Potato Review

www.potatoreview.com BLIGHT at preventing spores dropping onto leaves, systemic products are generally more e ective during rapid growth when you’ve new leaves every two or three days, while other products are better at stable canopy because they are purely a protectant.” With fewer products available and the need to adjust fungicide programmes according to weather conditions, growth stage and disease pro le, John welcomes new products such as Enervin SC®. “Growers and agronomists certainly have a challenge when it comes to protecting crops without exceeding maximum applications of a given product, or of an active ingredient dosage,” says Matthew Goodson, specialities market manager at BASF. “It’s why we have developed our latest blight product, Enervin SC®, as a straight formulation; it gives producers exibility and potentially, simpli es programme planning for growers and agronomists.” Enervin SC® is the rst straight formulation of ametoctradin, an active ingredient that sits in the QoSI chemistry group. It’s well suited to the stable canopy slot and potentially frees up CAA and QII chemistry for use elsewhere in the programme. “Euro ns’ trials, are demonstrating Enervin SC®’s e cacy. Working synergistically with a partner product, it consistently provided outstanding control despite the arti cially high disease pressure. It worked well in partnership with propamocarb, mandipropamid and mancozeb. In 2020, we repeated the trial, replacing mancozeb with a cymoxanil/propamocarb co-formulation. Again, all treatments stood-up to the challenge well,” he said. BASF has another blight spray in the pipeline, BAS657. It’s a co-formulation, with two unique modes of action in ametoctradin and potassium phosphonate. Positioned early in the programme, it o ers protection when the crop is at rapid canopy development, protecting the foliage. For Scottish grower, James Porter, a robust fungicide programme ensures his pre-packed potatoes are well protected from blight. “We’ve 100 acres of potatoes here at East Scryne Farm in Angus and foliar blight isn’t too much of an issue. We’ve a robust fungicide programme, using a range of active ingredients, and follow a strict timeline of applications every seven to 10 days,” he said. “Being on light sandy loams, we have a trickle irrigation system which helps reduce the spread of spores. We’re also a mixed farm and have a wide rotation to help control PCN, which also helps keep blight pressure low.” According to an article recently published in ‘Climate Risk Management’, future blight occurrences for James and his neighbours could increase as much as 70% in the next 50 years. For now though, its product loss combined with unpredictable weather conditions impacting his ability to desiccate crops at optimummarketable yield that is forefront in James’ mind. “ e loss of diquat means we’re ailing crops. We want a quick kill, predominantly to ensure we hit customer speci cations but also because that’s when crops are vulnerable to late blight getting in through the damaged haulm. And if the weather is against you, there’s nothing else you can do.” “We’ve a robust fungicide programme, using a range of active ingredients, and follow a strict timeline of applications every seven to 10 days.” James Porter, grower © BASF 2021. All rights reserved. Potato growers have experienced challenging times recently, so BASF have devised a new, collaborative initiative aimed at improving future yields through practical support and knowledge-sharing. This innovative platform brings together industry experts to assist growers and advisors and start game- changing conversations. With the right combination of experience, innovation and passion, we can work towards a more profitable future for potato crops. Be part of our growing future, visit agricentre.basf.co.uk/real-results/potatoes Looking towards a more profitable future.