By Darren Hefty

It seems like I’m constantly writing about something new going on in wheat.  That’s exciting!  As you’re setting up your plans for 2014, be sure to visit with your agronomist about these new products as any number of them may have a good fit on your farm.  Also, Brian and I will be discussing these and more new products in our winter workshops in January and February, so plan to attend one to get all the details.  Not all these products are labeled in wheat yet, but we are expecting them soon.

HERBICIDES

ZIDUA – This is a pre-emerge herbicide that has been used in corn and soybeans successfully.  It requires no incorporation.  Zidua is a Group 15 herbicide that offers a nice alternative to the Group 1s and 2s that have become the standard for grass control in wheat.  Zidua works well on many of the small-seeded broadleaf weeds but is exciting for use in wheat due to its activity on Italian ryegrass.

VARRO – This is a pre- or early post-emerge herbicide that has been used in corn for a number of years.  The active ingredient in Varro is also part of the recently released Huskie Complete.  Varro has soil residual control primarily for grasses.

INSECTICIDES

TRANSFORM – Here’s a new insecticide with very good activity on aphids.  The cool thing about Transform is that it doesn’t kill lady beetles or many other beneficial insects.  I’m being very general here in my description, but Transform is truly different from the other insecticides in that it is very specific on which insects it kills and which ones it doesn’t.  If ALL you have is aphids, this may be the product of choice for your farm.  If you have a wide range of insect species to control, you’re better off with Lorsban or a pyrethroid.

FASTAC – This is a pyrethroid family insecticide with quick activity, repellant and residual action on the plant leaves, and control of a broad spectrum of insects.  Fastac will not control spider mites.

SEED TREATMENTS

VIBRANCE EXTREME – Syngenta’s replacement for the popular and successful Dividend Extreme seed treatment, Vibrance Extreme combines a new active ingredient, Vibrance (sedaxane), with Dividend and Apron fungicides to deliver extended protection against a broad spectrum of early-season seedborne and soilborne diseases. Vibrance belongs to the new SDHI (succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors) class of fungicides.   Vibrance Extreme should be especially effective on rhizoctonia compared to seed treatments you’ve been using for the past 5 years or more.

EVERGOL ENERGY – Bayer’s new seed treatment product combines the new active ingredient, Penflufen, with Proline and Allegiance.  The Penflufen portion is also from the SDHI class of fungicides.  Evergol Energy protects against a wide range of diseases, and like Vibrance Extreme, is a big step forward in rhizoctonia protection.

FUNGICIDES

CUSTODIA – This is a fungicide premix containing the active ingredients from Folicur and Quadris.  That may be all you need to know to begin considering this new premix from MANA.  It will do an excellent job on rusts and other foliar wheat diseases.  This will be a competitive choice for use at herbicide timing through flag leaf, but keep in mind the active ingredient in Folicur can only be used at the full rate once per season.  In other words, if you spray Custodia early, you most likely cannot use Folicur or Prosaro at heading.  You would have to use Caramba at heading instead.