November/December 2019 - 22

A new method for
controlling Colorado
potato beetles
With nearly 200 million pounds of
potatoes at stake, Wysocki Produce
Farms can't afford to lose their crop.
In 2018 that could have happened.
Severe Colorado potato beetle
pressure nearly cost them their crop.
" We lost fields to defoliation five
weeks prior to maturation, " said
AJ Bussan, director of agronomy
for Wysocki Family of Companies,
the parent company of Wysocki
Produce Farms.
Bussan acted immediately to
preserve the field and prepare for 2019. He added Minecto®
Pro to his existing insecticide program. " We were having a
hard time controlling first and second generation adults at
the end of July and saw substantial populations of larvae
feeding, " Bussan said. They applied Minecto Pro and gained
control over the infestation of Colorado potato beetle.
Minecto Pro is a foliar insecticide. Its broad-spectrum
control of many pests is designed to work when nothing
else will. Minecto Pro contains two active ingredients, both
of which penetrate leaf tissue to build a reservoir of active
ingredients resulting in long residual activity and excellent
control. In addition to targeting psyllids and Colorado potato
beetle, it also effectively controls spider mite, armyworm,
European corn borer, leafminer and cabbage looper.
" Colorado potato beetle is a historically challenging
pest for potato growers to manage. Minecto Pro's premix
formulation contains complementary modes of action that
work together to increase the pest spectrum and give growers
long lasting residual control. " said Meade McDonald, product
lead for Minecto Pro at Syngenta.
While existing chemistries that are labeled for psyllid and
Colorado potato beetle control are still important for growers to
include in an insect management program, the cyantraniliprole
in Minecto Pro provides a new mode of action, making it a
highly effective choice for control of Colorado potato beetle and
efficient resistance management. Growers see Minecto Pro as an
important tool for managing those difficult-to-control pests.
How to apply Minecto Pro
McDonald suggests growers always mix Minecto Pro with
a high-quality adjuvant. To take advantage of the long lasting
residual, apply Minecto Pro when
pest populations are low. When
pest pressure is heavy, use the
highest labeled rate.
Minecto Pro can be applied
up to a maximum of two
applications per year. Sufficient
spray coverage is important. Use
20 gallons of water per acre for
ground applications and 5 gallons
per acre for aerial applications
for best results.
Minecto Pro offers excellent
rain fastness, and it should be sprayed at least 15 to 30
minutes prior to rain so that the product can dry on the
foliage.
Minecto Pro at Wysocki Produce Farms
To combat the heavy Colorado potato beetle pressure
Bussan saw in 2018, Wysocki Produce Farms applied
Minecto Pro in late July. With that application, they had
coverage for the remainder of the season. As a result, the
Colorado potato beetles stopped laying eggs in the final
week of July.
" (Minetco Pro) is extremely valuable to us, " Bussan said.
With high Colorado potato beetle pressure in Michigan and
Wisconsin, it is imperative that growers in these regions
have a tool to control them when traditional chemistries
struggle. Bussan also notes that when early potatoes are
harvested, Colorado potato beetle migration can cause
early outbreaks. As a result, " it is very valuable in our area, "
Bussan said.
As a broad-spectrum insecticide with two chemistries in
premix, Minecto Pro is able to control pest populations even
when they overlap one another.
To learn more about Minecto Pro, visit www.syngenta-us.
com/insecticides/minecto-pro.
Always consult the product label for complete use and
application information.
Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered
for sale or use in all states or counties. Please check with your local extension service to
ensure registration status. Minecto Pro is a Restricted Use Pesticide. Minecto Pro is highly
toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment on blooming crops and weeds. Do not apply this product
or allow it to drift onto blooming plants while bees are foraging adjacent to the treatment area.
Minecto® and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.
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http://www.syngenta-us

November/December 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November/December 2019