If warm, dry weather persists, winter bean crops could be at risk from rust.
Many crops look full of potential this season and are moving rapidly to first pod set. With relatively low levels of chocolate spot in most winter crops and many spring beans drilled at optimum early timing into warm soils, rust is likely to pose the greatest threat this season, says Syngenta technical manager, Simon Jackson.
Given the early flowering of advanced bean crops this spring, Simon advocates growers maintain a robust rate of Elatus Era at 0.66 l/ha at first pod set to protect green leaf, through to the T2 at the end of flowering – which could be as much as 28 days with current crop growth stages.
“Growers’ experience and repeated trials over recent seasons have highlighted that Elatus Era at first pod set is the optimum timing for initial protection against rust, while preventing the existing chocolate spot from developing if conditions turn showery,” he advises.
“Elatus Era is particularly strong in preventing both rust and chocolate spot during the crucial pod set period in both winter and spring beans,” he advocates.
He suggests following first pod set applications with a later treatment of something like Amistar to extend rust control and support green leaf retention that will help to boost pod fill with larger beans and overall yield.
