January 2020 - 34

PLANT HEALTH
SUCCESSFUL SEASON
into a
BY NANCY RECHCIGL
Peak season is just around the corner. What can you do to prepare for both expected
and unexpected challenges?
N
ow that the New Year has arrived, spring will be here before we
know it. One of the busiest times of year, spring production can
also be the most difficult. Being prepared for insect and disease
pressure is critical to help protect crops from propagation to finish. By
incorporating an agronomic program as part of your overall production
plan, you can be better prepared for problems your operation may
encounter in the season ahead.
WHAT IS AN AGRONOMIC PROGRAM?
An agronomic program is a comprehensive plan that considers the
primary and secondary insects and diseases a crop may encounter, and
outlines treatment recommendations to proactively control them. Using a
plan developed before production starts can help prevent plant damage
and stress, and builds a framework for properly rotating products and
modes of action. If insects or diseases are caught too late and have
damaged plant foliage or roots, you can be at a disadvantage, spending
additional time and resources trying to regain control.
HOW TO BUILD A PROGRAM
A resistance management strategy and product rotation are two
key components of an agronomic program. When building your own
program, it is important to position products correctly, so you must have
a good understanding of the special features of the products and how
they work.
Here are some other helpful tips:
* Identify the primary and secondary disease and insect problems
the crop may face.
* Select two to three products with different modes of action with
proven activity on each problem.
* Position these products in a rotation program based on their
strengths.
◦ Be aware of their type of activity (translaminar or systemic)
and the length of control expected.
* Rotate these products per the label recommendations.
◦ Take note of regulatory requirements, such as restricted-entry
intervals and use limits.
After compiling this information and determining the appropriate
products to use, you can build and tailor a program to fit the needs of
your operation.
34 JANUARY 2020 GPNMAG.COM
Early Cercospora leaf spot on pansy.
All photos are either the property of Syngenta or are used with permission.
AGRONOMIC PROGRAM FOR SPRING BEDDING PLANTS
To help you prepare for spring, this Syngenta agronomic program can
be used as a guide for your operation. It covers the most common insects
and diseases typically seen during production on bedding plants. Rates are
listed per 100 gallons.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND SCOUT
This comprehensive plan can serve as the framework for your plant
protection program. It offers recommended fungicide and insecticide
control options, and suggested application timing for spring bedding
crops. However, even with an agronomic program, you should continuously
scout your crops for problems in the event your program needs to be
modified. For example, although Botrytis is a common problem in floral
crops, if it has not historically been an issue in your operation, fungicide
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January 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2020
