Cercospora remains our most serious foliar disease of sugarbeet in Minnesota and North Dakota. Although yields losses have not been widespread in recent years properly sequencing fungicides can definitely enhance productivity and profitability of your crop. Improper fungicide use strategies can negatively impact crop yield and quality, suitability of the crop for long term storage and reduce revenue.
The 2010 Cercospora control program should be centered on a late August application of Headline. The plant health benefit of Headline is real and improved frost tolerance is vital to delivery of frost free beets and successful crop storage, Figure 1.
If only Headline was used in 2009 and only one late fungicide application will be used in 2010. Inspire would offer best plant health benefits and still be appropriate for resistance management
High yield potential and a strong sugar market enhance the likely benefits from fungicide use in 2010.