This is the Future of Spore Sampling and Disease Forecasting

Jul 28, 2023

20/20 Seed Labs has been doing fantastic work in the molecular analysis of spore samples, providing farmers with timely information regarding potential diseases that could be present in the air sweeping across their fields.

Through spore sampling, disease pathogens like Sclerotinia and Fusarium can be detected early in the air. This process involves a stationary passive device that traps these spores as they are carried by air currents. Our molecular team analyzes the results within 24 hours of receiving the cartridge from the trap.

The decision of when to spray is extremely time sensitive, and spore traps can provide farmers with the crucial information they need to make well-informed agronomic decisions for their crops. Our aim is to deliver the results of our tests as quickly as possible, and we are constantly exploring methods to improve the sample shipment processes.

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.