Articles Archive | Page 3 of 30

January 10, 2025 by McKenna Greco

Losing crops is a reality of farming, especially when you’re battling weather, new pests and emerging diseases. Seeing a few acres of your life’s work perish is tough, but the threat of losing your entire operation is a different type of sting. One California almond grower shares how soil health improvements made his orchards vulnerable to disease and how he was able to bring them back from the brink of total devastation.

Trees Lost to Unusually Wet Weather Worsened by Soil Prep

Whole orchard recycling is a process to reincorporate an outgoing orchard in preparation for planting a new one. Mature trees are felled and ground into woodchips, which are then spread and incorporated into the soil. The University of California found that this process can help improve water retention. The issue for John Fassler, a California pest advisor who went through whole orchard recycling, was that the moist soil and greater-than-normal rainfall turned his orchards into the perfect breeding ground for oomycete pathogens like Phytophthora.

Fassler has consulted at Braden Farms where they used whole orchard recycling as a way to prepare for planting a new orchard. “This is a fairly new process, which means we’re learning as we go,” he says. “Some issues we’ve seen have been a rise in fungal diseases, such as Phytophthora and other replant diseases.”

Mother Nature hasn’t helped the fungal disease risk, especially at the beginning of the 2023 growing season. California experienced greater than average annual precipitation in 2023, breaking numerous records and ending three years of persistent drought, according to the California Nevada River Forecast Center.

“We’ve had significant rainfall in California the last two years, so this has really intensified the battle with Phytophthora in some spots,” says Ashley Bandoni, Syngenta sales representative and California almond grower.

Fassler experienced devastation due to those heavy rains. One of his orchards was completely submerged, worsening the orchard’s Phytophthora issues.

“We lost about 500 trees on this block due to Phytophthora and replant disease,” says Fassler. “Phytophthora is becoming more and more of an issue in these wetter years.”

Phytophthora Overtakes Young Almond Trees

Many California growers and crop consultants have been battling fungal disease challenges.

Ethan Nicol, an independent pest control advisor and crop consultant for Balanced Agronomics, helped one of his customers manage extreme Phytophthora in a young almond orchard.

Planted in the fall of 2021, Nicol began seeing early symptoms of Phytophthora infections the following spring. Young trees like the ones in the orchard Nicol manages tend to be more susceptible to disease because their root systems and crown areas are smaller compared to those of mature trees, according to the University of California Department of Agriculture.

“In that first 2022 season, we observed maybe 30 percent of the orchard was infected,” says Nicol. “By mid-August, we had really grown to realize the significance of the issue.”

Coming Back from Orchard Devastation

For both Nicol and Fassler, almond yield potential was on the line and devastation was just over the horizon. They both had a tough decision to make.

“As far as doing our research going into it, usually we have the Syngenta reps come in to help us decide if the product will be a good fit for us,” says Fassler. “We also ask about how the product differentiates itself from what we’ve already been doing.”

After discussions with their local Syngenta experts, Fassler and Nicol decided to apply Orondis^® fungicide to help save their orchards. Fassler says his flooded orchard plot turned around.

“My experience with Orondis changed up our program,” says Fassler. “We’ve been able to work it into our program really well and we didn’t lose one tree this year.”

Nicol’s experience with Orondis was also nothing short of extraordinary. Before application, Nicol was working with the grower to continuously remove and replant dead trees. They lost roughly 600 almond trees — six ranches — to Phytophthora. Once Orondis was applied in 2023, Nicol observed a noticeable decline in newly infected trees.

My experience with Orondis changed up our program. We’ve been able to work it into our program really well and we didn’t lose one tree this year.

John Fassler California Pest Advisor

“We were confident in the success that we were seeing by the replants taking and growing strongly, and the existing trees continuing to grow and not develop signs of Phytophthora,” says Nicol. “Going into 2024, just as a precaution and to help protect this investment, we made an additional Orondis application. There’s been almost no sign of infected trees this season.”

Growers Also Need Care

If Fassler and Nicol didn’t have the guidance and support of their Syngenta representatives, their almond orchards might have been lost.

“I’ve worked with Syngenta for probably about the last 20 years, and through the years we’ve had many different experiences,” says Fassler. “Syngenta has always been there to help us through and guide us through what needed to be done.”

January 7, 2025 by McKenna Greco

Take a breather from planning with this fun quiz – and who knows, you may learn something about yourself!

What Type of 2025 Grower Are You?

Take this fast and fun quiz to find out what type of grower you are.
Answer these six questions to find out how you’ll rule the field in 2025.

January 6, 2025 by McKenna Greco

Just like you, weeds, pests and diseases are waiting anxiously to see what conditions next season brings. No matter the weather, one or more will be ready to battle your corn crop. Having a strategy that prepares your crop to face any opponent in any condition will tip the odds of a winning harvest in your favor.

Dominate Early-Season Weeds

Your corn crop’s first challenger is early-season weed pressure. Make sure your weed management strategy includes a timely application of a residual preemergence herbicide with an overlapping postemergence residual and multiple effective sites of action.

“Early-season weed control is about effective control, which is necessary for high-yielding corn crops,” says Travis Gustafson, Syngenta agronomist in Nebraska. He explains that if corn emerges next to a weed, it will orient its leaves to avoid the competition. This leads the corn to instead compete with its neighboring corn plants as it grows.

“Additionally, in a weed-free field, corn will shade the row faster, gather more sunlight throughout the growing season, and ultimately be a healthier, more productive plant,” he says.

An effective preemergence residual herbicide also provides a longer window for young corn plants to establish healthy root systems free of weed competition. If corn emerges to weed pressure, it will grow quickly to get above it, sacrificing root growth.

“If a dry spell hits later in the season, a crop that competed with weeds early will have less root mass to take up water and nutrients and be under more stress than a plant that had a clean field from the start,” says Nick Groth, Syngenta agronomist in Wisconsin. “Corn plants need to have a good day every day from planting through harvest to maximize yield potential.”

Corn plants need to have a good day every day from planting through harvest to maximize yield potential.

Nick Groth Syngenta Agronomist

For some weeds, it’s even more critical to make sure they never see the light of day. Palmer amaranth caught some producers off guard last season, Gustafson says.

This heavy hitter can knockout corn yields — losses have been shown to reach 91 percent in corn¹. Palmer amaranth plants can produce up to 100,000 seeds per plant, grow quickly, and are prone to developing resistance. It takes discipline to defeat this opponent.

“We can’t take a wait-and-see approach with tough weeds like waterhemp, marestail and Palmer amaranth,” says Gustafson. “In my area, once the weed is up, it’s nearly impossible to kill. Producers can’t cut corners on residual herbicide.”

Groth says producers in his area are having to adjust their thinking as they face waterhemp.

“Waterhemp isn’t like every other weed they’ve faced throughout their career. They can’t spray it over the top once it’s up and expect it all to die,” Groth says. “Growers should plan an aggressive herbicide program to stay ahead of it, and you don’t want to fall behind and risk developing a resistance problem.”

Reinforce Resilient Weed Control

Choosing the correct residual herbicide is just as critical as following label instructions and making timely applications at full recommended rates.

“The key to having an effective program that is resilient to varying weed spectrums is using an herbicide with multiple, effective sites of action targeted to key driver weeds for optimal control and resistance management,” Groth says.

Choosing a corn herbicide like Storen^®, for example, delivers two sites of action and four residual active ingredients, including the unique component bicyclopyrone, which is also included in Acuron^® corn herbicide. These options consistently deliver high levels of weed control, Groth says.

Using the higher recommended labelled rates of residual herbicides can be a make-or-break decision when facing tough weeds. The residual needs to hold out until the field is fit for the next herbicide pass.

“You need to control the weed seed, not the weed itself. Bolstering rates and getting as much residual control as possible in the soil will be critical going forward,” Groth says.

Plan Ahead For Preventive Fungicide Applications

Late-season foliar diseases are tough to predict since pressure can vary season to season. Some growers take a “wait and see” approach with disease outbreaks, but that could mean losing out on plant-health benefits or losing yield to late-emerging diseases if they don’t apply a fungicide.

Wet conditions in 2024 had producers in Groth’s region rightly concerned about tar spot. Many applied fungicides. In areas where it hit, producers saw great benefit. There were a lot of areas, however, where tar spot didn’t develop. In those areas, growers that used Miravis^® Neo fungicide, part of Syngenta’s Cleaner & Greener fungicide portfolio, still saw a yield bump thanks to its proven plant-health benefits.

“Using a fungicide like Miravis Neo that controls a broad spectrum of diseases and delivers plant-health benefits allows producers to get a benefit from that application and a return on their investment in a wide variety of scenarios,” Gustafson says.

Plant-health benefits can help corn overcome stress like excessive heat and lack of moisture. They keep the corn crop greener and healthier longer, absorbing more light to produce more yield. Healthier crops use water more efficiently and have stronger stalks to reduce lodging at harvest.

Groth says producers shouldn’t wait for diseases to appear. Instead, they should plan to apply a broad-spectrum fungicide with plant-health benefits between tassel and R1-R2 every year to get the best long-term return on investment from a fungicide program. At this critical point, pollination and fertilization are occurring. Any additional stress on the crop can reduce the number of kernels per ear, kernel size and yield potential.

“We just don’t know what will happen after application. It might stay wet, and disease becomes an issue. Or it might turn dry and you need to rely on plant-health benefits. Some years it will be a home-run and other years a moderate ROI will be maintained,” Groth says.

Formulate a Crop Protection Plan

Weeds or disease, corn producers should go into the season with a solid crop protection plan in place. Being aggressive early in the season can help head off problems that could otherwise tank profit per bushel.

With weed control, waiting too long or not using a product with a long enough residual can mean a costly additional application.

“Cleanup options for weeds like waterhemp aren’t always effective and they’re definitely expensive. It is best practice to apply two timely passes of a herbicide to make sure the crop doesn’t struggle with competition” Groth says.

For disease control, using a product at R1 that sticks around longer to provide more protection spreads the value of that investment over more days. Trivapro^® fungicide and Miravis Neo have the longest residuals on the market for tar spot and Southern rust, diseases that had pockets of heavy pressure in corn-producing states in 2024. They also mitigate stress from variable weather to help keep fields cleaner & greener.

“When you don’t have to make another application, the cost per day of weed control goes down. In other words, the longer the residual is, the less expensive the cost per day of protection will be,” Gustafson says. “At the end of the day, you’re providing excellent crop protection and increasing bushels produced at the end of the season.”

¹Purdue Extension 2013.

January 2, 2025 by McKenna Greco

For farmers, “spring fever” tends to manifest as restless energy to get into fields as soon as possible. After all, there’s lots to do, and weather often limits the time to do it.

Research shows planting soybeans early, before corn, has higher potential to increase yield and profit. But that can also increase the risks of planting soybeans into poorer conditions.

Pythium is one of those risks. A water mold, this group of fungal-like organisms live in most soil types or on crop residue as oomycetes that can survive for up to 10 years. When wet soil conditions and the right temperatures trigger the Pythium life cycle, they produce swimming zoospores that infect soybean seeds and roots, as well as some weeds and rotational crops.

University researchers note that Pythium species in the northern U.S. tend to infect plants when temperatures range from 50 to 60°F, while most species found in the South activate under temperatures between 85 and 95°F. In short, various Pythium species are active across a broad temperature range as long as there is moisture in soil pore spaces.

The pathogen causes damping off both before and after emergence. Pre-emergence, Pythium can prevent germination or cause seeds to rot; Post-emergence damping off is caused by Pythium killing young seedlings. Both types can lead to reduced yields associated with reduced plant stands. Under favorable conditions, Pythium can infect soybeans within 90 minutes of planting. It can be activated by stretches of wet weather between soybean planting and emergence.

The resulting poor stand establishment can require replanting, meaning you could miss out on the benefits of planting early in the first place. In 2023, university pathologists estimated that U.S. soybeans lost about 5.9 million bushels of yield to seedling diseases, including Pythium.

Support Soybean Growth to Protect Against Pythium

As soybeans grow, they become less susceptible to Pythium infections, so management practices that promote germination and growth help minimize yield loss.

Effective drainage prevents saturated soils that allow Pythium organisms to swim to soybean seeds and roots. Tillage or other water management can address problems, especially in low spots where water pools or in areas prone to flooding.
Planting into warmer soils, especially in northern states, decreases the risk of Pythium
Setting and monitoring planting depth helps optimize quick germination, emergence and stand establishment.
Tillage can break up soil compaction and aid with soil drainage in some situations.
Seed treatments protect soybean seeds and seedlings from Pythium infections during the two to three weeks after planting when they are most vulnerable.

To limit the risk for replants and maximize your seed investment, consider a premium F/I seed treatment like CruiserMaxx^®APX. Powered by novel active ingredient picarbutrazox, along with second mode of action Apron XL, CruiserMaxx APX offers the most powerful Pythium protection available in a seed treatment premix. In addition, CruiserMaxx APX also helps safeguard soybeans against Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, bean leaf beetles and other early-season pests.

For more information about tackling early-season soybean diseases like Pythium, talk to your local Syngenta representative.

December 27, 2024 by McKenna Greco

Two factors indicate an insect’s ability to survive the winter: their biological adaptations to cold and a hospitable place to settle in to keep from freezing. If they hunker down successfully in your field, they’ll be in place to start feeding and breeding as soon as seeds are in the ground.

Because insects are unable to create their own body heat, three primary types of adaptation allow them to emerge in spring fields for another season: freeze avoidance, freeze tolerance, and “insect hibernation” or diapause.

Freeze-avoidant insects produce antifreeze proteins in their bodies as the cold moves in, allowing them to acclimate to the cold and survive sharp drops in temperature. Freeze-tolerant insects produce nucleating proteins that accumulate in their hemolymph — a fluid similar to blood in humans — which cause ice crystals to form in the hemolymph instead of the cells, where they would be lethal to the insect.

Diapause is a metabolic slow-down, regulated by hormones and genetically triggered to take place during a particular life stage. It’s effectively a state of suspended animation, during which growth and development slow and the insect’s resistance to extreme conditions increases. Extended diapause is what allows Northern corn rootworm to beat the corn-bean rotation by “sleeping” until corn is on the menu again.

Fight Back Against Threatening Insects

For soil dwelling insects, the most dangerous phase of development is often the larval stage when insects are hungry and preparing to pupate. Soil boring insects feed on plant roots or, in the case of cutworms, tender plant stems. In addition to feeding damage, the insects can spread disease through the crop as they move from plant to plant. They’re also most vulnerable to pesticides as larvae.

Since growers can’t count on the cold to kill off all the insects in their fields, integrated pest management (IPM) is a grower’s best approach against those that survive, according to Matt Geiger, agronomy service representative for Syngenta in south central Illinois.

“You should do multiple things to control your pests, not just one,” Geiger says. “You want to manage the vegetation in and around your fields and use good traits in conjunction with crop protection and seed treatments.”

A good time to scout is after harvest, when egg masses on dead plants, tree bark, and other sheltered locations are easier to see. Cultural controls against overwintering insects include tillage, which can disrupt habitats by incorporating field residue into the soil, destroying insect eggs laid in field stubble, and compacting the dirt, potentially crushing or trapping insects in the ground. Insects unearthed by tillage are also more likely to be exposed to predators or sudden severe weather they can’t bounce back from.

Crop rotation is another way to separate a pest from its crop of choice, as many corn growers learned after battling corn rootworm. In addition to depriving them of their food source, rotation can subject the insects to conditions they aren’t equipped for.

On the chemistry side, Geiger says clean fields are crucial even in cold weather, since insects, including cutworm moths, mate and lay eggs from early spring to late fall.

“In corn, you really don’t want to let a bunch of weeds go in the winter because cutworms could lay eggs in the weeds or potentially in a cover crop,” he says, noting that vegetation left in a field also serves as insulation for the insects beneath it.

“That insect can clip corn plants off at the ground if you don’t use traited corn. You should also have an insecticide like Warrior II with Zeon Technology^® mixed with your corn residual herbicide pass.”

“When cutworms crawl across the ground, that insecticide will absorb into their bellies and kill them before they can clip the plants. Every farmer should be using a soil-applied insecticide if cutworms are a risk for their geography.”

On the seed side, Geiger says, DuracadeViptera™ corn trait stacks feature a unique mode of action that controls corn rootworm differently than others on the market along with offering protection against cutworms, earworms and rootworms.

“The most devastating insects are overwintering in the soil — corn rootworm, wireworm — those are big problems,” Geiger says. “If you’ve got those, you need to have an IPM strategy, for sure.”

December 5, 2024 by McKenna Greco

There’s only one constant in farming: change. And 2024 certainly ushered in a lot of it, from unpredictable weather and volatile markets to ongoing resistance challenges and emerging pest threats. We’ve been alongside you all the way, following up on our commitment by sharing stories from the community, insights from the field and headlines from the lab that support your operation.

Before we turn the page to another year of Thrive content, join us as we look back at the cream of the crop — our picks for the best of Thrive from 2024.

What’s in a Branded Crop Protection Product?

Although they might be the first thing you look for when shopping around for a new crop protection product, active ingredients aren’t the sole indicators of an effective input. Precise blends of other ingredients contribute to the reliability of Syngenta formulations, and each is perfected and backed by years of research.

Why we love it: This article is more than a deep dive into product labels; we talked to a formulation specialist to break down the two main differentiators between branded and generic products. It’s a testament to our global team’s knowledge and passion for bringing growers the best of the best.

Can’t picture it? No worries — we illustrated the difference between our products and generics.

Ask the Experts: What You Need to Know About Carbon Credits

The carbon market offers opportunities for additional revenue streams and encourages sustainable practices that preserve the land. This article outlines the record-keeping requirements and guidelines for getting started, as well as a look forward to the potential of the carbon market.

Why we love it: It can feel like there are still a lot of unknowns surrounding the carbon market. That’s why we brought your questions straight to the source — soil, climate and sustainable business experts — to unpack everything you need to know.

Check out Decoding Carbon Credits to visualize their impact in a whole new way.

Planting Tips for a Successful Corn and Soybean Season

No matter how carefully you plan, it only takes one curveball from Mother Nature to disrupt your corn and soybean planting schedule. Your goal for planting should be to take advantage of best-case timing and overcome worst-case scenarios.

Why we love it: Here, we help you prepare for the variables you can control and recognize ideal conditions so you’re ready to go when the optimal planting window arrives. There’s a good reason this article was popular early this year!

In a rush? We summarized the top eight tips for you here.

A Fresh Take on Farm Safety

In June, we celebrated National Safety Month by sharing tips to keep your family safe on the farm. From online trainings to correct product disposal and specialized safety programs for kids, farm safety can take many forms.

Why we love it: Often, farming is a family business — this article honors that by sharing tips and best practices to keep the whole family safe so you can focus on what matters.

Pest Threats 2024: Look Back to Fight Forward

Waterhemp, stink bugs, tar spot … do any of these pests ring a bell? These pests have something in common besides being a thorn in your side — our agronomists predicted these challenges well before they showed up in the field this year! How? You’ll have to check out the full article to find out.

Why we love it: You can reach for your Farmers’ Almanac to predict the weather, but for regional pest updates, there’s no better resource than our agronomists. The local advice compiled in this article served as a pest watchlist that gave growers a head start on pest management this summer.

Asian Copperleaf: An Emerging Weed Threat in Iowa

The discovery of new species is rare and can complicate even the most robust weed management strategies. Asian copperleaf has been discovered in six North Central Iowa counties and counting. It emerges late and might escape early herbicide applications, causing concern for local growers.

Why we love it: Local problems require local answers. We talked to an Iowa-based agronomist with boots on the ground to explore the implications of Asian copperleaf, scouting tips and management best practices.

Connecting With Community in St. Gabriel, Louisiana

St. Gabriel, Louisiana is home to one of our largest manufacturing sites. Besides producing Syngenta products, this site’s leadership and staff make it a priority to give back to their community. Among many community projects, their dedication to mentoring the next generation of ag professionals is motivating.

Why we love it: This video highlights the people behind the products you depend on. We were inspired by the idea that working where you live encourages even more vibrant community-building. Their positive impact reaches into and beyond their local community to better agriculture as whole.

Want to see more? Learn how the St. Gabriel manufacturing site was recognized as a top 100 green power user.

Test Your Weed Knowledge

Can you tell the difference between waterhemp and Palmer amaranth? It’s a toss-up that can confound even the most experienced growers. Taking the time to differentiate between the weeds in your fields can help inform your herbicide decisions so you can build better programs.

Why we love it: We put your knowledge to the test in this interactive infographic! Scroll back and forth to hone your weed ID skills and get fast facts that can help you keep these yield-robbers out of the field next year.

For a deeper dive, learn more about how to identify corn and soybean weeds.

Faces of Farming: Todd Poots and Brian Scott

New this year, our Faces of Farming series highlights impactful growers from across the country. So far, we’ve highlighted Todd Poots, whose family has stewarded the Poots Heritage Farm for over 155 years and counting, and Brian Scott, whose dedication to online “agvocacy” is reconnecting thousands of non-farmers with American agriculture.

Why we love it: Whether growing is the family business, you’re involved in associations or simply share knowledge in pursuit of your next bushel, farming is collaborative. Todd and Brian may have different approaches to life on the farm, but they both embody the kind of leadership and passion that inspires us and the next generation of agriculture.

How to Get the Most Out of Spray Drones

Drone technology has dominated headlines and grown exponentially in the last 10 years, and for good reason. They’re widely accessible, efficient and frankly, exciting — but they also come with responsibility.

Why we love it: If you’re not familiar with drones yet, allow us to introduce you. With expert answers to questions about spray drone safety, requirements and licensing, this article is the perfect place to start.

Want to see for yourself? Watch two growers explain how drones power profit potential.

As we look ahead to 2025, we’re staying focused on the challenges that impact you. Next year, we’re introducing a new category to bring you operational insights that support your business: Farm Operations. Stay tuned for information on how to be a better manager, how to navigate family dynamics in your multi-generational business, how to get a better handle on your farm’s finances and much more.

We’re excited to continue to deliver stories that celebrate our community, showcase innovations and discuss agronomic challenges as part of our commitment to you. Here’s to another year of Thrive!

November 26, 2024 by McKenna Greco

Strawberry crown and red stele root rots are both caused by soilborne oomycetes Phytophthora—Greek for “plant destroyer”—and specifically P. fragariae in red stele rot. Because the pathogens thrive in wet soil, a planting site with good drainage and no history of disease will give strawberry plants an early advantage in the field.

According to University of California IPM (UC-IPM), symptoms of crown and red stele rot include plant stunting, small leaves, brown to black roots, and brown discoloration of the crown tissue. Red stele rot indicators may also include a lack of vigor, short runners and small berries.

Because above-ground appearance of plants can mimic other diseases, diagnosis of crown or red stele rot requires removing the plant to assess the crown and roots. Infected crowns may separate from the roots as the plant is unearthed, and a vertical cross-section of a diseased crown will reveal brown discolored tissue.

Symptoms of red stele rot first appear on plants located in low, poorly drained parts of the field. Splitting an affected root above the rotted end will expose red coloration in the core of the root. Lateral roots are often rotted, and new crown roots develop a “rat tail” appearance as they die back from their tips.

Cultural controls to manage crown and red stele rot include planting in raised beds and carefully managed trickle or drip irrigation, rotation with non-host crops, and solarization of the soil. UC-IPM says soil solarization in hot months helps kill disease-causing organisms including oomycetes, nematodes and weed seeds, and makes nutrients more available to crops by speeding up the breakdown of organic matter. Consider planting resistant varieties if possible, especially if you have a history of crown or red stele rot on your farm.

Preventive fungicide applications are recommended for strawberry crown and red stele rots. Curative applications have been found far less effective, according to The American Phytopathological Society.

Orondis^® Gold and Orondis Gold DC (not currently registered in California) fungicides provide preventive, residual and systemic control of crown and red stele rot in strawberries with two active ingredients, mefenoxam and oxathiapiprolin, and is available for use by soil application. By helping prevent crown rot and red stele root rot, these options can help early strawberry crop establishment and promote root health.

Orondis Gold may be sold as a formulated premix or as a combination of separately registered products: Orondis Gold 200 and Orondis Gold B.

November 22, 2024 by McKenna Greco

Water droplets, whether from rain, dew or irrigation, bring valuable moisture to crops. But their splash can also spread disease spores quickly. Plus, high humidity and moisture levels contribute to favorable conditions for those spores to infect plants.

Diseases like downy mildew and gummy stem blight can drastically reduce yields in cucumbers, melons like cantaloupe and watermelon, summer and winter squash, pumpkins and other gourds. These costly diseases often require prevention or very early detection. Vigilance and a program that includes cultural and chemical controls can help growers protect these high-value crops.

Downy Mildew

A water mold caused by the pathogen Pseudoperonospora cubensis, downy mildew overwinters on host plants in the southern United States and Mexico or in greenhouses. According to Cornell Cooperative Extension, wind can carry the spores hundreds of miles and spores from infected plants can be spread via water splash to nearby plants.

The spores are viable for just a week or two, but they can infect cucurbits under favorably moist conditions between 40- and 80-degrees Fahrenheit. Symptoms start as irregular spots on leaves that vary in shade and shape between host species. When conditions favor disease spread, the lesions on the underside of the leaves will have a “downy” appearance that varies from gray, brown and purple in color. Infected leaves may also curl.

Farmers can monitor the movement of this disease with alerts from the Cucurbit Downy Mildew IPM Pipe website. Using this and other tools can help determine if a preventative treatment is needed. In some regions, planting early may allow for harvest before downy mildew becomes a problem.

Gummy Stem Blight

The fungal pathogen Didymella bryoniae causes gummy stem blight when it infects leaves and stems, named for the gummy brown substance that comes out of lesions. When it infects fruit, it causes black rot. It survives season to season in crop debris in the field. Unlike downy mildew, gummy stem blight is primarily moved by rain or irrigation from crop residue to growing plants, where the pathogen enters through wounds.

Symptoms start once you see cankers on stems and vines or browning at leaf edges, and further infection signs vary between cucurbit species. Crops infested with insects or other diseases experience higher rates of gummy stem blight because of the minor wounds they create.

Crop rotation can reduce the risk of infection. Wait two to four years before planting any cucurbit in fields experiencing gummy stem blight or black rot.

Cultural Controls for Downy Mildew and Gummy Stem Blight

Integrated management recommendations for both downy mildew and gummy stem blight, like those from NC State Extension, help growers manage these pests which can otherwise be costly both in yield loss and treatment.

Depending on crop and region, growers can choose varieties with resistance to either disease. When starting with transplants or cuttings, ensure the plants are healthy and haven’t been infected.

If signs of either disease are present when scouting, remove infected plants. Keep leaves drier and create less favorable conditions for disease development by utilizing drip irrigation and planting to improve airflow.

Proactive Treatment Preserves Yields

Preventive strategies provide the best management of downy mildew and gummy stem blight, especially if environmental conditions are right or your fields have a history of disease. Under favorable conditions for development, fungicides may be required.

Applying fungicides at recommended intervals, usually seven or 10 days depending on the crop and disease threat, can prevent or manage infections. Rotating fungicide modes of action between each application and choosing options with multiple active ingredients reduces the risk of these diseases developing resistance.

Consider the following options as part of a robust fungicide rotation to protect cucumbers, melons, squash, pumpkins and gourds:

Miravis^® Prime fungicide contains ADEPIDYN^® technology and fludioxonil and is a preventive option with activity on gummy stem blight.
Orondis^® Opti fungicide, with oxathiapiprolin and chlorothalonil, provides multiple modes of action against downy mildew. Oxathiapiprolin helps protect developing leaves and has no cross resistance to other fungicides, making it a good partner in a disease control program.
Aprovia^® Top fungicide combines difenoconazole and SOLATENOL^® technology to provide preventive activity for gummy stem blight and broad-spectrum disease control in cucurbits.
Inspire Super^® fungicide combines two active ingredients, difenoconazole and cyprodinil to fight gummy stem blight and help manage potential resistance.

Your fungicide program should be tailored to address both the primary disease problem and any others that may be present in the field. Work with an agronomist and your local Syngenta representative to confirm that active ingredients used in each application work with different modes of action.

November 14, 2024 by McKenna Greco

Maintaining a sustainable farm operation means that growers continue to learn and adapt to a changing agricultural landscape. The Cropwise^™ Sustainability mobile app now incorporates the Cool Farm Tool (CFT) to provide growers with actionable insights to understand and find opportunities to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of their operation. The integration is rooted in the Sustainable Outcomes in Agriculture (SOA) Standard developed by Syngenta to measure continuous improvement in farm sustainability. CFT offers growers the opportunity to provide up-to-date information on their efforts toward reducing GHG emissions.

CFT, created by the Cool Farm^® Alliance, is a new calculator feature within Cropwise Sustainability that helps a farming operation measure its greenhouse gas emissions and overall sustainability. The tool provides an additional report and analysis that shows the operation’s farm-level carbon emissions and their sources.

Steven Wall, development manager for sustainable and responsible business at Syngenta, says the CFT was chosen because of the long relationship Syngenta has with the Cool Farm Alliance.

“The Cool Farm Tool is well recognized globally. We’re members of the Cool Farm Alliance, and we’ve used it in different facets in different countries for many years,” he says. “Growers can share the data they get from CFT with their buyers, which helps the buyers meet their commitments.”

Jeff Lail, senior data analyst for digital ag solutions at Syngenta, is also a fan of the Cool Farm Alliance.

“The Cool Farm Alliance is based on the International Panel for Climate Change. Its documentation is excellent and publicly available,” he says. “The Alliance was started by academics, and they’re transparent and easy to work with.”

Lower Data Reporting Frustrations

The seamless integration of CFT and Cropwise Sustainability means users don’t have to venture outside of the Cropwise Sustainability app to determine their carbon calculations, which lowers the pain point of data reporting. Lail says the digital ag team sought ways to make the technology as easy to use as possible.

About five years ago, I heard a farmer say, ‘Assessing my sustainability is a business requirement, not an option.’ We seek ways to make this activity as efficient as possible for growers.

Jeff Lail Senior Data Analyst for Digital Ag Solutions at Syngenta

The CFT calculator available in the Cropwise Sustainability app is suitable for a range of growers, including those who are new to on-farm sustainability tracking and who are interested in understanding the GHG emissions associated with their farm. The CFT calculator provides more detailed information about carbon emissions that can be provided to buyers.

“We heard from growers that sellers started asking about their farms’ sustainability impact. That’s the primary reason why we added the tool to Cropwise Sustainability,” Lail says. “Although the CFT incorporated into Cropwise Sustainability is a simplified version of the program, we feel it gives growers a solid estimate of their carbon emissions and helps them evaluate their operations.”

The CFT asks many of the same questions growers already answer as part of the Cropwise Sustainability assessment, making it a simple integration for growers. In total, growers only need to answer about three additional questions.

Syngenta’s digital ag team conducts regular surveys to gauge grower interest in new features and to enhance the user experience, so Cropwise Sustainability will continue to evolve to meet the needs of growers.

“About five years ago, I heard a farmer say, ‘Assessing my sustainability is a business requirement, not an option,’” Lail says. “We seek ways to make this activity as efficient as possible for growers.”

November 13, 2024 by McKenna Greco

Healthy pollinators and a biodiverse landscape are essential to every agricultural ecosystem. Threats to pollinator populations are due to many factors, like habitat loss and fragmentation, non-sustainable agricultural practices, environmental pollution and lack of genetic diversity.

Syngenta leverages key partnerships and collaborations to further its mission to support American farmers and their land and vital pollinators for successful crop production and biodiversity.

The BeSure! Campaign

Crop protection products, including neonicotinoids, are essential in the agriculture industry. These products help prevent and treat diseases, fight insect pests, increase overall crop yield and help ensure growers can continue to maintain and grow the U.S. food supply at a sustainable rate. Since 2019, the BeSure! campaign — led by Growing Matters, a coalition of ag companies including Syngenta — promotes best stewardship practices to protect pollinators when using neonicotinoid products on farms and urban landscapes. Growers should:

Always read the label when using neonicotinoid products.
Establish appropriate buffers, also known as no-spray zones, between treated areas and pollinator insect habitats or hives.
Communicate with neighbors and beekeepers.
Be aware of crop’s bloom stage and pollinator attractiveness.

Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Habitat Restoration Project

The pollination efforts of bees contribute nearly $20 billion to the value of crop production in the U.S. each year. Native bees are important for biodiversity and play an important role in pollinator services for crops and native plants including wildflowers. One species, the rusty patched bumble bee, was listed as endangered in 2017 making it the first endangered bee species in the continental U.S.

Syngenta, the Iowa Soybean Association and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, along with Iowa landowners, joined forces on the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Habitat Restoration Project to help protect the declining species.

The project established pollinator zones, which is marginal land converted into beneficial habitats for pollinators, and prairie strips, which are native prairie plants that are strategically placed to improve soil, water quality, biodiversity and climate resilience. The initiative created more habitat for rusty patched bumble bees, other pollinators and local wildlife to thrive, leading to a tenfold increase in rusty patched bumble bee populations since 2019.

Pheasants Forever Collaboration

Preserving habitats is essential for safeguarding the well-being of wildlife and biodiversity, forging a direct link between conservation practices and sustainable agriculture. Habitats face many challenges such as land use conversion, invasive plant species and limited diversity of native grasses and wildflowers.

Pheasants Forever and Syngenta partner to conserve habitats and promote sustainable land management practices. By working closely with farmers, ranchers and landowners, they enable projects ranging from planting native grasses and wildflowers to restoring wetlands.

Pheasants Forever’s Pollinator Habitat Outreach Program provides tools, training and financial assistance for local communities to establish habitat projects for pollinating species. In 2023, the program engaged 3,727 participants across 64 acres.

Milkweed in the Classroom is an education program dedicated to providing students with the materials and training needed to grow native plants. The initiative has involved 3,353 participants across 146 classrooms to plant 7,560 milkweed stems.

Sand County Foundation Partnership

Syngenta’s repeated and growing financial support over the past four years has helped Sand County Foundation continue our program in three states and expand the program into two new states in 2022. We aspire to grow the program further in the future to include additional states in the Midwest and beyond.

Craig Ficenec Program Director of Sand County Foundation

Not only are pollinators essential to agriculture, they’re also necessary to maintaining natural habitats and plant biodiversity. Through Sand County Foundation’s Pollinator Habitat Grant Program, agriculture and science educators can apply for grants online and partner with local landowners to create or enhance habitats for pollinators. Selected schools receive native wildflower seed and seedlings, a training webinar and consultation as well as a $1,000 grant for the school district or FFA chapter for project expenses.

Since the program was launched in 2017, 103 high schools have been awarded grants across Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Texas, engaging 11,000 students to plant more than 64,000 wildflower plugs. Sand County Foundation surveyed students who had completed projects supported by the grant program and found that over 95% of the students reported that the experience raised their awareness of how important pollinators are to the health of our agricultural system.

“Syngenta’s repeated and growing financial support over the past four years has helped Sand County Foundation continue our program in three states and expand the program into two new states in 2022,” says Craig Ficenec, program director of Sand County Foundation. “We aspire to grow the program further in the future to include additional states in the Midwest and beyond.”