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New crop protection products set to increase profit margins for dairy farmersAustralia - November 01, 2012 Dairy farmers are set to see significant cost savings thanks to two new products from Dow AgroSciences that will make it possible for farmers to grow forage brassica crops free from pests like diamondback moth and aphids. SuccessTM NEO Insecticide from Dow AgroSciences was already registered for use in fruiting vegetables, bananas, cucurbits and leafy, legume and root and tuber vegetables as well as stem and stalk vegetables and culinary herbs. Its registration for use in forage brassicas comes following farmer demand for an alternative to pyrethroids and organophosphates, which are largely ineffective against diamondback moth and harmful to beneficial insects.
“Diamondback moth is resistant to most of the current chemical options including synthetic pyrethroids and organophosphates so an alternative was desperately needed,” said Dow AgroSciences Business Manager for Insecticides, John Gilmour.
“A lot of dairy farmers had no choice but to stop growing the crop because the moths actually lay their eggs on the emerging plants, with the larvae burrowing into and destroying the growing points. Even with just moderate pest pressure, diamondback moth can wipe out an entire crop within a week of emergence. With the influx of diamondback moth expected at any time, the registration of Success NEO has been highly anticipated by farmers.”
Success NEO is a “soft” insecticide, allowing dairy farmers to minimise the impact of the pest while protecting the beneficial insect population. Applied when the diamondback moth larvae emerge from within the leaf and begin attacking the growing point, Success NEO protects the crop while beneficial insect populations build up to levels where they can naturally control the pest.
The second product, Transform™ Insecticide, is expected to be approved in mid-2013. Transform contains sulfoxaflor, an active ingredient with a completely new mode of action –which gives protection against aphids. Studies show sulfoxaflor is broad-spectrum, fast-acting and effective at low use rates.
Aphids are known to spread a range of viruses in forage brassicas such as beet western yellow virus, turnip mosaic virus and cauliflower mosaic virus. Plants affected by these viruses are generally smaller with crinkled, yellowed leaves.
“As Transform works via a new mode of action, it is ideal for use in areas where aphids have developed resistance to other treatments, making it well suited for use in an integrated pest management program,” said John.
Forage brassicas provide dairy farmers with an alternative to buying in expensive feed grain, while also ensuring peak nutrition for their cattle. The crude protein content of brassica leaves ranges from 15 to 25 per cent and between 9 and 16 per cent for turnips and swede bulbs. The crop is also well known for its livestock weight gain capabilities, with typical weight gains of 0.8 to 1.2 kg per head per day in cattle and 150 to 250 grams per day per head for lambs eating the crop exclusively.
“The crop is particularly ideal when milk prices are low as it provides dairy farmers with one less cost to carry. Given that it can cost up to $380 a tonne to buy in feed, having an alternative on-farm food source can make a major difference to overall profitability,” he said.
The crop can also form a useful part of a pasture management program as it provides a break in the cycle for weeds and disease, leaving paddocks in an ideal condition for pasture or sowing. SuccessTM NEO and the pending approval of Transform could see a complete turnaround in the cropping practices of dairy farmers across south east Australia.
“In the 1990s, around 300,000 hectares of forage brassicas were grown but this area has dropped very significantly in recent years. Hopefully we will see a change in this trend by providing farmers with some desperately needed new and effective crop protection products,” he said.
For Editorial Information:
Sharyn Casey
John Gilmour |
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