DuPont offers new crop protection products

DuPont has a few new crop protection products to offer for the 2012 growing season.

The company anticipates a spring registration for a new fungicide called Aproach, which they have been testing for 3 years across the Midwest. In 2011, they continued with university research and expanded to on farm trials, according to Todd Robran, project manager for the launch of Aproach fungicide for corn and soybeans.

"What’s really exciting about Aproach is that they were able to see a difference as we went through that growing season in how the product performed both in the way that it controlled diseases, and also in the way that it affected the plants physiologically,” said Robran. “We saw some improved greening effects and better plant health.”

Robran said the product is unique because it offers not only preventative but also curative activities, allowing growers to make up for some of those inevitable delays they run across in application timing due to weather or applicator backlogs.

Although 2011 weather conditions were such farmers didn’t see a lot of disease in their fields, research showed some significant yield increases with Aproach.

Robran said after being applied to the top of the canopy in a field, Aproach will move further down into the canopy and offer deeper protection. Because of that, the fungicide will control a disease like soybean white mold, which has been a challenge for growers.

The company also has labeled Prevathon for use in corn in 2012, according to Lars Swanson, insect control portfolio manager with DuPont.

"It’s a game changing insecticide, as far as its environmental profile, its ease of use. So, when you look at usability for the grower, for applicators, along with performing in the field in the way that they’re looking for,” said Swanson.

2011 trials showed excellent yield improvement, particularly in varieties that are non-traited.