Crop Solutions That Work

AGRIS Biweekly Newsletter

Digital Corner

Using Technology to Optimize Fungicide Applications

We are heading into the last half of the growing season for corn and soybeans. We spend the first half building yield potential by selecting the appropriate hybrids and varieties for specific fields. Apply a balanced supply of essential nutrients, and protect the crop from weed competition with effective herbicide programs, practices and preventing seedling diseases with seed treatments. The second half is focused on preserving the yield potential that has been built. Invariably that means protecting plant health. The recent weather events are supportive of foliar fungal pathogens of Tar Spot, Northern Corn Leaf Blight (NCLB) and Grey Leaf Spot (GLS), Gibberella Ear Rot on corn. White mold on soybeans, possibly Frogeye and Septoria Brown Spot.

Crop growth stages are variable in some of our fields which makes it difficult to time the fungicide applications to protect the crop. In corn the tassel (VT) and silking stage (R1) are the growth stages to target the application. In corn the other factors for high risk of pathogen infection are high yield potential, minimum till fields with lots of surface residue, history of disease, susceptible hybrids, rain, fog and dew in the forecast for 2 weeks before and after R1 growth stage.

Article by Dale Cowan

Agronomy Strategy Manager and Senior Agronomist at AGRIS Co-operative

In soybeans the risk of white mold is higher with susceptible varieties, thick stands, cooler, wet weather and field history of disease. Usually, white mold control requires 2 sprays one at R1 and second at R2 to R3 growth stage.

With the variable growth stages in the fields, it is challenging to time the applications. Indeed, it may be hard to justify the application on the whole field to begin with. This when technology can help. Utilizing Climate Field view imagery it is possible to create application maps to guide the applicator to apply fungicides only where needed.

The red areas (poor growth) amounting to 17 acres in this field example below would not receive an application of fungicide, the green areas, remaining 30 acres (greater growth) would receive an application of fungicides. An applicator map of “On -Off” could be produced.

One of the advantages of digital data adding value. If you don’t have Climate Fieldview (and maybe too late for this spray season) reach out to your Crop Sales Specialist, they will put you in touch with Jess Roelofs our Digital Ag Sales & Support Specialist to have a discussion on the benefits of capturing and utilizing machine data.

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- Stay Informed-

Article by Andre Coutinho

Crop Sales Specialist

AGRIS Co-operative

Brigden

Importance of applying fungicide to corn

Tar spot is back and has been spotted in the province. It’s still fresh in all of our minds the effects it had on farms across the countryside last year, especially farms that didn’t have a fungicide application.

Hearing of substantial yield differences in the treated verses untreated areas of a field wasn’t uncommon.

A fungicide application to your corn crop should be regular practice.

It’s imperative to have a proactive plan for fungicide application, as Tar spot isn’t going away and is just one of the diseases that we need to protect the corn crop against this year.

UNTREATED

TREATED

Benefits of a fungicide application

Disease Control: Fungicides effectively control a variety of fungal diseases such as gray leaf spot, northern corn leaf blight, and tar spot. By managing these diseases, fungicides help maintain plant health and prevent significant yield losses.
Yield Improvement: By reducing disease pressure, fungicides can enhance photosynthetic efficiency and overall plant health, leading to higher grain yields. This is particularly important in seasons with high disease pressure.
Grain Quality: Fungicides can improve grain quality by preventing diseases that effect the ear itself. This results in better marketability and potentially higher prices for the harvested grain.
Economic Benefit: While fungicide applications have an associated cost, the investment can be justified by the potential savings from avoiding yield losses and reduced quality penalties.

Scouting and timing

VT to R1 (Tasseling to Silking): This is generally the most effective time to apply fungicides. During this period, the corn is most vulnerable to diseases, and fungicides can protect the corn during pollination and grain fill. Scouting the field for silking timing is important to know your window of application.
There is a six-day window of silk infection and this is when spraying fungicide from full silk to when the silks just begin to brown.

Now is the time to talk with your AGRIS branch to have your farms scouted and scheduled for application. Remember a proactive plan helps keep things smooth logistically while ensuring it is applied within the window as stated above.

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*Without written express from authors, do not use this information in other publications*