OAT growers have a major new fungicide option for 2022 , with the SDHI + triazole fungicide Elatus Era ( benzovindiflupyr + prothioconazole ) now approved for use on the crop .

Notably , Elatus Era provides label approval against crown rust . Crown rust is a major disease that has increased as oats have become more popular , says Syngenta regional technical manager , Joe Bagshaw , but against which a number of fungicides have been , or are being , lost .

“ The popularity of oats has increased substantially over recent years ,” says Mr Bagshaw , “ but crown rust can slash yields by up to a fifth . Elatus Era is already well recognised for strong rust control in wheat and barley . Now , with the loss

of other active ingredients , its approval on oats has come at an opportune time . It has been evaluated on both winter and spring oats .”

Pointing to oat trial comparisons against a number of other fungicides , Mr Bagshaw says Elatus Era has given clearly superior crown rust control and additional yield .

“ In an ADAS oat trial in a high disease pressure situation in Devon , a single application of Elatus Era at the important T2 timing boosted yield by more than 3.0 t / ha over the untreated ,” says Mr Bagshaw , “ as well as by 1.9 t / ha over a triazole and by 1.6 t / ha over a strobilurin-based fungicide . Another big benefit seen with Elatus Era in the trial was reduced brackling .

“ Heavily brackled oats that need picking up off the ground

at harvest are not something you want , especially if growing for the quality human consumption market . In the trial , brackling was reduced from 90 % with the triazole treatment and 76 % with the strobilurin treatment to just 23 % with Elatus Era . We attribute reduced brackling to improved disease control helping to better maintain plant cell structure .”

As well as crown rust control , Elatus Era has shown good control in trials of the other important oat disease , powdery mildew , notes Mr Bagshaw , and increased yield in mildew situations .

“ The addition of oats to its label means Elatus Era can now be used across eight crop types : wheat , barley , triticale , rye , linseed / flax , combining peas , field beans and oats ,” he points out .

With oats such an important crop in Scotland , Bordersbased Syngenta area business manager , Iain Lindsay , believes this latest approval is a breakthrough for Scottish growers . “ Elatus Era has already attracted interest for use in winter and spring barley in Scotland ,” says Mr Lindsay , “ as well as for protecting wheat against both Septoria tritici and yellow rust . This latest approval in oats , and in combining peas and field beans , makes fungicide selection for growers that much easier – since only a single product needs to be stored for use on multiple approved crops .”

According to the product label , Elatus Era can be applied once per oat crop at a maximum dose of 1.0 litre / hectare / crop , and with a latest

Elatus Era is already well known

for strong rust control in wheat

and barley , says Syngenta

regional technical manager ,

Joe Bagshaw , and its approval

against crown rust on oats has

come at an opportune time

time of application of up to and including the end of heading : inflorescence fully emerged ( GS59 ).

THE National Sheep Association ( NSA ) is today ( Wednesday 30th March ) welcoming the updated guidance for farmers in England on the Sustainable Farming Incentive ( SFI ) from Secretary of State George Eustice . The Defra announcement also provided further guidance on autumn and winter muck spreading and support for using urea fertilisers .

Of particular relevance for sheep farmers within the guidance are rules for water which give clarity over the ability for farmers to spread muck during the autumn , and much needed detail on the SFI 2022 and Animal Health and Welfare Pathway . Today ’ s announcement also stated there is to be a one year delay on the proposed changes for the use of untreated urea as a fertiliser .

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker comments : “ Following a year of strong sheep prices and significant optimism most sheep farmers are realising rapidly rising input costs , for not just fertiliser ,

feed and fuel , but all inputs , are meaning that strong sheep prices are essential just to stand still . This , combined with annual reductions in the Basic Payment and uncertainty over new Defra schemes is causing serious concern for many sheep farming businesses .”

The actions outlined in the update , and the enhanced details on the SFI 2022 are a welcome step forward .

Mr Stocker continues : “ The delays in introducing greater restrictions and controls over the use of urea will help many sheep farmers , and acceptance

there is an agronomic need for manure to be applied during the autumn months , as climate change appears to be showing a shift towards longer grass growing seasons , is particularly welcomed . Significantly , this decision has also included an acceptance that done properly , manure applications in the autumn , present little risk to water quality .”

The detail on the new scheme has been needed and is very welcome . NSA hopes it will go some way to giving confidence in new farming programmes . Following representations made by NSA , and

others , making the case that the initial proposed rates for unenclosed moorland and commons were inadequate NSA is pleased to see these rates significantly increased . NSA also strongly supports measures to cover costs of planting clovers and nitrogen fixing plants .

Mr Stocker concludes : “ I see this as encouraging evidence that Defra is listening and want its Future Farming Schemes to work and help farmers keep farming . I hope this announcement is an indication of Government starting to take farming and food production more seriously and recognising its national strategic importance . There is still a long way to go through our Agricultural Transition and no question that many of our approaches to life , and to farming , will go through change . But that shouldn ’ t mean that productive farming , with a positive impact on the environment and nature , isn ’ t needed , and it seems certain we are entering a period when food security is recognised as every bit as important as protecting our natural resources .”