Open day for arable farmers

Chloe Morgan has been working on a three-year AHDB project that is investigating the value of septoria resistance, trialling susceptible and resistant varieties in early and late drilling slots on six high-risk sites in England, Ireland and Scotland, one of which is in Herefordshire.

After two years, results show that on a more septoria-resistant variety drilled in mid-October, there was no significant benefit from using an SDHI in the fungicide programme.

Although not including an SDHI at all may be too risky for some, it shows what leeway some of the more resistant additions to the Recommended List can offer.

“The data would suggest that programmes including only one SDHI application on a late-drilled resistant variety is more than enough in most, if not all situations," she said.

“As disease comes in later and develops more slowly in these situations, it gives growers the opportunity to react to the growing season and make significant savings. "

Excessive fungicide use comes at a cost with accelerated insensitivity and increased fungicide spend.

Ahead of spring 2018, it was known from disease monitoring by Rothamsted Research, that 40 per cent of septoria isolates had become less sensitive to SDHI fungicides. This is of concern as sensitivity is expected to decline further over coming seasons.

As a result, there is an urgent need to reduce reliance on SDHIs to control septoria. According Chloe Morgan, using the actives at lower rates and less frequently through the programme should slow this decline.

But this isn’t just about protecting the SDHI’s. Two new actives are on the horizon, including a new azole and a new active from the quinone inside inhibitors (QiI) group not previously used in cereal crops. When these are introduced, achieving a more balanced use of all the available tools – new and old – will help prolong their effective use.

This project will be demonstrated at the ADAS Rosemaund and AHDB Arable Connections Open Event at Stoke Lacy, Herefordshire HR7 4HZ, on June 19. The event will also feature demonstrations and seminars by experts on crop protection and nutrition of cereals and oilseed rape, as well as weed and pest management and a demonstration of the full wheat recommended list. The event will run from 12pm – 4pm, with free admission and free food. BASIS and NRoSO points are available.

For more information call Chloe Morgan on 01432 820444 or email Chloe.Morgan@adas.co.uk or Richard.meredith@ahdb.org.uk