Sager: Scout Potato Fields Early, Often

With many potato growers getting out in the field, or in some cases wrapping up planting, it’s important that pest control is on the mind. Even this early in the season, Kirk Sager with FMC, said its important growers are thinking about the damage Colorado potato beetles or cabbage loopers can do if not addressed early. Sager said in the past, growers have looked for holes in the leaves as a sign loopers were in the field.

“As they start to move into the fields earlier, we need to catch that first infestation, which means we got to go out and shake plants and look in the dam or dyke or pits and make sure we aren’t seeing a low pressure threshold and let them cycle through.”

He added in the past growers have only sprayed for beetles once they saw a beetle. However, he said growers need to be more proactive disease pressure from these as these pests have increased over recent years.

So, what can growers do to better manage these infestations, or better yet, stop them well before they start? Sager said it starts with scouting.

“You know, you’re in-furrow insecticide may not be as effective or effective at all on some of these pests which means in the past where you scout at 60 past planting maybe you need to start scouting at 30-40 days after planting.  You know, another thing is let’s rotate chemistries FMC has got a new diamide formulation called Vantacor which is a great product for both loopers and beetles and it provides us a longer window of control.”

Sager noted when that’s coupled with proper scouting, the long residual takes the pressure off of in-season applications. Click Here to learn more about the products offered from FMC.

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