New publication helps crop producers decide on fungicides
May 21, 2013
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A new publication designed to help farmers make fungicide-related decisions is now available through Purdue Extension.
The guide, Fungicides for Field Crops, was edited by specialists from five universities and printed by the American Phytopathological Society. The full-color publication includes photos and covers all aspects of fungicide use, including different modes of action, how to use them in various crops and ways for farmers to test efficacy through their own on-farm trials.
"Fungicide use has really gained popularity since 2007," said Kiersten Wise, Purdue Extension plant pathologist and one of the publication's editors. "Producers are much more aware of the benefits of fungicides in field crop production, and they're very interested in trying them.
"With the giant increase in the interest in fungicides, we thought this would be a good resource to help provide those producers with the information they need."
Fungicides can be used in a variety of field crops to help with disease control and prevention. The guide covers major crop diseases and helps farmers and crop advisers identify which fungicides might be effective on each.
More recently, there has been growing interest in application timing, and with farmers planting their crops this spring, the publication's release is timely because they need to make some of their fungicide decisions now.
"This is the time when growers are trying to get out to the field and maybe making some decisions about whether or not they're going to be using fungicides," Wise said. "Some fungicides go on fairly early in the crop stage. For instance, in corn there is a lot of interest in V4 and V5 growth stage applications, so we want this resource to be available for growers interested in learning more about these applications."
Fungicides for Field Crops is $19 and can be ordered through Purdue Extension's The Education Store at http://www.the-education-store.com by searching for ID-455.
Other editors are Daren Mueller, Iowa State University; Nicholas Dufault, University of Florida-Gainesville; Carl Bradley, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and Martin Chilvers, Michigan State University.
The guide was sponsored by the American Society of Sugar Beet Technologists, BASF, Bayer CropScience, Dairyland Seed, DuPont, DuPont Pioneer, Florida Peanut Producers Association, North Central Soybean Research Program, Purdue University, Regional IPM Centers, United Soybean Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture's Risk Management Agency, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and Valent USA Corp.
Writer: Jennifer Stewart, 765-494-6682, jsstewar@purdue.edu
Source: Kiersten Wise, 765-496-2170, kawise@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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