Background
Huma® fungicide programs with Micro Carbon Technology® provide growers with effective options that can replace synthetic fungicides with a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach, while providing excellent control and improving crop health, yield and quality.
Objective
The focus of this study was to assess if 2 of Huma’s products CROP-GARD® (Growth Manager) and PROUD 3® (Zero residue crop protection) could replace a conventional, synthetic fungicide application and still have a return on investment (ROI) when applied just after tasseling on corn in Illinois. CROP-GARD is designed to nutritionally boost the plant’s natural defenses (Zn, Mn, Cu, S) as well as provide the proper nutrients to the plant to fight off diseases and abiotic stresses. PROUD 3 on the other hand, is an OMRI listed EPA 25B exempted biopesticide that is a contact killer to control foliar diseases and soft bodied insects through desiccation, with 0 days reentry interval.
Materials and Methods
This trial was conducted as a product demonstration with a farmer in Macon County, Illinois. The standard fungicide program consisted of an application of 7oz/ac of FMC’s Adastrio fungicide. The Huma products replaced the post tassel application. The corn was harvested on September 23rd with the following results:
Proud 3 Fungicide Replacement – Table 1
Proud 3 Fungicide Replacement – Chart 1
Results
Application of Huma products replacing the 2nd conventional fungicide application improved corn yield by 5% from 257bu to 272bu. Neither treatment saw phytotoxicities, disease pressure flair ups, nor tank mixing issues. This gave a 1,533% return on investment.
ROI = Net return/cost
Net Return = 15bu/ac * $4.40bu = $66/ac
Cost = $4.04/ac
ROI = ($66-$4.04)/$4.04 = 15.33 to 1 or 1,533%.
Conclusions
The Huma fungicide replacement program translated into a higher net gain of $61.96 per acre (15 bushels priced at $4.40) and a ROI of 15:1 when compared with the conventional fungicide program alone.
