Powdery mildew continues to be one of the most prominent diseases affecting wine and table grape production. More issues related to fungicide resistance are emerging while seasons like 2019 produce perfect conditions for powdery mildew. Developments like these have put a bigger spotlight and emphasis on management strategies, like FRAC group rotation and application timing. Join Akif Eskalen, plant pathologist and University of California Cooperative Extension Specialist, as he discusses the challenges powdery mildew poses as well as fungicide delivery methods and tips for more effective disease management.

The soybean gall midge has perplexed the Western Corn Belt the last two seasons. A range of questions remain unanswered regarding the insect, from where it originated to how planting dates affect its development. But researchers have made significant headway in the last year as they work to understand the enigmatic insect. Listen in as Justin McMechan, assistant professor and crop protection and cropping specialist for the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, provides an update on the research he and partner universities are conducting on soybean gall midge, what they’ve discovered so far and potential management strategies they’ve identified to alleviate the threat this insect poses.

Building a disease management strategy takes meticulous planning. A key piece to a plan’s structure is the layered cadence of fungicides and FRAC groups. Striking a perfect balance is essential to maintaining a high level of efficacy and minimizing resistance development. Join Issa Qandah, technical service manager for FMC, as he assesses the key steps and considerations for growers and PCAs to construct an effective and sustainable fungicide program.

Weeds and planting timing are the two challenges facing winter wheat growers heading into the 2020 season. The wet spring weather kept many growers out of the field and behind the eight-ball to manage weed flushes. Delayed planting has pushed the soybean season further into the winter wheat planting window. Listen in as Tom Quade, technical service agronomist for FMC, walks through the different challenges winter wheat growers need to consider as they prepare for the 2020 growing season.

Quality standards for fruits and vegetables are at an all-time high. Consumers expect a practically perfect product, and pests like Lepidopterans and leafminers are creating crop quality and plant health issues for growers. Listen in as Alix Whitener, technical service manager for FMC, examines the threat these pests pose to crop quality now and in the future. She also explores why knowing whether it’s a direct or indirect pest matters, control strategies and gives an update on university Lepidopteran and leafminer research.

Relentless and continuous — that’s how the 2019 weed situation has been best described. With a record wet spring, weeds got a head start on many growers and never looked back. Now, growers need to determine how they can tackle these yield-robbing weeds back to reduce seed banks and ensure a clean start in 2020. Tune in as Aaron Hager, associate professor and extension weed specialist for the University of Illinois, recaps the challenges posed by weeds this season and examines a range of weed control considerations for the remainder of 2019, from prevent plant acres to fall burndown.

Scars on a lettuce leaf, an undersized onion bulb – these are the tell-tale signs of thrips damage. Now, these visual effects might not reduce yield or make the produce inedible, but they do influence the marketability of a crop and a grower’s profitability. Join Philip Northover, technical service manager for FMC, as he explores the effect thrips have on fruit and vegetable marketability, as well as IPM considerations, virus transmission due to thrips, weather factors and current research he and his team are conducting on thrips in strawberry and onion trials.

Fungicide resistance is a pressing issue effecting more and more peanut growers. With many of the available strobilurin and triazole chemistries the most impacted, what can growers do to their fungicide programs to address resistance development? Listen in as Craig Heim, technical service manager for FMC, discuss the blueprints for creating a season-long disease management plan that reduces the potential for resistance development while providing the needed disease control.

The Corn Belt has been abuzz about tar spot since it entered the spotlight in 2018. Looking ahead to summer 2019, experts project the disease’s geographic footprint to expand beyond Illinois and Wisconsin. Join Damon Smith, associate professor of plant pathology and Extension specialist for the University of Wisconsin, as he provides a review of what we learned about tar spot in 2018 and how we can predict its future pressure, identify the pathogen in the field and stem potential yield losses.

The stakes are higher than ever to control lepidoptera and leafhoppers in the vineyard. With the value of vineyards and demand for high quality fruit increasing, it’s crucial to maintain the upper hand on these profit-sucking pests. Join Issa Qandah, technical service manager for FMC, as he discusses year-round strategies to control lepidoptera and leafhoppers in the vineyard, integrated pest management practices, economic considerations and application timing.