Poncho Beta, the new sugar beet seed treatment from Bayer CropScience, has gained regulatory approval in time for growers to order 2005 seed treated with it.
It is a co-formulation of new active ingredient clothianidin with beta-cyfluthrin. Like predecessor Gaucho it will protect against the soil borne pest complex (mainly millipedes, symphylids and springtails), foliar pests and virus yellows to ensure establishment and maximise yield potential.
The clothianidin component provides systemic protection against foliar pests like aphids for up to 10 weeks after drilling and the addition of beta-cyfluthrin enhances early protection against soil borne pests.
In Broom’s Barn’s 2003 BMYV trials Poncho Beta treated plots yielded an average of 73.8 t/ha (adjusted to 16% sugar content), a 28% uplift compared with untreated. By comparison current industry standard Gaucho achieved 71.2 t/ha. Company trials have also shown significant improvements in crop stand and foliar pest control.
Dr Alan Dewar who undertook the BMYV trials says that it delivers comparable virus yellows protection to Gaucho but with a third less active ingredient which is certainly desirable from an environmental viewpoint.
Extensive Bayer CropScience and independent trials have also shown no interactions with herbicides and Poncho Beta. Hence the label is free of any herbicide usage restrictions even with lenacil-based pre-emergence treatments.
