In today's episode: how can technology help with timing on the farm? We're talking specifically about fungicide applications and a tool that uses the power of artificial intelligence to signal when the optimal time is for a fungicide application within the spectrum of timing per label directions.

Today you’ll hear from Corteva Agriscience research scientist Layton Peddicord about this fungicide timing tool, how it works and why it works. You’ll also hear from Illinois farmer Makenna Green about her experiences with the tool on her family’s farm. Makenna is the sixth generation in her family to farm in East Central Illinois where they primarily grow corn and soybeans. After graduating from college she came back to her family’s operation, Heritage Family Farms, a couple of years ago. 

“ That disease triangle that we talk about with the host, environment and pathogen, I can't put all of those things together as well as something like this model can do. And so we really feel like it gives a peace of mind because it's able to factor in things that we can't factor in to decide on timing.” - Makenna Green

Like a lot of things in farming, fungicide timing is part science, part experience, part intuition and maybe even a little bit of luck. Researchers at Corteva Agriscience saw this as an opportunity to utilize the latest in data and technology to provide more data-driven recommendations to farmers. Layton Peddicord says the idea behind the fungicide timing tool is to improve the return on investment for farmer customers.

“ We've had research ROI trials for fungicide kind of side-by-sides, comparing our Corteva timing versus the grower standard timing back since 2020…We've been averaging around five bushel advantage compared to the grower timing and typically our average is compared to the untreated checked are around nine to ten bushel. So it's been very promising so far.” - Layton Peddicord

Some takeaways from this episode include: 

1. Timing is everything. As we've discussed on the show before, a great product isn't enough on its own to produce a profitable crop. The management piece is so critical. 
2. With all of the constantly changing variables in any given year, these types of models seem uniquely suited to help. As McKenna stated, keeping all of the information in your head to make a decision about timing is simply not feasible.
3. It's not the “normal” years you often need to worry about. It's those years when the conditions are just right for some of these pathogens, and none of us know what the future might hold. 

Agriscience Explained is brought to you by Corteva Agriscience and hosted by Tim Hammerich. This show is produced by Clint Pilcher, Rayda Krell and Ann Leonard. Jaime Hammerich and Grant Bolton edit these podcasts, and the music was composed by Dmitri Volkov. Subscribe for more Agriscience Explained: From Science to Solutions.