The Syngenta Grow MoreTM Experience site is located southeast of Portage la Prairie at Elm River Research Farm, and are bringing advances to seeds as well as the fight against disease and pests. The facility screens soybeans, cereal and canola genetics. Agronomic service rep for Manitoba Doug Fotheringham explains how they're investing in the future fungicide market.
He talks about their cereal breeding program
"We have a fairly significant breeding program, even based out of here in Manitoba. A lot of our wheat varieties are bred here in the valley and produced for western Canada. Our efforts are in all the different classes. So, the Hard Reds and the CPS's and the new Canadian Northern Hard Red class as well."
Fotheringham outlines some new products coming out next year including Talinor, a broadleaf herbicide for cereals.
"2017 will also see the launch of a product with two active ingredients in it. It has such an ease of use that it has a wide application window. It's safe on the crop with a safener agent built into it. This allows for the safe application. He notes it's very tank mixable with their product lineup and others on the market. Another key thing is big hard to kill weeds require no addition in that tank. It does the job all by itself. Spring wheat, winter wheat, barley and durum. Talinor is a pre-mix formulation of bicyclopyrone (Group 27), bromoxynil (Group 6) and a safener agent for control of group 2 and group 4 resistant broadleaf weeds. Talinor will have a wide application window for crop and weed staging and will be registered for use on spring wheat, winter wheat, barley and durum."
"In the last two years Syngenta has more than doubled their investment in soybean research and development for western Canada. We've gone from just a handful of testing locations in Manitoba to multiple testing sites in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Now we're looking at hundreds and even thousands of new varieties that can potentially have a commercial launch and be fit for growers in western Canada."
Product Marketing Manager Wayne Bennett says they're bringing in three new varieties next year into the market that will be critical for Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Delheimer explains important points to consider when breeding for western Canadian farmers. He says breeding out here requires the researchers to focus on yielding, then fitting maturity and other disease traits typical for the province, such as resistance for phytophthora root rot. Delheimer notes Syngenta's DNA molecular technology handles that quite easily. He says soybean white mould is also a focus. White mould disease screening exists at the Portage farm. Another disease they're dealing with is abiotic stress, or iron deficiency chlorosis. A lot of the screening for that is done in the USA, but every variety they have is tested for several years for tolerance to iron uptake.
Graham adds, issues that are particular to Manitoba growers has been a shift in the flea beetle population. A large black flea beetle population has been around, but now striped flea beetle is taking over. He notes they're more aggressive and feed earlier, causing much damage. Syngenta makes a new seed treatment for canola called Visivio, which was recently registered and will be seen in the field in 2017. Visivio provides a high level of protection against striped and crucifer flea beetles, ensuring more peace of mind for a successful season.
Thu, Apr 18, 5:00 PM
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