Agronomy Insights

Spring green-up is a critical juncture for the wheat crop for Southern States farmers. Be sure you’re not allowing early-season weeds, insects and diseases to erode yield potential by scouting thoroughly and applying the right combination of fungicides and insecticides.

Research has shown that producers will experience a higher probability of achieving a return on investment when seed treatments are used in fields that are at elevated levels of risk for important seedling diseases.

The return on investment (ROI) for fungicides on soybeans tends to not be as high or as consistent as for fungicide application to corn. However, this should not dissuade the soybean grower from making the decision to apply fungicides to soybeans. By using the following application checklist, it is possible to quickly determine which fields are likely candidates for productive use of soybean foliar fungicides.

The yield response to fungicide applications in corn depend on several factors, one reason why we observe variability in yield responses across fields and regions. Weather conditions such as temperature and humidity drive pathogen development over time. Field history and farming practices can affect initial pathogen load and disease development. Hybrids rated susceptible or moderately susceptible to important foliar fungal diseases are more responsive to fungicide applications than resistant hybrids

Fungicides are useful tools that can significantly protect yields. Applications that target the flag leaf, leaf below the flag leaf, and ear, can protect up to 90% of total carbohydrates needed for grain fill