Potato Review

8 POTATO REVIEW MARCH/APRIL 2020 CUPGRA 2019 CONFERENCE Ferric phosphate registration boost for potato slug control We may have a stay of execution where metaldehyde is concerned, but agronomist claims we should be still be looking at a hardy alternative. says. “Attention to detail is clearly evident throughout the manufacturing process, which along with its modern research and development facility, gives us a great confidence boost knowing that we have a viable alternative to metaldehyde.” Mr Naylor is responsible for agronomic advice across 2000 acres of potatoes grown in East Shropshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire. “Around 70% of my growers have already changed to ferric phosphate owing to the incentivised scheme offered by Severn Trent Water to switch from metaldehyde,” he said. “I am confident that most of the remaining 30% will follow this spring.” De Sangosse trial data, along with using the product over the last three to four years in other crops, demonstrates Fe-Lyn’s is a viable alternative to metaldehyde, according to Mr Naylor. In his opinion it adds a much-needed addition to the potato slug control armoury. He said Agrii customers have seen no yield or quality penalties across a number of crops where metaldehyde has been replaced with Fe-Lyn and praised the product’s attractiveness, palatability, persistence and spreadability. “Metaldehyde has been given a stay of execution, but when stocks of remaining product have been used up, growers will have to switch to ferric phosphate,” he said. “But, it’s so important that growers understand how ferric phosphate works. The timings for application will be identical to metaldehyde depending on previous field pressure, variety and soil conditions, but growers need to understand the two actives work completely differently. With ferric phosphate there won’t be any dead slugs on the surface. Ferric phosphate acts as a stomach poison causing slugs to stop feeding immediately after ingestion, then slugs generally retreat underground and die. F ERRIC phosphate could provide a good alternative to metaldehyde in the bid to control slugs in fields, according to Agrii potato agronomist Ben Naylor at the launch of a new product by French manufacturer De Sangosse.At a European scale, he sees a lack of transparency on how decisions are made, leading to a loss of trust at member-state level and even down to food production. In addition, the typical consumer is lacking the education to understand where the food is coming from, and how it is being produced. He recently joined De Sangosse for the launch of Fe-Lyn potato label at the company’s state-of-the-art ferric phosphate production and research facility in Agen, France. All product ingredients are sourced from within 300km of the factory. “The facility produces the company’s global ferric phosphate requirement,” he