Wetter weather patterns threaten crop health; branded generic fungicides can offer budget benefit over premium fungicide prices

CARY, N.C. (May 1, 2023) – This season, growers once again face a battle with high input prices and market volatility that puts their profitability at risk. A cool, wet spring and continuing wet weather patterns across much of the country threaten to increase the risk of disease in row crops. As growers prepare for 2023 fungicide applications, they should be looking at economics and product availability, determining how many times they are going to treat versus if they are going to treat. And as several major manufacturers face price increases again, their post-patent counterparts provide an affordable alternative.

“Given the risk potential for disease this year, the high prices of corn and soybeans make it simple for growers to apply a fungicide and get a yield benefit and incremental margin from it,” said Aaron Burke, business unit lead, North with Atticus LLC.

“When you combine the yield bump that you can get with fungicides, regardless of disease pressure, it is important for growers to plan for at least two fungicide applications this year,” said Burke. “The data overwhelmingly shows that sequential, or two applications, especially on highly responsive hybrids, will outperform a single fungicide application. Even in the absence of disease, a fungicide application to corn at tassel can increase yield, sometimes to double digits of bushels.”

Historically, corn growers have had a choice between a V5 application and a VT application. A wetter year, like 2023 so far, will benefit from applications at both stages, as well as a seed treatment at planting.

“2023 will require a disciplined approach to product selection and application,” said Burke. “As growers consider the timing of their applications, they should be communicating with their retailers for insights on relevant, affordable fungicide products as well as help with scouting.”

Product availability and affordable pricing

Diversification is key to product availability. While supply chain challenges have eased some, major manufacturers have again taken a price increase on most of their brands. And several name-brand products remain in short supply compared to the post-patent alternatives.

“With these factors in play, post-patent fungicides, herbicides and insecticides are even more appealing this year,” said Burke. “They are a grower’s best ally in fighting back to minimize costs and protect crops from yield-robbing diseases, weeds and insect pests.”

Burke stressed the importance of staying in close contact with a trusted local crop protection retailer and remaining vigilant in scouting as the season goes on, both for management decisions this year and for planning for 2024. The local retailer can help recommend a long-lasting and potentially multi-ingredient fungicide to provide disease protection as long as possible throughout the season.

“Growers are going to experience yield enhancement and disease protection from their application,” he added. “At harvest, we advise tracking and documenting data from different fields—including their level of infection, how the fungicides performed and additional yield—to help growers make more informed decisions going forward about where, when and how to use fungicides on their farms.”

When it comes to fungicide selection, the number one consideration for growers is field history and the historical challenge each individual farm or field has had.

Diseases to look for in 2023

This year, areas like the Dakotas that experienced late-season snow will see an increased threat of fungal infection due to increased moisture around planting time. In the Southern Plains states, where last year’s drought persists, growers are more likely to instead face insect pest pressures. Yet this opens crops up to later season disease issues such as ear, stem and stalk rots. Corn and soybean growers alike will want to monitor closely for disease to stay on top of them after a wet spring.

Risks for corn diseases in 2023:

• Tar spot
• Anthracnose
• Northern corn leaf blight
• Rusts
• Crown rot

Soybean disease threats in 2023:

• Seedling diseases like pythium and fusarium
• Phytophthora root rot
• White mold

Last year was very dry, so there were fewer white mold infections than normal but that will change in 2023 with the increased moisture levels already affecting the Central Plains states.

“If we trend back to any normal levels or have higher levels of moisture throughout the growing season, we’re going to see increased levels of white mold infections this year that growers need to be ready to manage,” said Burke.

“Overall, it’s important for farmers to invest in fungicides to maximize yields given this spring’s unfavorable weather conditions and continued high commodity prices. The fact that we’re going to be putting the crop in a little late this year, combined with the softening of post-patent fungicide prices, makes the ROI of fungicide applications a no-brainer,” Burke concluded.

Reliability You Can Count on for 2023 and Beyond

Wherever you fight pests and uncertainty, you need a supplier you can count on. EcoCore by Atticus delivers.

EcoCore by Atticus presents a broad and ever-expanding portfolio of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides developed to protect and beautify vital plant health in greenhouses and nurseries. Armed with established chemistry and a commitment to best-in-class service and support, Atticus’ EcoCore team is acting decisively and engaging proactively to mitigate future uncertainty and to ensure a relevant, reliable product supply for 2023 and beyond.

Following two of the industry’s most challenging years, the team is amplifying its approach to reliable sourcing to secure essential herbicides, insecticides and fungicides that benefit greenhouse and nursery managers. The team is facing adversity head on while remaining agile to manage changing market conditions—and encouraging greenhouse and nursery managers do the same. With an intense focus on future growth, Atticus is working tirelessly to protect and preserve environmental wellness for years to come.

How EcoCore is getting it done.

• Aligning more closely with operations, supply chain and distribution.
• Implementing demand plans early.
• Diversifying sources for products and materials.
• Planning for longer lead times.
• Growing our portfolio and business significantly.
• Launching 12 new brands in 2023 for greenhouse and nursery markets.
• Staffing for the future.

Reliability you can count on.

Driven by an unrivalled cultural framework that allows Atticus’ EcoCore team to deliver on its value proposition of relevant, simple and reliable, the team is equipped to get ahead of industry challenges, manage through instability and ensure as a manufacturer, we bring you access to the products needed to grow healthy, beautiful plants and flowers.

Going into 2023, retailers can benefit from Atticus’ proactive engagement, decisive action and broad portfolio to ensure a relevant, reliable product supply for the next growing season and beyond.

As a leader in branded-generic pesticides, Atticus believes acting decisively requires not only adapting to change but also deliberately creating it for the betterment of the whole industry. Following two of the global crop protection industry’s most challenging years, Atticus leaders are facing adversity head on—and encouraging ag retailers to do the same.

“Today, we’re operating in a global market where manufacturers, retailers and growers are competing for inputs on an international scale,” said Mike Henderson, vice president of ag markets, Atticus. “To stay relevant, reliable and accessible, we’re strategically approaching our business differently to secure herbicides, fungicides and insecticides that benefit retail distribution.

“We’re acting now to introduce new active ingredients with post-patent alternatives to the marketplace. We’re aligning with diversified product sources to expand our offering. And we’re remaining agile to deal with changing market conditions while continuing to deliver unrivalled customer service for ag retail distribution. Coincidentally, we think this nimble business approach is one that can directly benefit ag retailers,” Henderson added.

Atticus’ decidedly different, battle-ready approach is based on a cultural framework that allows the team to minimize future challenges to best help customers reach their business and agronomic goals. For success in 2023, ag retailers can consider these three steps to access the products needed to maximize crop quality and yield.

Act now: Plan ahead, order early

Gone are the days of “on demand” or “just in time” purchases. Global competition and logistical factors have lengthened demand planning in the crop protection industry, with many manufacturers looking out 18 to 24 months to ensure they have raw materials, manufacturing production time, packaging and logistics in place to put product into your hands.

As soon as growers communicate their product needs, retailers must swiftly relay these requests to manufacturers. There will still be rough spots in the supply chain in 2023 but prioritizing early communications will allow us all to manage and ensure an adequate supply of necessary crop protection products.

Align strategically: Find manufacturers you can count on

Seek, find and engage with manufacturers who can help broaden your expertise and view of product options available for your customer’s needs. The breadth of Atticus’ portfolio combined with the team’s commitment to introducing new, post-patent alternatives means the company will deliver deeper transparency to the marketplace with more active ingredients that influence every major crop across the U.S.

Adapt: Have a plan B

The number and availability of post-patent products in the crop protection marketplace is increasing. Familiarize yourself with active ingredients, then investigate and consider alternate options to branded pesticides.

“There are many post-patent herbicides, insecticides and fungicides available with the active ingredients and technology retailers and farmers have had confidence in for years, at a more reasonable cost, “Henderson said.

“And even though availability of raw ingredients has improved, we’ve intentionally researched and sourced alternative ingredients for products we’ll be bringing to market in the future. Having a secondary source of high-quality ingredients ensures we will be able to manufacture and deliver effective, quality products to our customers,” he concluded.