The Farmers Mart Jun-Jul 2018 - Issue 57 | Page 27

ARABLE 27
• JUN/JUL 2018
Start fungicide
programmes now to beat
potato blight this season
POTATO growers should start fungicide
programmes now and ensure they have
considered fungicide resistance manage-
ment to stay on top of key diseases.
Of ongoing concern is the rise of blight
strain “dark green” EU 37_A2, which has
been increasing in prevalence across Eng-
land and is highly insensitive to key blight
active substance fluazinam.
‘ stay on top of
key diseases ’
Advising on mostly crisping potato crops
in the North East of England, DKB Crop
Protection agronomist David Barker says
although the new strain is yet to be con-
firmed in his area, he will be adjusting his
advice accordingly.
“Fluazinam on its own will be a big no-no
and I won’t be recommending its use early
in the blight programme at all,” he adds.
Instead, his first two sprays will include
cymoxanil and mancozeb, followed by
products effective against EU 37_A2 which
are designed to be highly mobile in plants
during the rapid canopy phase, helping to
protect new growth.
These include Valbon, with adjuvant
ZinZan, rotated with other mobile products
until crops reach stable canopy.
Keeping to a maximum seven-day spray
interval and rotating actives to ensure
almost every application has a different
mode of action is a key part of Mr Barkers
planning, helping to reduce the risk of se-
lecting fungicide-resistant blight strains.
On top of adapting product choice to the
presence of rising blight str