Safeguard Sugarbeets From Cercospora Leaf Spot
Cercospora leaf spot is one of the most devastating pathogens for a sugarbeet crop. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that the fungal disease can lead to losses totaling as much as 30 percent of the crop’s value if not managed properly.
So, what can producers do to safeguard their crop? Recent data from replicated trials in Michigan shows that an intensive fungicide spray program that includes MasterLock® adjuvant may help lower Cercospora leaf spot incidence in sugarbeets, resulting in higher yield and revenue potential.
Data guides action
Michigan Sugar conducted fungicide trials at two research locations in 2017. The results showed an average net revenue increase potential of $87 to $124* per acre across treatments and locations when MasterLock® adjuvant was added to a fungicide tank mix, compared to fungicide treatments where no adjuvant was used. Fungicide treatments in the study included EBDC, triazole, copper and Super Tin® 4L applied four to eight times throughout the growing season. This data is consistent with results from similar studies conducted in 2016.
Disease pressure was high at both locations in the 2017 study. At one of the Pigeon, Michigan, trials, plants sprayed with fungicide plus MasterLock® adjuvant had 22.4 percent Cercospora leaf spot damage on September 19, compared to 39.7 percent damage in plants where fungicide was applied without the adjuvant. The plots treated with fungicide plus MasterLock® adjuvant yielded 2.4 more tons of sugarbeets per acre compared to plots treated with only fungicide. Similar trends were reported from the second trial site in Pigeon.
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Source: Adapted from Michigan Sugar research trials (2017)
Proving the value
MasterLock® adjuvant enhances spray coverage by improving spray deposition, canopy penetration, and spray droplet sticking and spreading while reducing drift. It is a relatively low-cost addition to the tank mix that helps improve the coverage and efficacy of crop protection products.
At high spray pressures like those recommended for sugarbeets, there are a higher percentage of driftable fine droplets that may never reach the targeted crop, as shown in the graphic below. That leads to more wasted input and less efficacious pest control, in addition to greater environmental impacts and an increased risk for pesticide resistance to develop.
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Two years of consistent trial data suggest that the cost of adding MasterLock® adjuvant to a fungicide tank mix easily pays for itself with healthier crops and higher yield potential. While these studies show results with sugarbeets, we would expect to see better fungicide coverage on any crop where multiple passes of fungicide are applied with high spray pressures (potatoes and edible beans, for example).
Contact your local retailer for more information about how MasterLock® adjuvant can help increase revenue potential on your farm.
*Assumes a $40 beet payment and trial average RWST (recoverable sugar per ton) with fungicide costs subtracted.
Results may vary. Because of factors outside of Winfield Solutions’ control, such as weather, product application and any other factors, results to be obtained, including but not limited to yields, financial performance or profits, cannot be predicted or guaranteed by Winfield Solutions.
SuperTin® 4L is a United Phosphorus, Inc. product.
So, what can producers do to safeguard their crop? Recent data from replicated trials in Michigan shows that an intensive fungicide spray program that includes MasterLock® adjuvant may help lower Cercospora leaf spot incidence in sugarbeets, resulting in higher yield and revenue potential.
Data guides action
Michigan Sugar conducted fungicide trials at two research locations in 2017. The results showed an average net revenue increase potential of $87 to $124* per acre across treatments and locations when MasterLock® adjuvant was added to a fungicide tank mix, compared to fungicide treatments where no adjuvant was used. Fungicide treatments in the study included EBDC, triazole, copper and Super Tin® 4L applied four to eight times throughout the growing season. This data is consistent with results from similar studies conducted in 2016.
Disease pressure was high at both locations in the 2017 study. At one of the Pigeon, Michigan, trials, plants sprayed with fungicide plus MasterLock® adjuvant had 22.4 percent Cercospora leaf spot damage on September 19, compared to 39.7 percent damage in plants where fungicide was applied without the adjuvant. The plots treated with fungicide plus MasterLock® adjuvant yielded 2.4 more tons of sugarbeets per acre compared to plots treated with only fungicide. Similar trends were reported from the second trial site in Pigeon.
Source: Adapted from Michigan Sugar research trials (2017)
Proving the value
MasterLock® adjuvant enhances spray coverage by improving spray deposition, canopy penetration, and spray droplet sticking and spreading while reducing drift. It is a relatively low-cost addition to the tank mix that helps improve the coverage and efficacy of crop protection products.
At high spray pressures like those recommended for sugarbeets, there are a higher percentage of driftable fine droplets that may never reach the targeted crop, as shown in the graphic below. That leads to more wasted input and less efficacious pest control, in addition to greater environmental impacts and an increased risk for pesticide resistance to develop.
Two years of consistent trial data suggest that the cost of adding MasterLock® adjuvant to a fungicide tank mix easily pays for itself with healthier crops and higher yield potential. While these studies show results with sugarbeets, we would expect to see better fungicide coverage on any crop where multiple passes of fungicide are applied with high spray pressures (potatoes and edible beans, for example).
Contact your local retailer for more information about how MasterLock® adjuvant can help increase revenue potential on your farm.
*Assumes a $40 beet payment and trial average RWST (recoverable sugar per ton) with fungicide costs subtracted.
Results may vary. Because of factors outside of Winfield Solutions’ control, such as weather, product application and any other factors, results to be obtained, including but not limited to yields, financial performance or profits, cannot be predicted or guaranteed by Winfield Solutions.
SuperTin® 4L is a United Phosphorus, Inc. product.
