Pipeline previews for brassica and carrot growers
07.11.2024
October is busy month in the vegetable sector with industry events drawing growers and agronomists away from their fields to those hosting variety and crop protection product demonstrations.
Business Development Manager, Paul Goddard, joined by the BASF vegetable champions, Aliona Jones, Andrew Smooker, Colin Mountford-Smith, Matt Keane and Richard Guest and colleagues from BASF | Nunhems most recently exhibited at the Brassica Demo Day.
The trial plots featured BASF’s new herbicide currently known as BAS 656. One half of the plot had also received the forthcoming biostimulant, BUK 99414.
“BAS 656 was positioned in programmes demonstrating efficacy and crop safety. Results showed it’ll be an important tool for weed control in brassicas and other veg crops as well as potatoes and sugar beet.
“It was the third year for the biostimulant, and this year it was apparent that, while the untreated cauliflower plants looked bigger because some were leafier, the treated side was more even. For growers, this was an important point; there’s significant value in being able to harvest a higher fraction in one go.”
Axalion was also shown alongside the fungicides, Revysol and Perseus.
“In both carrots and brassicas we’re seeing the use of Perseus increase year on year. It shows that growers’ confidence in the product is growing.
“For me, it’s always been a strong foundation product for fungicide programmes and its short harvest interval – 14 days with brassicas and just 7 with carrots - gives growers’ much-needed flexibility. With the current unpredictability of the weather, as well as fluctuating demand, this is especially important.”
Revysol featured in a number of cabbage trials, in a number of different programmes and at various timings.
“It’s interesting chemistry,” says Paul. “Historically triazoles have been a very important chemical group and have helped control more diseases, on more crops than any other, but this chemical group has had some challenges.
“Fortunately, Revysol is different. It is the only fungicide that has been through the environmental and human health safety regulation 1107/2009 and while triazole sensitivity can shift, we do not see target site resistance as we have with strobilurins and SDHIs.
“Ultimately, Revysol is another important tool to control disease and, importantly, to protect other actives.”
Featuring alongside Paul and the crop protection team, were their colleagues from BASF | Nunhems.
“Having recently won the John Birkenshaw Best in Show blind taste-testing competition at the BCGA Carrot Day with the mid-season carrot variety, Romance, the team were in good spirits,” he says. “BASF | Nunhems has some very exciting new varieties coming through, particularly in carrots. The currently coded variety 119, has all the great characteristics of Nairobi – fast growing, high yields - whilst also suitable for soil storage, and does not split. It is one to keep an eye on.”
For Paul, events like the Brassica Demo Day and the BGCA’s carrot open day are a great opportunity to immerse himself in the technicalities of production.
“It was great to have growers and agronomists visiting the stand wanting to know about our offerings and curious about the herbicide, biostimulant, fungicides and new varieties that we were showcasing.
“Our portfolio in the veg sector is growing, and we’ve a strong pipeline of products for the future,” he surmises.
