With the relatively mild conditions seen across the country this year, it’s shaping up to be an early season for many cereal growers as crops are a week to 10 days ahead of normal.

Compared to previous years, disease levels are not currently exceptionally high. However, there is plenty of septoria inoculum in wheat crops.

And, unusually, people are reporting ramularia infection in barley and yellow rust in some wheat varieties.

A robust fungicide programme

Ensuring a robust fungicide programme is in place, that offers persistent disease control against the key diseases, will be vital to stay one step ahead, explained Billy Cotter of Syngenta.

This is particularly important, he said, as spray programmes are running ahead of the usual calendar dates.

This year has seen the registration of Syngenta’s powerful, new SDHI fungicide, Elatus Era, based on the novel active ingredient solantenol in co-formulation with prothioconazole.

“For growers in Ireland, Elatus Era is a welcome addition to the crop protection armoury.

This fungicide has proven itself in a series of Irish and European trials as a persistent fungicide that performs exceptionally well in both curative and protective situations, delivering consistent yield returns.

“On winter wheat, Elatus Era fits in at either the T1 or T2 timing.

“Many growers are favouring the T1 timing at present to take advantage of the product’s persistent activity, in case there is a longer-than-usual break between T1 and T2.

“But, trials have proven that it works equally as well at T2,” he said.

Cotter added that its ability to control septoria, yellow rust and eyespot is a real bonus for growers.

“In winter barley, we’d recommend it’s used at either GS32 or GS39 to GS49, alternating with a non-triazole SDHI fungicide, such as Bontima, within programmes to continue to protect the efficacy of triazoles.

“We’ve seen Elatus Era in trials and know it can perform. Now it’s time to see the results in the field this season,” he said.

To find out more about Elatus Era, please contact your local area manager or visit the syngenta website. Visit the Syngenta website here