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Proper fungicide use helps farmers stay profitable

A crop protection specialist for DuPont says a timely fungicide application can go a long way towards helping growers stay profitable in 2016.

Bond McInnes tells Brownfield farmers in Missouri that chose not to treat for diseases last year saved money, but sacrificed yield.

“(A) 20 to 30 bushel yield reduction because of southern rust, northern corn leaf blight; it’s going to be there next year.  So when I look at low prices, that means maximizing yield to remain profitable.  Because that’s what it’s all about.”

He says farmers should plan on continued disease pressures.

“We’re going to have moisture (and) heat.  We’re going to have the organism because it’s residing in the residue.  We’ve got to be prepared, and we need to not wait too late to make that decision.”

He says proper fungicide use can lead to an additional 20 to 30 bushels per acre, potentially the difference between staying in the black or falling into the red this growing season.

Brownfield spoke to McInnes at Commodity Classic in New Orleans last week.