Manage the disease, don’t let the disease manage you: This is the stance cotton growers have taken for more than a century when dealing with cotton root rot. A unique disease and an ever-present threat, cotton root rot can be unpredictable and difficult to manage. To prepare for and properly control cotton root rot, it requires an in-depth knowledge of a field’s disease history, a mix of cultural and conventional management practices and the use of fungicides that deliver full-season disease...

In the spring when the timetable seems to grow more and more condensed, it’s easy to choose the perceived “easy button” option. In situations like this when weed control is on the table, some growers will opt for a postemergence plus residual combo herbicide as their easy button option. However, relying on this type of herbicide program can put a strain on an operation and its bottom line that season and for years to come. Join Nick Hustedde, technical services manager at FMC, as he examines...

2019 was a growing year like no other. A compressed spring and fall created a host of challenges that had growers resorting to their plan B and, in some cases, plan C. Though the calendar has changed, the aftermath of these challenges could be just as relevant in 2020. Listen in as David Wheeler, associate director of technical services at FMC, breaks down what the 2019 season taught us about our crop protection programs and how to harness those lessons to get growers back on the offensive in...

The calendar has been flipped and growers are moving full steam ahead into the 2020 growing year. But before plans can be implemented, 2019 provided a few lessons for refining management strategies and gave a glimpse into how the changing agricultural landscape is affecting pests like navel orangeworms and diamondback moths. Join Michael Parsons, regional business manager for FMC, as he provides insights on the evolving pest challenges and trends West Coast growers face in 2020 and tips for...

Heading into the 2020 leafy vegetable growing season, signs are already indicating it will be a challenging one. With pest pressure starting to pick up and volatile weather conditions, early protection will be a difference maker to ensure a successful crop. Listen in as Brent Johnson, technical service manager for FMC, discusses the emerging pest and weather challenges facing Florida vegetable growers, insecticide rotation practices and overlooked insect control factors.

From drones with sprayers to GPS, precision in crop production can take many different forms. As new technologies emerge, these advances are continuously changing the industry’s concept of what “precision” is. Tune in as Lamar Buckelew, product development manager for Precision Platforms at FMC, discusses where the marriage of precision and crop protection is headed and what FMC is doing to advance agriculture.

Powdery mildew continues to be one of the most prominent diseases affecting wine and table grape production. More issues related to fungicide resistance are emerging while seasons like 2019 produce perfect conditions for powdery mildew. Developments like these have put a bigger spotlight and emphasis on management strategies, like FRAC group rotation and application timing. Join Akif Eskalen, plant pathologist and University of California Cooperative Extension Specialist, as he discusses the...

The soybean gall midge has perplexed the Western Corn Belt the last two seasons. A range of questions remain unanswered regarding the insect, from where it originated to how planting dates affect its development. But researchers have made significant headway in the last year as they work to understand the enigmatic insect. Listen in as Justin McMechan, assistant professor and crop protection and cropping specialist for the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, provides an update on the research...

Building a disease management strategy takes meticulous planning. A key piece to a plan’s structure is the layered cadence of fungicides and FRAC groups. Striking a perfect balance is essential to maintaining a high level of efficacy and minimizing resistance development. Join Issa Qandah, technical service manager for FMC, as he assesses the key steps and considerations for growers and PCAs to construct an effective and sustainable fungicide program.

Weeds and planting timing are the two challenges facing winter wheat growers heading into the 2020 season. The wet spring weather kept many growers out of the field and behind the eight-ball to manage weed flushes. Delayed planting has pushed the soybean season further into the winter wheat planting window. Listen in as Tom Quade, technical service agronomist for FMC, walks through the different challenges winter wheat growers need to consider as they prepare for the 2020 growing season.

Quality standards for fruits and vegetables are at an all-time high. Consumers expect a practically perfect product, and pests like Lepidopterans and leafminers are creating crop quality and plant health issues for growers. Listen in as Alix Whitener, technical service manager for FMC, examines the threat these pests pose to crop quality now and in the future. She also explores why knowing whether it’s a direct or indirect pest matters, control strategies and gives an update on university...

Relentless and continuous — that’s how the 2019 weed situation has been best described. With a record wet spring, weeds got a head start on many growers and never looked back. Now, growers need to determine how they can tackle these yield-robbing weeds back to reduce seed banks and ensure a clean start in 2020. Tune in as Aaron Hager, associate professor and extension weed specialist for the University of Illinois, recaps the challenges posed by weeds this season and examines a range of weed...

Scars on a lettuce leaf, an undersized onion bulb – these are the tell-tale signs of thrips damage. Now, these visual effects might not reduce yield or make the produce inedible, but they do influence the marketability of a crop and a grower’s profitability. Join Philip Northover, technical service manager for FMC, as he explores the effect thrips have on fruit and vegetable marketability, as well as IPM considerations, virus transmission due to thrips, weather factors and current research he...

Fungicide resistance is a pressing issue effecting more and more peanut growers. With many of the available strobilurin and triazole chemistries the most impacted, what can growers do to their fungicide programs to address resistance development? Listen in as Craig Heim, technical service manager for FMC, discuss the blueprints for creating a season-long disease management plan that reduces the potential for resistance development while providing the needed disease control.

The Corn Belt has been abuzz about tar spot since it entered the spotlight in 2018. Looking ahead to summer 2019, experts project the disease’s geographic footprint to expand beyond Illinois and Wisconsin. Join Damon Smith, associate professor of plant pathology and Extension specialist for the University of Wisconsin, as he provides a review of what we learned about tar spot in 2018 and how we can predict its future pressure, identify the pathogen in the field and stem potential yield losses.

The stakes are higher than ever to control lepidoptera and leafhoppers in the vineyard. With the value of vineyards and demand for high quality fruit increasing, it’s crucial to maintain the upper hand on these profit-sucking pests. Join Issa Qandah, technical service manager for FMC, as he discusses year-round strategies to control lepidoptera and leafhoppers in the vineyard, integrated pest management practices, economic considerations and application timing.

The “billion dollar pest” – corn rootworm – is a growing and ever adaptive challenge for corn growers. As populations ebb and flow from year to year, growers should scout weekly in-season for pressure points and execute management practices that reduce larvae and beetle populations. Listen in as Gail Stratman, regional technical manager for FMC, breaks down corn rootworm scouting tips and considerations, control options and long-term strategies for curbing the pest’s threat potential.

Proactive versus reactive: that’s the approach we all want to take when it comes to controlling diseases, insects and weeds in our fields and orchards. Shouldn’t we take a similar proactive approach to our insecticide chemistry classes, like diamide insecticides, when using them? Listen in as Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdivia, entomologist and area integrated pest management (IPM) advisor for the University of California Cooperative Extension in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties,...

There’s no silver bullet when it comes to tackling herbicide resistance. The solution is a multi-faceted, proactive approach that requires examining not just what’s in the jug, but also a grower’s cultural practices. Join Drake Copeland, technical service manager for FMC, as he discusses herbicide resistance management, key cultural practices and strategies to help protect vital herbicide technologies.

The reversing of drought conditions in California have been a two-sided coin for many almond growers. The influx of water has saturated or flooded almond orchards in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys to the point some growers were unable to sanitize their orchards for navel orangeworm (NOW) mummies. Without this first measure of control in place, what can almond growers do going forward to ensure yields and nut quality? Join Joel Siegel, research entomologist for the USDA’s Agricultural...

Start clean, stay clean: It’s a saying every grower has heard countless times in regard to weed control. But, what does it REALLY take to start and stay clean of yield-limiting weeds all season long? Listen in as Gail Stratman, regional technical manager for FMC, breaks down this question and the elements of an effective and efficient weed management program that results in less weed competition and reduces selection pressure.

Tree nut orchards face an uphill battle against weeds in 2019. The much-needed wet winter is delaying orchard growers’ ability to get into their fields to make preemergent applications, increasing the potential for weed growth and winter annuals going to seed. Listen in as Philip Northover, technical service manager for FMC, breaks down steps to get back ahead of weeds that got a head start, shares insights on herbicide resistance prevention and discusses long-term weed management strategies.

With the 2019 season underway, there are a number of in-field challenges facing row crop growers. From Bt trait escapes to soybean seed quality to expanding herbicide resistance, the list only continues to grow. Join David Wheeler, associate director of technical services for FMC, as he breaks down these yield-limiting issues and the steps and in-field solutions necessary to protect growers’ crops this season.

Adoption of integrated pest management practices continues to grow, but do you have the necessary building blocks in place to implement a successful program? Listen in as Alix Whitener, technical service manager for FMC, breaks down the key components of an effective IPM program and provides a look at new tactics university researchers are developing to strengthen this approach – and growers’ bottom lines.

Disease season will be here before we know it. Does your fungicide program have all the necessary pieces? To start prepping, join Brandon Schrage, technical service manager for FMC, as he provides a look at the newest tool for managing foliar diseases and fungicide resistance in soybeans – Lucento™ fungicide. Listen in as Brandon breaks down this new fungicide and the key attributes to weigh when choosing a fungicide this season, like fungicide movement, multiple modes of action, residual...