It's time to get a jump on sclerotinia control
It might seem a bit strange to be talking disease control in late September, however, now is the perfect time to enlist the help of a very different kind of fungicide in the fight against sclerotinia.
Contans, a soil-applied wettable powder distributed through UAP, goes to work before the crop is in the ground, either in the fall or the spring. For those considering planting canola in 2011, now is the time to spray Contans.
"The product needs 90 days at soil temps above 5 degrees C to be effective," says Garth Render, product manager with UAP. Contans is unique in that it actually kills sclerotia bodies on the soil surface. Sclerotia are the overwintering form of sclerotinia. The product doesn't just stop the disease from spreading, it actually kills the source of the disease. It's possible to drastically reduce populations a field, Render says, with a long-term plan that includes crop rotation and Contans.
2010 was the first year UAP had wide-spread experience with Contans and the results are promising. Approved for use on dry beans, sunflowers and canola, as well as other susceptible crops, the use of Contans in the fall or year previous to planting has significantly reduced pathogen loads in fields, Render says.
Where farmers could trip themselves up is on timing. For those planning to seed canola in 2011, application of Contans should be happening now. "Even if you only get 20 days of the product working (this fall) it will got to work again in the spring as soon as the soil warms," Render says. "By the time canola is susceptible to infection, enough time should have passed to make it effective." If farmers miss this fall window, Render cautions against spring application of the product in canola. "Instead, I'd recommend putting it on your cereal fields in anticipation of canola on those acres in 2012." Contans will be killing sclerotia all year and next fall if you take this route.
For those planning beans or sunnies, fall application or a heavy rate in the spring can work simply because of the longer season nature of these crops.
For more information, contact Garth Render at 204-981-3337
Contans, a soil-applied wettable powder distributed through UAP, goes to work before the crop is in the ground, either in the fall or the spring. For those considering planting canola in 2011, now is the time to spray Contans.
"The product needs 90 days at soil temps above 5 degrees C to be effective," says Garth Render, product manager with UAP. Contans is unique in that it actually kills sclerotia bodies on the soil surface. Sclerotia are the overwintering form of sclerotinia. The product doesn't just stop the disease from spreading, it actually kills the source of the disease. It's possible to drastically reduce populations a field, Render says, with a long-term plan that includes crop rotation and Contans.
2010 was the first year UAP had wide-spread experience with Contans and the results are promising. Approved for use on dry beans, sunflowers and canola, as well as other susceptible crops, the use of Contans in the fall or year previous to planting has significantly reduced pathogen loads in fields, Render says.
Where farmers could trip themselves up is on timing. For those planning to seed canola in 2011, application of Contans should be happening now. "Even if you only get 20 days of the product working (this fall) it will got to work again in the spring as soon as the soil warms," Render says. "By the time canola is susceptible to infection, enough time should have passed to make it effective." If farmers miss this fall window, Render cautions against spring application of the product in canola. "Instead, I'd recommend putting it on your cereal fields in anticipation of canola on those acres in 2012." Contans will be killing sclerotia all year and next fall if you take this route.
For those planning beans or sunnies, fall application or a heavy rate in the spring can work simply because of the longer season nature of these crops.
For more information, contact Garth Render at 204-981-3337
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