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Agronomist talks prevented planting carryover, COVID-19 changes

An agronomist says heat stress can exacerbate issues left in fields after last year’s record prevented planting.

“There’s higher weed pressure in a lot of places, a lot of insect pressure that’s escalated from last year because of those prevented plant acres.”

Syngenta’s Rachel Broadbent says disease models are forecasting grey leaf spot and tar spot will be more prevalent this year and is recommending growers make management decisions that consider total crop health.

“It’s not just about managing weed problems or managing disease problems; we also look at optimizing the performance of that crop plant.”

Broadbent also manages Syngenta’s Grow More Sites in Michigan.  She tells Brownfield COVID-19 has shifted how they’re reaching growers.

“The last person that we want to have laid out at any given time during the planting and cropping season is a grower.  One thing that this pandemic has brought into very sharp focus for a lot of the country is the need for a continuous and secure food supply.”

She says field events have been limited to 10 people in groups and are creating more meaningful relationships with the smaller numbers.