution and disease protection throughout the growing season and post-harvest transit.

Learn more about how Miravis Prime can help you manage and prevent the spread of damaging diseases in your strawberry fields today. For additional information, reach out to your Syngenta representative.

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