Syngenta Thrive

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Waxy corn provides an ingredient used in the glue that holds cardboard boxes together.

“I learned that at a contract grower meeting,” says Brian Scott, grower and social media influencer near Monticello, Indiana. “The price for waxy corn went up during the pandemic, when the demand for shipping boxes skyrocketed because so many people shopped online.”

Waxy corn is a specialty crop that looks the same as yellow field corn, but its starch content makes it ideal for a variety of industrial and food uses.

Scott and his dad devote about half of their corn acres to waxy hybrids and half to regular field corn. They also grow a couple hundred acres of popcorn, soybeans for seed production and a few acres of winter wheat.

While their fields look like others in northwest Indiana, their crop mix doesn’t quite fit in with the idea of a typical Midwest farm. Scott took an alternative approach to becoming the fourth generation to work the family farm as well.

Taking a Detour From Farm Life

“I wanted to farm as a kid,” Scott says. “It’s what I knew. I never did anything else.” Yet, in high school, he describes himself as “not a typical farm kid.”

“I wasn’t involved in FFA or 4-H,” he explains. “I played trumpet in jazz band and took music theory, so I didn’t have room in my schedule for ag classes. Most of my friends were town kids, and I didn’t rush home to drive the tractor after school or come home from college to farm.”

Yet he majored in soil and crop management at Purdue University with the intention of returning to the farm immediately after graduation, like his dad had done in the 1970s.

“I didn’t have another plan, until I wondered during my last semester of college if I should do something else,” he says.

Scott wanted to forge his own post-college path, so he took a job outside of agriculture as an assistant manager at a farm and home retail store in his hometown. He was promoted to store manager, and then the chain moved him to manage a new store in a nearby town.

He learned to be outgoing and how to work with many different people. He served customers, oversaw 30 to 35 employees, and answered to upper management.

After six years in retail, Scott began to tire of the long hours in town and the need to be available during his limited time off. He spent a few years looking for the right position close to agriculture before deciding to join his dad and grandpa on the family farm. He says they made it easy for him to seamlessly join the operation, and they were excited to introduce the next generation to the farm. Only two days after quitting his retail job, Scott and his wife, Nicole, found out that Nicole was pregnant with their first son.

Their sons Matthew, 14, and Andrew, 9, show some interest in the farm as a future career. “Our plan is to be ready if they want to join the farm, but we aren’t pushing them,” Scott says.

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As a fourth-generation farmer, Brian brings a fresh perspective to his Indiana farm.
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Fungicides like Miravis® Ace help Brian control disease and protect plant health in winter wheat.
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Because he grows soybeans for seed production, healthy crops help Brian earn premiums based on quality at harvest.
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Brian opts to grow waxy corn, a specialty crop used to produce the glue that holds cardboard shipping boxes together.
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Brian’s blog, “The Farmer’s Life,” has evolved across social media platforms, including Facebook and YouTube.
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Brian shares the good, the bad and the funny online to educate non-farmers about agriculture.
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By sharing an inside look at his life on the farm, Brian helps people reconnect with agriculture.

Adapting Agronomics for a Flexible Approach

Scott isn’t afraid to try different agronomic approaches in an effort to take a calculated risk for the benefit of the operation’s bottom line.

He and his father completely transitioned to no-till on all their acres, requiring less labor. They aim to seed cover crops on about 25% of their acres each fall. And, based on research out of Purdue University, they started planting soybeans before corn.

“Soybean growth is based on day length, so planting early supports yield, especially in warm springs,” Scott says. “Though we’ve always treated bean seeds at planting, it’s even more important when planting early in no-till fields.” Scott uses Saltro® fungicide seed treatment to protect their soybeans from disease like Sudden Death Syndrome.

Because he grows soybeans for seed production, Scott can earn premiums based on quality at harvest. The seed company they grow for doesn’t require in-season fungicide treatments, but they have been rewarded in some seasons after applying Miravis® Neo fungicide to control disease and protect plant health. In winter wheat, Miravis Ace fungicide has provided similar benefits.

“This season, we are trying Miravis Neo in corn for the first time,” he says. “Our focus is tar spot, which has become a problem. It should also ward off late-season diseases and help the plants stay green longer, extending the grain fill period.”

Sharing “The Farmer’s Life”

Scott’s willingness to explore new or different tools and practices extends beyond the field. In 2011, he started a blog and joined Facebook to share his ag expertise.

“My original goal was to show people not in farming how it works,” he says. “I wanted to explain things like GMOs without a lot of jargon.”

He named the blog “The Farmer’s Life” and began sharing his thoughts and perspectives on food and farming. When Scott worked in retail, he helped many non-farm people understand things like garden chemicals, so he had experience relating to his audience.

“When people learn that I’m a farmer, they tend to ask questions,” Scott notes. “This was a way to answer those questions for more people.”

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My original goal was to show people not in farming how it works. When people learn that I’m a farmer, they tend to ask questions. This was a way to answer those questions for more people.

Brian Scott Fourth-generation Grower and Online Ag Advocate

He became part of the online ag advocate community. Over the past 13 years, “The Farmer’s Life” has evolved with online platforms. He moved away from the blog format and writing about food issues and now uses social media channels to share everyday life on a crop farm.

“I still target the non-farm audience, but I know that posting equipment and farm pictures attracts those who grew up in agriculture but aren’t farming, as well as other farmers,” he says.

He typically posts once or twice a day on Facebook, where he reaches his largest audience of more than 151,000 followers. He shares almost as often on Instagram, where he connects with a mix of farmers and others. When he has questions for other farmers or something more sarcastic or funny to share, he goes to X, formerly known as Twitter.

The Farmer’s Life also has a YouTube channel, where Scott shares longer videos about his life on the farm. He even had a viral TikTok video on the differences between sweet corn, field corn, popcorn and waxy corn, which earned six million views.

Engaging online has expanded his network of farmer friends. “I don’t drink coffee, so I don’t go to a coffee shop,” Scott says. “Instead, I have close friends from around the country that I private message or text.”

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From consumer retail to waxy corn, Scott’s approach continues to be unique. But that experience fuels the success of “The Farmer’s Life” — and his satisfaction as a fourth-generation farmer.

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Cotton growers meet this familiar foe on the battlefield every year, but be warned: Changing weather patterns can cause fall armyworm populations to explode early in the season, setting the stage for multiple generations to lay siege to your crop.

Extreme weather events, especially mild, wet winters followed by drought conditions create the ideal environment for these armies to grow. From there, strong winds and storms can aid their migration to other fields and regions.

In the South, growers need to be mindful of the double-whammy of wet fields. Frequent rainfall creates a favorable environment for the survival of eggs and larvae, but it also prevents control if wet fields are inaccessible.

Know Your Enemy

Fall armyworm’s identifying characteristic is a prominent inverted “Y” marking on the back of its head. Four large black dots on the last body segment of fall armyworm differentiate it from bollworms. Their color varies from light green to almost black.

Larvae go through six or seven growth stages, ultimately reaching a body length of up to 1.5 inches. The caterpillars are easy to miss at earlier stages, but they become more destructive as they grow.

Fall armyworm is one of the most devastating armyworm species to cotton because they tend to feed on fruiting structures and bolls. They can cause severe defoliation in pre-bloom cotton. According to the University of Texas A&M Extension, severe damage occurs when fall armyworm tops the plant, cutting branches and severing stalks. The greatest potential for yield loss occurs during boll filling.

Act Fast to Control the Army

In Southern states, each generation of fall armyworm may spend as little as three weeks as larvae. Larger caterpillars may be less susceptible to control measures, so being proactive is key – starting with frequent scouting and full rates of the right insecticides.

When scouting for fall armyworm, keep the following tactics in mind:

  • Sample with a sweep net. Keep the opening of the net vertical and swing in 180° turns to maximize contact with vegetation. Repeat this process in several locations and fields. Fall armyworm are most active in the early morning and late afternoon.
  • Know the treatment threshold. Empty the net into a sealable bag and carefully examine the contents. If you find more than 10-20 larvae per 100 plants, an insecticide application is warranted to defend your marketable yields.

If the treatment threshold is reached, it’s time to think about your next plan of attack. Powerful insecticides like Besiege® can defend your fields from fall armyworm and other insect threats. Besiege contains two active ingredients and dual modes of action to support resistance management strategies while helping turn the tide of the battle with fall armyworm.

Remember, fall armyworm migrates and reproduces rapidly. Scout for fall armyworm until defoliation to avoid surprise attacks and keep an eye on the weather all winter long to prepare for next season.

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As harvest wraps up, now is a good time to review disease pressure in your crop over the season. Some of the most damaging early-season pathogens in pulse crops are Pythium, the pathogen most commonly responsible for seedling blight and root rot. Many species of Pythium in the U.S. can stunt roots and impact plant stands.

Pythium damage in pulse crops can begin as early as germination. Infected fields often have indented, circular patches and uneven plant stands. Belowground, Pythium infections cause discolored roots that appear water-soaked.

Plants affected by Pythium are more susceptible to other diseases, so by the time it takes hold, it is often too late to manage. Pythium alone can cause yield losses up to 84% in pulse crops. Therefore, prevention is critical.

Several management practices can reduce Pythium’s impact in your fields:

  • Sanitize: Thoroughly clean and disinfect all surfaces and tools, as Pythium is known to survive in dust particles, planting mediums and soil particles. Additionally, be sure to remove and destroy any infected plant debris.
  • Crop rotation: Implement a crop rotation strategy to disrupt the life cycle of Pythium.
  • Reevaluate timing and spacing: Good air circulation and minimized pathogen spread can be achieved by keeping adequate space between crops.
  • Seed treatments: Planting treated seeds can help the plant focus on growing strong, even stands instead of fighting off early-season diseases like Pythium. 

Vayantis® seed treatment helps protect against many known Pythium species in the U.S. It delivers a novel mode of action without cross-resistance to existing chemistries, offers seed safety and is compatible with other seed treatments. Vayantis also helps promote germination, emergence and plant stand uniformity in variable soil types and environmental conditions.

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For more information about Vayantis or other early-season disease management recommendations, reach out to your local Syngenta representative or retailer.

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When it comes to troublesome weeds, most growers rightly think of waterhemp or Palmer amaranth, but volunteer corn is the unexpected villain you don’t want your soybeans to face — and it’s on the rise.

High winds and severe storms across the country, especially in the Midwest, contribute to downed corn. This has likely had a substantial impact on the amount of volunteer corn in the following year’s soybean crop, a complication that can spell trouble for unprepared growers.

Like other weeds, volunteer corn competes for nutrients, water and light. Clumps of volunteer corn can cause soybean yield losses of up to 54%. According to University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, volunteer corn can drastically reduce soybean yield even at low densities. At 5,000 volunteers/acre, approximately one volunteer corn plant per every 3.5 feet of row, soybean yields can be reduced by 20%.

It also reduces the value of corn-soybean rotation used for corn rootworm management by providing a food source for corn rootworm larvae that hatch out in the field. If volunteer corn silks, it can attract egg-laying corn rootworm beetles that will wreak havoc on next year’s corn.

Managing volunteer corn is necessary to achieve maximum yield potential this year and in years to come.

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Start Early to Prevent Volunteer Corn

Prevention should be your primary strategy and starts well before harvest. Start strategizing before rotating to soybeans.

  • Prioritize season-long insect management. Insect damage can increase the incidence of dropped kernels and lodged corn that can germinate next season. Plant insect-resistant hybrids, scout vigilantly and make timely insecticide applications to set your fields up for success.
  • Carefully harvest lodged corn. Severe weather means that lodged corn is sometimes unavoidable. If you still see lodged corn at harvest, proceed with caution. Follow best practices to harvest lodged corn to salvage as much yield as possible while preventing lost kernels from emerging next season.
  • Consider post-harvest tillage or make a plan for crop residue. If you suspect that weather or insect damage increased your risk for volunteer corn, consider post-harvest tillage. Tillage can reduce seed-to-soil contact and expose kernels to winter freezes. For no-till operations, grazing livestock or baling crop residue can help reduce volunteer corn in fields with significant lodging.

Control Volunteer Corn in Soybeans

Controlling volunteer corn after emergence requires a different strategy.

Delaying planting until volunteer corn emerges can allow for burndown herbicide applications. Non-selective herbicides like Gramoxone® SL 3.0 can help eliminate glyphosate-resistant volunteer corn. For conventional corn, glyphosate is an option. In corn without the Enlist® trait, Fusilade® DX is an option. If in doubt, talk to your your local Syngenta representative.

Volunteer corn becomes more difficult and costly to control after soybeans emerge. Save yourself some heartache (and cash) by applying full rates of herbicides when volunteer corn is one foot tall or less.

The longer volunteer corn persists in your fields, the more it will cost soybean yield potential, even if it dies off by harvest. Act early to preserve yield potential and keep volunteer corn from interfering with harvest.

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Consumer drone technology has surged in the last 10 years. You don’t have to be a pilot, computer expert or gamer to fly one. Even if you’re not tech-savvy, you could probably manage to fly a consumer drone with just a short period of basic instruction. Purchasing and flying a drone are the easy parts. Using them appropriately, effectively and practically for agricultural applications — especially spraying pesticides — requires more effort and research.

“The biggest excitement around drones is their accessibility. Anybody and everybody can get their hands on them and use them,” says Neill Newton, global drone application technical manager at Syngenta. “The greatest challenge for effectively using drones for spraying is lack of standardization.”

Understand Spray Drone Options

Ground spray rigs and manned aircraft have a host of international and U.S. standards of operation. According to Newton, this provides growers with a thorough understanding of how the machines are built and how to operate them to get predictable results. On the other hand, there are a lot of variables for drone options with few instructions on how to effectively use them, leading to a lot of confusion.

Growers can choose between four-rotor and eight-rotor options, hydraulic nozzles or rotary atomizer nozzles, 2-gallon capacity up to nearly 20 gallons, and a few thousand dollars to north of $45,000. Each option chosen can impact the application.

For example, the heavier a drone is, the more downwash it has. The type and position of the nozzle will impact droplet size and spray swath. Application volumes are significantly reduced compared to traditional ground spray technologies.

“It’s really easy to make an application, but it’s also really easy to make a bad application,” Newton says. “At Syngenta, we’re focused on understanding how our crop protection products perform using drone technology so we can help customers use drones in the safest, most effective and most efficient ways possible.”

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At Syngenta, we’re focused on understanding how our crop protection products perform using drone technology so we can help customers use drones in the safest, most effective and most efficient ways possible.

Neill Newton Global Drone Application Technical Manager at Syngenta

Drones at Work

There are many uses for drones in agriculture, from checking livestock to providing insightful data for field research and crop management. Spray drones have a strong foothold for spray applications that typically require a backpack sprayer. When terrain is tough, a drone can make quick work of projects that otherwise require a lot of physical effort and man-hours to complete.

Ideal drone tasks include spraying for invasive weeds and treating bodies of water as vector control for mosquitoes in remote or rough areas.

“In these cases, a drone can likely take the place of a backpack sprayer and do a satisfactory job,” Newton says.

Another place application drones are taking off is with specialty vegetable and fruit growers. Drones provide a quick option for time-sensitive applications. Timely, and more affordable applications also appeal to large-scale row crop producers.

“It’s no secret there’s a labor shortage. It can be tough to get over a field in a timely manner, especially on tall corn,” Newton says. Growers can face a long, worry-filled wait for manned aerial applications. With a drone, growers can potentially treat crops threatened by insects or disease on their schedule.

“The most common products we see being applied by drones in cropping situations are fungicides,” Newton says. According to The Ohio State University Extension, fungicide applications on wheat, corn and some soybean acres have dominated the use of spray drones in the U.S. through 2023. The acreages are still comparatively small.

“Drones are not taking the place of a ground rig or manned aircraft. They’re just another tool producers are increasingly valuing as an option,” Newton says.

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Get Results After Growing Pains

Drone technology is a classic case of running — or, in this case, flying — before crawling. Spray drones are an intriguing tool, but one that still has some significant growing pains to work through.

Covering a lot of acres with a drone isn’t currently an efficient option. Battery life is the limiting factor. Significant improvements need to be made on this front, and Newton has yet to see any drastic improvements in the seven years he’s worked with drones.

“The only significant factor standing in the way of having 100-gallon drones in the air is battery capacity,” Newton says. Heat is also a challenge, which greatly reduces battery capacity and taxes the drone.

In ideal conditions, a drone can apply at rates up to 30 to 70 acres per hour depending on the product. Spray volumes differ significantly between drones and ground rigs. Ground rigs will apply 10 to 20 gallons of spray volume while drones use 2 to 4 gallons per acre for the same product.

Even when conditions are right, a drone application will only be as successful as the operator is knowledgeable.

“You have to understand this piece of equipment and put parameters in correctly or you will not get the effective application you need,” Newton says. “You’re going to see a failure if you don’t have it setup properly.”

Applicators must consider how high they want to fly and how fast, what nozzle type they are using, and what droplet size is needed for the application. Rotary atomizer nozzles can be adjusted with a slide button on the control panel from fine droplets to more coarse, while hydraulic nozzles must be manually swapped out to change droplet size.

With this information in hand, applicators must then evaluate what swath width their equipment can deliver in current conditions to determine an effective spray area. Data is then used to manually dial in the correct settings on their spray drone. Many application drones have presets for application, but they tend to miss the mark, Newton says.

“All these variables are up to the operator to understand and input, which is concerning considering the lack of understanding, research and formal training there is for using drones for spray application,” he says.

Online tutorials can also lead drone applicators astray. Growers and drone operators should get online or in-person training from university Extension resources, which currently provide the most accurate information and advice.

Drone Flying License Required

Get licensed. Even using a small drone to check livestock water quickly shifts the use from hobby to commercial purposes. When a drone is used for work or business, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Remote Pilot Certification is required. This is also known as a Part 107 license.

An additional Part 137 license is required to operate an agricultural spray drone. This is the same license manned aerial applicators are required to carry. Drones weighing more than 55 pounds require additional certificates.

“Please make sure you have the proper licensing. It seems intimidating, but the FAA has made it really easy to get these licenses,” Newton says. “There is also value in the training that comes with preparing for the tests.”

Syngenta has joined forces with other crop protection companies to form a global taskforce to collect data and help guide and support safe and effective use practices for spray drone applications. The Unmanned Aerial Pesticide Application System Taskforce (UAPASTF) is working alongside agencies to generate and submit data to global regulatory agencies, like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“We want to provide the EPA with a mechanized model for drone applications like they have for manned aircraft. You plug in the product and application parameters, and run a model to show what drift might look like and assess risk,” Newton says. “Drones aren’t like manned aircraft or ground rigs. They need their own data curve for comparison.”

The task force already has trials running and is generating data.

“Eventually the EPA will require label language for drones. We need enough information to make recommendations for using our products effectively through drones both now and for when those requirements are set,” Newton says.

For now, operators need to work with a trusted adviser with a good understanding of drone application to get the best results. Newton notes university Extension is diving heavily into drone application research, making them a good starting point.

“We aren’t in the business of promoting spray application technology, but we want to enable the technology our customers want to use. If a customer wants to use our products through a drone, we want to be sure they have the information to be successful,” Newton says. “This is part of being good stewards of our products in the marketplace.”

This article has been prepared for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal or regulatory advice.

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Weather patterns have been unpredictable in the Midwest over the past few years. With periods of drought, record temperatures and days of rain and flooding, Mother Nature is unpredictable – making it impossible to know what early-season diseases growers need to prepare for.

Different soilborne soybean diseases thrive under different weather conditions. Rhizoctonia is a common early-season disease that prefers drier conditions – even though its symptoms are similar to those of Pythium, which prefers cool, wet weather.

  • Rhizoctonia root rot, caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani, causes damage to seedlings and older plants later in the season.
  • Plants that have been affected by soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) may also be more vulnerable to this disease.
  • Rhizoctonia can kill and stunt plants resulting in yield loss and is most easily identified by rusty-brown, dry sunken lesions on stems and roots near the soil line.
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Given the instability of the weather in recent seasons, we don’t know what next year’s conditions or potential disease threats will be. That’s why it’s crucial to make sure soybeans are protected from the full spectrum of early-season diseases.

CruiserMaxx® APX seed treatment protects against Rhizoctonia and more to help growers achieve their yield goals. It delivers protection against early-season insects and diseases such as Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora, Pythium and Fusarium.

A comparison photo shows four different containers with soybean seedlings inoculated with Pythium ultimum, Pythium irregular, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium. The photo shows the relative health and performance of the seedlings treated with CruiserMaxx APX compared to an untreated check and two alternative products.
Syngenta trials at The Seedcare Institute; Stanton, MN; July 2022. Inoculated with Pythium ultimum, Pythium irregular, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium graminearum.

Its novel active ingredient, picarbutrazox (PCBX), is specifically designed for today’s soybean-growing reality, so growers can have the confidence to plant whenever is right for them and know their fields are protected.

A comparison photo shows the roots and growth of Rhizoctonia-inoculated soybeans. The photos compare soybeans treated with Vibrance fungicide compared to an untreated check in well-watered conditions and drought conditions.
Vibrance fungicide, an active ingredient in CruiserMaxx APX, helps protect soybeans from early-season diseases like Rhizoctonia. Photo courtesy of Ronald Zeun, Stein, Switzerland 2012.

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

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Apple replant disease is a common problem in intensive apple production areas. Also called soil exhaustion, the disease happens when growers plant young trees into existing orchards with depleted soil nutrients and increased activity from harmful microorganisms. Vulnerable young trees affected by apple replant disease experience uneven growth, stunting, root damage and reduced root biomass.

Addressing apple replant disease is challenging because it is caused by a complicated combination of nematodes and fungi-like pathogens called oomycetes. When soil is disturbed during replanting, the lack of cover in newly exposed areas allows these microorganisms to multiply more rapidly. Without the buffering effect of organic matter, the result is nutrient-deficient soil teeming with pathogens.

Preventing and treating apple replant disease requires a three-step approach to address the many causal organisms and wake up exhausted soil.

Step 1: Plant Trees in Suitable Environments

The first and most important measure is to carefully select where to plant trees. When possible, plant tolerant rootstock in the grassy spaces between old rows. These sites typically have more organic matter and because there aren’t any old roots, less harmful microorganism activity.

Soil testing is a valuable tool that can help determine how a replant site compares to a new site, as well as to understand the impact of practices like cover crops on soil health.

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Step 2: Control Nematodes

Traditionally, growers have used soil fumigation to control nematodes. Although this method effectively treats nematodes, it essentially sterilizes the soil, removing both beneficial and harmful microorganisms. This can contribute to a lack of organic matter and negatively impact long-term soil health.

Instead, consider incorporating cover crops. Cover crops slow nematode activity and add organic matter to the soil, improving overall soil health and structure. In this case, the best choice for cover crops is radishes, canola and mustard. These brassica crops contain a biochemical agent called isothiocyanates that naturally suppresses nematodes and plant pathogens. To improve soil health, consider delaying replanting apple trees for one year to grow cover crops.

Deep tillage before planting cover crops can remove decaying apple roots in orchards with a history of apple replant disease. Eliminating old roots removes the host and reduces nematode pressure in that area. Another option is to apply brassica or mustard seed meals to rows and cover for three weeks after tillage as a natural alternative to fumigation.

Step 3: Control Soil Pathogens

The soil organic matter, health, and structure provided by cover crops also improves the ability of the soil to act as a buffer between plant roots and pathogens. Once new trees are planted, quality fungicides can help combat oomycetes pathogens.

Consider a fungicide application that protects trees from Phytophthora crown rot, collar rot, and root rot, as well as additional soilborne pathogens involved in the apple replant disease complex.

Timely fungicide applications combined with sound agronomic practices can help improve long-term orchard health and sustainable apple production.

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Potato growers are no strangers to late blight, especially in regions like the Northeast, Pacific Northwest and Upper Midwest. Cool, wet weather conditions provide the right environment for the spread of the disease.

Potato late blight can rapidly damage potato crops, starting with the foliage and tubers. Recognizing the symptoms, understanding management strategies and staying updated on available tools and resources can help growers design an effective program for managing late blight.

According to University of Minnesota Extension, late blight symptoms manifest as small, light-to-dark green, circular- or irregularly shaped spots on lower leaves. White, cottony mildew is often visible on infected leaves. Stems, petioles and tubers are also susceptible to the disease.

Additionally, late blight can cause leaves to appear greasy or water-soaked, with a distinct decaying odor in the fields, according to the University of Connecticut College of Agriculture. Upon closer inspection, affected potatoes exhibit a tan to reddish brown dry rot.

Managing late blight starts with removing any previously infected plants and avoiding planting in low-lying, swampy areas. Fungicides that incorporate a novel mode of action without cross-resistance to other fungicides are a critical part of late blight programs. Regular field scouting to detect early signs of infection helps inform timely applications that maximize their impact.

One notable fungicide in late blight management is Orondis® Opti fungicide. Its unique combination of oxathiapiprolin and chlorothalonil helps provide effective protection to potatoes with late blight pressure.

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Another option to consider is Orondis Ultra. This includes oxathiapiprolin and mandipropamid, making it a good option for growers whose programs already include fungicides with chlorothalonil.

Kiran Shetty, Ph.D., technical product lead for potatoes at Syngenta, emphasizes the importance of proactive late blight management with vigilant scouting. Shetty underscores the importance of timely fungicide applications to protect yields in the field and surrounding areas.

Hear more from Shetty about the best chemistries to beat late blight:

With proactive measures and access to effective fungicides, vigilant potato growers can beat late blight and safeguard their yield potential.

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Ear rots plague growers regardless of region and weather. These fungi are most commonly found in corn in the Midwest, Upper Midwest, Central Plains and Northern Plains. Infections can cause lighter, lower quality kernels, introduce mycotoxins that impact feed value and reduce marketable yields. There are different management options, but first, it is important to identify what type of ear rot you are dealing with.

Diplodia Ear Rot

A close-up photo shows the base of an ear of corn affected by Diplodia ear rot, with powdery white mold growing between kernels.
White moldy kernels are a sign of Diplodia ear rot.

Diplodia ear rot is very common in cool and wet environments. To determine if you are dealing with Diplodia, you need to look out for white mold, with coverage ranging from the base of the ear to the entire ear. The white moldy kernels will also have raised black bumps on them also known as, pycnidia.

A common way to manage this specific disease is by adjusting your combine settings to discard the diseased kernels. University of Kentucky Extension recommends quickly drying the affected grains to 15-16% to keep the disease from spreading in storage. As with any fungus, be sure to store the infected grain away from healthy yields.

Fusarium Ear Rot

A close photo of a corn cob affected by Fusarium ear rot. The white fungal growth on the kernels is clear to see.
White fungal growth on kernels is the first sign of Fusarium ear rot.

Fusarium ear rot often occurs in warm and dry environments. The first symptom in a crop affected by Fusarium verticillioides is a white or pinkish fungal growth on the kernels. The fungi present in this disease can also produce mycotoxins which can affect livestock, especially pigs and horses. To manage Fusarium, dry infected grain quickly and store at or below 18% moisture.

Gibberella Ear Rot

An ear of corn affected by Gibberella ear rot. Half of the ear has visible pink and reddish fungal growth starting at the tip of the ear.
Pink to red fungal growth is a recognizable symptom of Giberella ear rot.

Gibberella is commonly found in cool and wet temperatures. It also produces mycotoxins which primarily affect swine. Corn infected with Gibberella will have pink to red fungal growth on the tips of the ear. If the disease is severe, the silks and husk will sometimes stick to the ear. Similar to Fusarium, manage this disease by storing the grains at or below 18% moisture to reduce the spread.

Aspergillus Ear Rot

A close-up photo of an ear of corn affected by Aspergillus ear rot. Olive-colored spores are growing on the end of the ear and powdery mold is beginning to grow between kernels.
Yellow to olive-colored spores are an identifying characteristic of Aspergillus ear rot.

Another mycotoxin-producing fungus, Aspergillus flavus occurs in hot and dry environments. Look out for yellow to olive-colored spores on the end of the ear and powdery mold between the kernels. You may also notice the fungus overwintering on soil debris which infects next season’s kernels through wind and insect damage.

Stressed plants are most susceptible to Aspergillus ear rot. To set corn up for success, choose hybrids that tolerate drought stress, provide fertilizers and consider reevaluating your insect management plan.

No grower wants to deal with ear rot disease, mycotoxins, or lost yields – that’s why it’s important to be able to identify them and take action. If you suspect ear rots are impacting your fields, speak with your local Syngenta representative for additional recommendations.

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Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening, is a bacterial disease that can significantly damage or kill citrus trees. HLB is tough to diagnose; by the time it’s recognized, HLB has likely spread to many surrounding trees. Even worse: there’s no known cure for the bacterium. You can gain the upper hand against HLB by controlling its carrier, Asian citrus psyllid (ACP).

The Sneaky Symptoms of HLB

During the first year of infection, trees show no signs of HLB but ACP can still take up the bacterium and spread it to other trees. When symptoms do begin to manifest, they’re easily mistaken as signs of nutrient deficiency, since HLB impedes the tree’s vascular system which inhibits the movement of nutrients. Symptoms include leaf yellowing, misshapen fruit that do not ripen, premature fruit drop and root dieback.

Asian Citrus Psyllid and HLB

The reproductive and feeding habits of ACP make it a perfect carrier of the bacterium that causes HLB. When an infected psyllid feeds on a citrus tree’s leaves and stems, it creates a localized infection and transmits the bacterium into the tree. The bacterium quickly spread throughout the plant from the point of infection.

Female psyllids lay eggs in the same region where they feed. If the nymphs of infected females begin feeding on the infected area of the tree, they’ll acquire the bacterium, molt to the winged adult stage and disperse, taking the disease along with them. They’ll then carry it for the rest of their lives, traveling miles by air currents or as hitchhikers on harvested fruit.

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Managing Asian Citrus Psyllid

Without a cure for HLB, controlling ACP is the primary strategy to prevent its spread. First, prioritize scouting for ACP and look for the winged adult insects as well as the yellow-bodied nymphs. ACP are often found feeding on newly developed leaves when flush is forming. If ACP populations are present, apply an insecticide like Minecto® Pro to help control the pest. If you suspect that trees have been fed upon by ACP, quickly quarantine them to prevent the spread of HLB.