45 hectares of high value SovGold Ultrastrike treated kale seedlings in Central Otago were under heavy attack from slugs. With Ironmax Pro molluscicide Gerard McCarthy, Technical Field Representative at PGG Wrightson in Cromwell, Central Otago, had the ideal solution for the irrigated crop, which had been direct drilled.
“Extremely good job” sees seedling establishment back on track
45 hectares of high value SovGold Ultrastrike treated kale seedlings in Central Otago were under heavy attack from slugs. With potential average yields of around 10-14 t DM/ha, and suitable for both cattle and sheep grazing systems, it was a crop the farmer was keen to protect.
Gerard McCarthy, Technical Field Representative at PGG Wrightson in Cromwell, Central Otago, says the irrigated crop, which had been direct drilled, suffered a severe outbreak. “In my experience, slugs are an underestimated pest. You really need to look for them. Monitor and measure! Damage can happen really quickly.”
On the upside, he had a solution: Ironmax Pro molluscicide, from sustainable agricultural solutions provider UPL NZ Ltd. The slug bait was spread by helicopter at 6 kg/ha.
Gerard says the results rewarded their decision. “It made an extremely good job and supported the crop getting well established. The client rang me three days later. They saw an almost instant result.”
Just as powerful as industry leader Metarex@ Inov
Manufactured by French company DeSangosse, the global leader in molluscicide technology, Ironmax Pro is just as effective as sister product, and industry leader, Metarex Inov. With the added value of solid green credentials.
UPL NZ Ltd. Otago Southland Regional Manager Tom McDonald, says it is the BioGro NZ organic certification that is making Ironmax Pro increasingly popular with farmers and contractors.
“There’s a demand for products that are safer for the environment, and more pleasant to work with, without compromising efficacy. Apart from anything else, Ironmax Pro’s low odour has been welcomed. People have noticed there’s not that smell.”
Voracious feeders potential to wipe out entire crops
The Central Otago property certainly isn’t alone in having experienced slug problems. Unchecked, grey field slugs (Deroceras reticulatum) have the potential to wipe out entire crops. The voracious feeders cause damage across a broad range of plants but are especially tough on vulnerable seedlings.
Tom says he’s seen them destroy 200 hectares of young plantain. That destruction seemingly came out of nowhere. “Slugs can cover a lot more ground than people think they do. We put out a slug mat and there were 180 slugs under it the next morning. “For crops at the early stage and/or for sensitive crops, one slug per square meter already signals a problem and action should be taken immediately.”
New Zealand’s temperate climate is especially slug friendly. The pests are active year-round and able to produce 300-500 eggs in their 13-month lifespan.
Enhanced palatability of Ironmax Pro
One of the things, which separates Ironmax Pro from conventional slug baits, is its Colzactive® technology. Colzactive is made up of specially selected oil seed rape extracts. Tom says 20 plant species were evaluated and 50 potential molecules identified based on their appeal to slugs. Two extraordinarily attractive and palatable molecules were selected in the end, which facilitate rapid detection by slugs, enhance Ironmax Pro’s taste and how quickly Ironmax Pro works compared to other baits.
Research shows slugs actually actively prefer feeding on Ironmax Pro to feeding on seedlings. Ironmax Pro contains the optimized active ingredient 24.2 g/kg ferric phosphate anhydrous, referred to as IPMax. Iron (ferric) phosphate is a natural component of soil. In Ironmax Pro, it works as a stomach poison on slugs and is fatal once ingested. Feeding stops almost immediately.
Ironmax Pro is manufactured with the finest durum wheat using a unique wet process which makes it very rain fast. IPM-friendly. The slug bait has limited impact on beneficials including earthworms and the slug predator carabid beetle.
Ironmax Pro has a recommended application rate range of 5 to 7 kg/ha. With 60,000 baits per kilogram, Tom says the product has excellent ballistic properties. “The uniform pellet size and innovative Ironmax Pro manufacturing process mean bait can be spread at widths of up to 24 m.”
For more information on how to get on top of slugs, read here.
