There is no room for cost cutting on fungicides this season if the high level of Septoria tritici now affecting wheat crops across the country is to be controlled, warns BASF.
The company is taking the unusual step of amending its advice to growers in response to the intense disease pressure that has been triggered by wet weather and delayed spraying.
The advice is that standard fungicide rates should now be regarded as the minimum rates, and in many cases growers should seriously consider increasing them. The advice relates mainly to the rate of the main Septoria tritici fungicide epoxiconazole (Opus), which is widely used in conjunction with strobilurins in a tank mix or as a proprietary product.
For example, BASF now recommends that the amount of epoxiconazole that should be added to its top-selling T2 fungicide Opera should be enough to bring the combined rate of the triazole up to a minimum three-quarter rate and preferably a full rate.
"Field reports are confirming that Septoria tritici levels are increasing dramatically, and this is confirmed by our Septoria tritici test kits which are showing that the disease is widespread in latent form in new growth," says Tony Grayburn, BASF Cereal Fungicide Products Manager. "Under these circumstances, it is good agronomic practice to apply a robust rate of epoxiconazole."
