With the loss of chlorpyrifos, sugarbeet growers are searching for solutions to early-season pest problems, particularly for sugarbeet root maggot control. AgLogic aldicarb is one of those options.
“AgLogic is a very important crop protection material available to us at a time when we are losing options,” says Erik Wenninger, an entomologist at the University of Idaho’s Kimberly Research & Extension Center. “The product is very effective against sugarbeet root maggot. When populations are especially high, it provides a level of control that becomes increasingly important in terms of yield potential.”
As a preventative measure applied at-planting, AgLogic aldicarb protects against sugarbeet root maggots, nematodes,aphids, leafminers and leafhoppers.
“Sugarbeet root maggot control is by far the most important,” Wenninger says, “but growers might also gain some added value in control or suppression of minor pests.”
Despite a concerted industry-wide effort to keep chlorpyrifos on the market for further review, the EPA banned all uses on food and feed crops effective Feb. 28, 2022. Chlorpyrifos is commonly marketed under the brand names Lorsban, Stallion and many other generic names in the sugarbeet market. All products that include chlorpyrifos—whether as a standalone generic or a mix with other compounds—are banned under the EPA ruling.There is no grace period for existing inventory or supplies. The ruling has left many growers in multiple crops scrambling to find alternatives. The options vary depending on the crop.
“The impact of the loss of chlorpyrifos to sugarbeet growers is substantial,” says Gregg Harman, vice president of ag retail and Wholesale at Land View, Inc. “The list keeps shrinking. In southern Idaho, root maggot can put intense pressure on sugarbeets. The loss of chlorpyrifos really minimizes the choices sugarbeet growers have on what they can use. AgLogic aldicarb can and will play an important role in controlling these pest pressures.”
Sugarbeet root maggot can be one of the most destructive pests in sugarbeet production, feeding on roots during its three larval stages. Yield and sucrose content are diminished, and stands can be significantly reduced by damage to the taproot. The pest can be very difficult to predict from year to year. Multiple factors such as weather, prior crop rotations, and even irrigation can impact the severity of the problem.
“Sugarbeet root maggot can have a significant negative impact on yields,” Wenninger says. “That impact varies from year to year, but it’s something you absolutely have to watch for every season.”
AgLogic aldicarb, formerly marketed as Temik, has been a mainstay for sugarbeet root maggot control for most of the 50 years it has been registered, though it was briefly unavailable from 2010 to 2016.
Visit www.aglogicchemical.com to learn more.