Blight sprays remain useful but care needed
Blight sprays remain useful but care needed
DESPITE the highest levels of late potato blight infection seen in recent years, phenylamide fungicides continued to perform very well last season when used according to label advice, according to the Fungicide Resistance Action Committees UK phenylamide working group.
The group aims to prolong the effectiveness of products based on the chemical, such as Fubol Gold, Galben M, Riposte Pepite, Tairel and Trustan.
"The bottom line is that the level of phenylamide resistance has not increased and is broadly similar to that found in recent years," says Nick Bradshaw of ADAS.
Random survey
A random survey last year found that 42.5% of 280 blight isolates from 61 commercial crops were resistant to phenylamides.
That means FRACs guidelines for 2001 to maximise disease control and manage resistance are maintained. *
PHENYLAMIDEADVICE
• Should be used only protectively, early in the season during the period of active crop growth.
• Should be applied at a maximum spray interval of 14 days.
• Applications can be made until the end of active crop growth, which usually finishes by mid-August.
• Phenylamide-containing products should not be used after the end of August.
• Up to five applications may be made to any one crop.
• NB: FRAC member companies are Du Pont (UK), Sipcam UK, Syngenta Crop Protection UK.
This week in FF…
Potato planting problems in Essex, chemical supply hold-ups in Devon and patch-drilling in Co Down. The only thing left to do is to phone a friend, say this weeks Farmer Focus writers. Turn to pages 72 and 73.