The ability of MINECTO® Forte insecticide, from Syngenta, to control a wide range of key pests has made it a “game changer” for Nutrien agronomist, Steve Sunderland, at Ayr in North Queensland.

Mr Sunderland said the area grew a wide range of cucurbits and fruiting vegetables where growers were often challenged by different insect pests across the years and seasons.

“This year it could be aphids, next year it might be thrips, another year it could be mites.  With this newer chemistry, when we recommend it properly and the growers use it properly, we seem to be staying on top of things.”

He said MINECTO® Forte was an excellent insecticide because it covers a wide range of pests with caterpillars, whiteflies, mites, thrips and aphids on the registered label.  “You might be out there targeting one pest but you’re controlling five. For me, MINECTO® Forte has been a game changer.  The growers really like it.  It gets everything under control.”

Photo: Steve Sunderland, from Nutrien, Ayr, QLD, said MINECTO® Forte was the game changer because of its activity against key pests in cucurbit and fruiting vegetable crops.

MINECTO® Forte has two different modes of action, and this combination has helped with resistance management and to also control pests at different stages.

He said MINECTO® Forte was an ideal product to use early in the season because of its ability to quickly control the pest populations. “I’ve learnt to get in early and take care of the pests early and give the crop a good clean-up. Get your plants healthy and then rotate with other insecticides with a different mode of action later. It comes down to inspections in the crop and working out the best chemical for that situation.”

Chemical rotations are used to help manage resistance in the area to ensure insecticides like MINECTO® Forte are there for the long-term. “We’ve got to do the right thing with chemical rotations and the growers are being educated more,” Mr Sunderland said. “They know the new chemistry works and it has also allowed some of the older chemistry, that hasn’t been used in a while, back into the rotation.”