b'ON THE EDGEMiravis Star Fungicide Available for Canola SclerotiniaBayer Launches Varro FX Herbicide in Western Control Canada for 2024Syngenta has released a new fungicide, Miravis Star, for SclerotiniaBayer Crop Sciences Varro FX cross-spectrum herbicide has protection and application flexibility in canola, a news release said. received registration for use in Western Canada on spring and The two ingredients in Mavis Star are Adepidyn, a Group 7winter wheat, a news release said.fungicide with powerful, long-lasting, systemic protection, andVarro FX is the first Group 2 emulsifiable concentrate available Fludioxonil, a Group 12 fungicide thats one of the top-performingin Western Canada. The release noted it provides advanced control active ingredients against Sclerotinia, and offers effective, contact- of grass weeds, including Group 1-resistant wild oats and broadleaf based activity.The release noted by combining these ingredients itweeds like cleavers, kochia, wild buckwheat and more.helps growers reduce their resistance risk. With the EC formulation of Varro FX, farmers will experience We knowabove all elseyield performance is the key driverimproved handling, mixing and an easier tank and boom cleanout when deciding whether or not to apply a Sclerotinia fungicide,while boosting agronomic performance, Ashley Smith, marketing Jon Cressman, product lead for fungicides and insecticides withmanager for crop protection west at Bayer, said in the release. Syngenta Canada, said in the release. Miravis Star is designed forFlexible re-cropping, including in the brown soil zone, gives canola growers who arent satisfied with the status quo, want tofarmers the freedom to effectively tackle tough to control weeds embrace new solutions, and push their crops performance. with ease.It provides significant yield increases compared to untreated acres.It has the power of Group 2 thiencarbazone-methyl with the In a series of small plot trials, Miravis Star demonstrated a 23.7 peraddition of Group 4 fluroxypyr to offer cross-spectrum control of cent yield advantage over untreated at the standard rate of 0.4 litrestough grass weeds. The release said it can be tank mixed with a wide per acre, the release said. Against competitor Sclerotinia fungicides,range of cereal broadleaf herbicides such as Buctril M, Thumper, it provided an average 1.4 bushels per acre advantage. Infinity, MCPA Ester and 2,4-D Ester herbicides for complete Miravis Star also offers greater flexibility, with an applicationcontrol of many grass and broadleaf weeds. Varro FX requires window of 10 to 50 per cent flowering. no external surfactant with its unique Group 2 EC formulation The release noted that further field scale trials of Miravis Star aremaking it easier to mix and handle proving enhanced coverage for were conducted on farms across Western Canada throughout themore consistent grass weed control.2023 growing season. It will be commercially available for the 2024Varro FX will be available in 8.1 L jugs and 129.6 L drums for the growing season. 2024 growing season, the release said.Using Silicon in Soil to Battle ClubrootA new study from the University of Alberta has found that by adding silicon to soil could help battle clubroot, a news release said.The study explored the effects of silicon on clubroot, finding that by mixing the element with soil, it reduced overall disease symptoms in susceptible plants by up to 46 per cent. Experiments found infection was slowed and the formation of galls on the plants was reduced, when silicon in the form of a water-soluble salt, was included in the soil.The treatment also appeared to improve the height, root length and plant responses to stresses like drought and extreme heat, even in the presence of the clubroot pathogen, the release said.The experiment shows the potential benefits of silicon as an effective, economical tool for canola producers, Ananya Sarkar study lead and PhD candidate said in the release. Sarkars work was supervised by U of A Professor Nat Kav.Other research has shown that silicon eases disease-related stress and also improves resistance to pathogens in other plants, Sarkar noted.Silicon, currently an ingredient in some fertilizers, also has the advantage of being less costly to apply to canola crops than other alternatives such as liming, she added. Research is ongoing.112seed.ab.ca'