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New Bayer fungicide helped increase wheat yields by 6.5 bushels per acre

New Bayer fungicide helped increase wheat yields by 6.5 bushels per acre

Bayer’s Prosaro XTR will be available to producers in 2018

By Diego Flammini
News Reporter
Farms.com

Canadian cereal producers will have a new disease management tool in 2018 thanks to the launch of Bayer’s Prosaro XTR fungicide.

The product can be used on many cereal crops, including barley, oats, rye and wheat. The fungicide can help control fusarium head blight, septoria blotch and leaf mottle.

The product is similar to the Prosaro fungicide but with one added bonus, says James Humphris, crop manager, cereals, with Bayer.

“Prosaro XTR includes the addition of mefenpyr-diethyl to the fungicide’s formulation,” he told Farms.com today. “Mefenpyr helps the plant fights off stressors throughout the year, much like we take things to fight off the common cold.”


Nothing has changed from a fungicide application timing perspective but the addition of mefenpyr can help farmers achieve greater yields, he said.

And Bayer’s trials demonstrate this yield boost.

Wheat trials conducted against unchecked wheat from 2013 to 2015 show Prosaro XTR helped farmers achieve about a 6.5 bushel per acre (bu/ac) increase in yield.

Prosaro XTR also helped reduce fusarium in barley by 56 per cent and increased yield by 3.2 bu/ac during the same trial period.

Farmers looking for increased cereal yields should consider Prosaro XTR as part of their disease management plan, Humphris says.

“We knew inherently that mefenpyr had some characteristics surrounding plant health,” he said. “The disease protection between the two products is the same. But the expectation growers should have with Prosaro XTR is more yield.

“We know there’s no extra land for our growers so they do have to try to make more (crops) from the same land.”


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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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