Data suggests fungicide o ers yield advantage for second year running

Univoq, the new cereal fungicide from Corteva Agriscience, has demonstrated its consistency in delivering a signi cant yield advantage over its popular counterpart for the second year in a row, the manufacturer claims.

Results from in-house trials from the crop protection company in 2022 reinforce the ndings from work done by AHDB over the same period.

Both projects produced data from sites across the UK, focusing on overall yield and septoria control.

Corteva carried out plot trials at 42 sites and found that in 36 cases, Univoq outperformed Revystar XE in terms of yield. It compared Univoq applied at 1.25-litres/ha to Revystar XE at 1-litres/ ha – rates which are comparable in terms of the cost to a grower.

The uplift in yield from using Univoq is calculated to be worth £60/ha to growers, assuming a wheat price of £250/t, Corteva claims.

AHDB’s independent annual work comparing fungicide performance across all main UK arable crops showed a similar advantage for Univoq at a range of application rates.

Corteva’s cereal fungicide category manager, Mike Ashworth, said the ndings mirror the results seen from similar trials in 2021, as well as the indicative work carried out during development of the novel active.

“What we’re seeing is consistency across two very di erent years in terms of weather conditions and disease pressure. In 2021 we had a high disease pressure year, and we know that Univoq’s major strength is septoria control, so it gave the fungicide the chance to really show what it is capable of.

“We saw a strong yield response then, and that has continued in 2022 which was an extremely hot, dry growing season for the vast majority.”

During 2022, some complaints were received from sprayer operators who used Inatreq in the UK and Ireland, relating to the failure of some parts – principally anti-drip mechanisms.

Corteva immediately investigated why a minority of sprayers were being impacted, committing a huge amount of resource and engaging expertise from inside and outside the organisation.

Mr Ashworth said: “Good sprayer hygiene and maintenance is one of the best ways to prolong the life of a sprayer, but I would urge all operators planning to use products containing Inatreq active this year to familiarise themselves with our advice.

“There is a clear bene t to using Inatreq, both in terms of disease control and yield response, and the best practice guidance we have set out will help growers get the most out of what is an extremely robust, e ective product.” FG

Best practice guidance for 2023:

• Ideally, Inatreq should be sprayed in a minimum water volume of 200-litres/ha. If lower volumes are used, the spray concentration should not exceed 0.7%

• Inatreq spray solutions should not be left in the spray tank overnight – follow the recommendations on the label – and operators should rinse the sprayer tank, pump and lines through at the end of each day’s spraying

• Inatreq should not be used in sprayers equipped with pulse width modulation technology

• Corteva recommends replacing pump diaphragms annually, ideally with NBR or Blue ex parts, and to keep to the pump manufacturer’s service recommendations

• For anti-drip diaphragms, EPDM parts are recommended, or operators can modify air shut-o antidrip valves to use Te on replacements. If neither of these options are possible, Corteva recommends replacing all existing pneumatic/automated anti-drip diaphragms/pistons with new before spraying products containing Inatreq. It is also important to check these after use

• If your sprayer has a Ramsey box, you should replace the diaphragm seal during winter maintenance.