Posted: May 20, 2010

Mapping the different species and distribution of wireworms is the aim of a new survey effort that is asking for help from cereal growers in the Prairie provinces and Ontario.

Syngenta Canada and research scientists Bob Vernon and Wim van Herk of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at Agassiz, B.C, are collaborating on the project, according to a release from the company.

Syngenta is supplying bait ball kits needed for the survey and has distributed 2,000 of these to growers in each of the target provinces. The effort is part of a promotion for the company's seed treatment Cruiser Maxx, which includes versions for cereals and pulses and is aimed at helping farmers manage wireworm damage in the field.

The bait ball kits include components needed to make bait balls made out of oatmeal and honey that are buried in the ground and release CO2 gasses to attract and trap wireworms. Growers are asked to send a sample of the live wireworms trapped to the AAFC researchers, who will then analyze the samples and identify hotspots for different wireworm species.

More information is available on the Syngenta Canada website.

Posted: May 20, 2010

Farmers of North America (FNA) announced it has launched a new generic group 1 herbicide for grassy weed control in spring wheat and durum.

Aurora herbicide, launched under FNA's "MPower" product line contains the active ingredient clodinafop-propargyl, which is also found in Syngenta's Horizon herbicide. FNA represents members' interests in the West, Ontario and Quebec.

"Members have demanded that FNA create a competitive alternative to current wild oat products," says FNA's supplier of crop protection products manager Darren Palendat. "We have invested significantly over many years to bring this generic herbicide to market."

More information is available on the FNA website.