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Syngenta launches Miravis Ace with a new fungicide mode of action for wheat; in row crops, the company debuts a new premix — Tavium plus VaporGrip Technology.

April 22, 2019

3 Min Read
closeup of ripe wheat against blue sky
HEALTHY CROP: Getting a head scab-free crop isn’t easy these days. But a new fungicide, Miravis Ace, expands the window of application. Syngenta also launched Tavium plus VaporGrip Technology, a new row crop premix that includes dicamba.

With the 2019 season off and running, crop protection companies are also rolling out new tools. Syngenta has two new tools for this crop season. Miravis Ace is a fungicide offering a new mode of action and enhanced timing for control of head scab, a key wheat disease. Tavium plus VaporGrip Technology is a premix that brings together dicamba and S-metolachlor, the active ingredient from Dual Magnum.

Taking on a tough wheat disease

Head scab is no easy problem to control. Timing the application of a fungicide to take on fusarium head blight can be frustrating, but there’s a new tool for 2019 that may change those rules. Syngenta has announced its Miravis Ace fungicide is now available.

The product is a premix of propiconazole and the new product Adepidyn fungicide and offers farmers a new mode of action for head scab. The company also touts the value of the new product to help farmers get ahead of other disease including septoria, which may be a problem if wet weather continues.

Nathan Popiel, Syngenta agronomy services manager, explained that it may be premature to determine how weather will affect head scab severity in 2019; but, he added, “It’s not too early to begin making a management plan to protect [the] investment. Growers know head scab management always requires planning, but this year, growers will have more time to protect their crops.”

He explained that with Miravis Ace, there’s a wider window of application — from as early as 50% head emergence up to flowering.

Fungicide field results

The media announcement for Miravis Ace included information on company and third-party field trials that show the new product can protect wheat yield and quality when applied early. In 13 of 15 field trials in 2018 comparing the new product to older fungicides at both 50% head emergence and flowering, the results showed improved disease control.

• At 50% head emergence timing, Miravis Ace averaged 77.2 bushels per acre and a deoxynivalenol (DON) level of 3.1, compared to 71.6 bushels per acre and a DON level of 5 for a competitor.

• At flowering timing, Miravis Ace averaged 78.4 bushels per acre and a DON level of 2, compared to 73.5 bushels per acre and a DON level of 2.4 for the same competitor.

Having a wider application window can remove uncertainty for growers and open a new way to manage the disease. Adds Eric Tedford, Syngenta technical fungicide lead: “While older fungicides have provided a level of protection, having to hit flowering precisely leaves no room for delays or errors.”

Syngenta is making the point of Miravis Ace timing known with a website where it reports performance for the product. The site is sprayearlier.com.

New premix for row crops

There’s another dicamba-based crop protection product available for 2019. This one is Tavium plus VaporGrip Technology, a premix that includes not only dicamba but S-metolachlor. The combination provides a multiple-mode-of-action approach to weeds providing a way to manage ALS-, PPO- and glyphosate-resistant broadleaf and grass weeds.

In its announcement, Syngenta noted that unlike competitors’ products, this product goes beyond the stand-alone dicamba approach. Adds Bobby Bachman, herbicide product lead: “The addition of S-metolachlor with dicamba in a premix not only helps manage resistance, but also offers up to three weeks longer residual control than dicamba alone.”

The Tavium formulation targets key weeds including waterhemp, Palmer amaranth, marestail, common and giant ragweed, kochia, morningglory, barnyardgrass and foxtail. Syngenta recommends Tavium as part of a two-pass program to preserve the efficacy of auxin technologies like dicamba. The company’s recommended system starts with Boundary 6.5 EC, BroadAxe XC or Prefix herbicides in soybeans; or Caparol 4L in cotton, followed by Tavium.

Adds Bachman: “The premix formulation provides an easy way to reduce selection pressure on dicamba, but a system of pre- and postemergence herbicides is still crucial.”

Source: Syngenta. The source is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

 

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