In the news
NEWS BITES THAT MATTER
Enhanced WeatherCentral.ca launched
Farmers now have access to a new online tool kit available at WeatherCentral.ca. Weather Innovations has teamed with Pride Seeds and Bayer CropScience to deliver weather-based online agronomic advisories for Ontario’s major field crops.
The website provides location specific tracking of crop heat units and growing degree days throughout the season. Growers can log-on to the system by creating a free profile, then identify and save field locations to view weather forecasts, agronomic models for wheat and corn, and interactive reports.
The site will also provide a three day advisory of the best times to apply crop protection products based on the weather. •
Syngenta launches Endigo
Syngenta Canada Inc. announced the registration of Endigo, a pre-mix insecticide containing two modes of action for long lasting control of soybean aphids and bean leaf beetles in soybeans and dried shelled beans.
Both soybean aphids and bean leaf beetles can be devastating to growers. Soybean aphids pierce the plant and suck the juices and nutrients from it. This could cause the plant to abort flowers, become stunted, or potentially reduce the number of pods and seeds that are produced. Soybean aphids may even impact yield before plant symptoms become readily apparent.
Endigo delivers the performance of two insecticides: lambda-cyhalothrin (Group 3) and thiamethoxam (Group 4). It is formulated using Zeon technology, which is a proprietary formulation breakthrough from Syngenta. With Zeon, the micro–encapsulation technology delivers a slow release of the active ingredient to enhance residual insect control.
Endigo is the latest addition to the broad portfolio of soybean products Syngenta has brought to market, including seeds, seed care and crop protection technologies.•
New seed-applied nutrient approved
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has approved a new, liquid formulation, nutrient seed treatment for use on wheat, oats, barley and corn. Awaken ST is a patented, seed-applied nutrient, with a micronutrient package including 5% zinc plus boron, copper, iron, manganese and molybdenum. It’s manufactured by Loveland Products and available from UAP Canada Inc.
Unlike other registered seed-applied nutrients, Awaken ST comes in a liquid formulation that can be applied using traditional seed treating equipment. It can be applied on its own, blended or applied sequentially with traditional chemical-based fungicide or insecticide seed treatments.
Research on Awaken ST from North Dakota State University has demonstrated a significant increase in plant emergence and an 8 percent-plus yield increase when compared to untreated seed. •
Monsanto Company to purchase Precision Planting
Monsanto Company has reached an agreement to purchase planting technology developer Precision Planting Inc. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close this summer.
The Precision Planting team will become part of Monsanto’s Integrated Farming Systems unit, which utilizes advanced agronomic practices, seed genetics and innovative on-farm technology to deliver optimal yield to farmers while using fewer resources. Their operations will remain in Tremont, Illinois.
Precision Planting was founded in 1993. It develops software, hardware and after-market production equipment to help farmers plant, harvest and analyze data from each field to improve yield and productivity. •
