AN INTERESTING sub plot at Cereals will be Syngenta’s exploration of how to establish cereals without neonicotinoid seed treatment.

As growers face up to the loss of neonic seed treatment chemistry in cereals this autumn, Syngenta is devoting part of its stand to alternative strategies for establishing winter cereal crops against BYDV.

Its recent survey of 106 growers, showed that 60% had used neonicotinoid seed treatments in the past and of these, 98% saw BYDV as a risk to crops going forward this autumn.

Areas being explored will be:

Crop choice – risks and benefits of choosing a winter or spring crop, or wheat or barley.

Drilling times – what flexibility do growers have with drilling timings for wheat and barley? For example, recent work has shown more flexibility with hybrid barley versus conventional barley with respect to later drilling.

Establishment – how can growers maximise establishment with the choice of seedcare options, including the role of fungicide seed treatments, such as Vibrance Duo, for helping winter wheat establish faster in later-drilling situations.

Reducing the impact of BYDV vectors – how can growers choose the best product and optimise the timing and application of a pyrethroid spray? Syngenta will also be launching its new decision tool, BYDV Assist, that will help growers achieve this.