Ridomil Gold 480 SL fungicide label expansion includes grapes

May 16, 2025

With the restriction on mancozeb in grape to one prebloom application, use of Ridomil Gold-MZ was also restricted and use plummeted so the product was discontinued writes Wendy McFadden-Smith, tender fruit and grape IPM specialist, OMAFA.

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has resurrected this very useful tool for grape with the approval of Ridomil Gold. This systemic fungicide is the gold standard for downy mildew control in grapes. It has post-infection and protectant activity and translocates to newly developing leaves and to fruit. The downside is that it is very prone to rapid resistance development. It is limited to one application per season, either pre- or post-bloom, and should be used before infection rather than as an eradicant to further reduce the risk of resistance. The label states RIDOMIL GOLD 480SL must be applied in a tank mix that includes a non-Group 4 fungicide with efficacy against downy mildew. This is critical to prevent resistance. Copper fungicides would be a great tank mix partner. Syngenta is currently testing some tank mixes for compatibility.

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.