A new Septoria Hub has been launched by Adama to give growers an insight and technical updates on the disease. CPM reviews the service and goes behind the scenes to find out what it aims to achieve.
By Tom Allen-Stevens
A new technical web-based resource has been launched that aims to offer growers guidance and timely advice on managing septoria.
Hundreds of growers signed up to Adama’s Septoria Hub in the first week that it went live. Subscribers receive a free spray-can lid spanner, says the company’s Abbie Bieny (while stocks last).
“The aim behind the service is simply to provide better information on septoria to growers,” she explains.
“The disease is the number one yield robber in wheat, and resistance issues are making it a trickier pathogen to control.
“This service combines fundamental technical information with updates provided throughout the season, to help growers stay on top of the disease.”
Technical guide
So what will those who sign up to it find? First up, there’s the technical guide, entitled “The seven steps to wheat protection”
The seven steps to wheat protection is based on the technical guide produced in association with CPM.
Click on here and you’re taken to background information on the disease – its life cycle, symptoms and control strategy, including advice on the elements of a fungicide programme.
If the guide is familiar to CPM readers, that’s because it’s a summary of the technical booklet Adama produced in association with CPM in 2016 – you may even have a copy in the farm office. A handy new infographic condenses the information into a format that’s easy to digest and works on tablets and smartphones, and there are two BASIS points available for those who view it.
Now, bolted on to this are a number of services that add to the offering with in-season updates. There’s a septoria clinic – growers can submit questions to Adama’s technical manager Andy Bailey, who’ll address them in a live web-based presentation.
“The first of these took place on 24 Feb and was a great success with some key issues raised,” says Abbie Bieny.
“So there’s a follow-up on 7 March. Those who can’t make the live sessions can access the recordings on the hub. There are BASIS points available for those who attend a webinar.”
Weekly emails
There are then updates sent out to hub subscribers on a weekly basis by email.
“These are timely reminders on what to look for, or as key spray timings approach. They’ll also provide an update on disease levels and any other news that may be relevant to inform control programmes.”
The hub also provides access to regional advisers who can help with specific or more local enquiries.
As the season progresses, the updates as well as further information will be added to the hub, providing members with a library of topical advice on septoria control.
A further service on the hub is a trials portal. This is an interactive tool that allows you to view untreated trials next to a range of treatments, or to compare how two perform, through a series of photos taken last year in Adama’s trial plots. You can even zoom in to scrutinise the level of septoria that laces the leaves.
Adama will be adding to the tool with photos taken from its trials plots this year – “#watchthisspace”, promises Abbie Bieny in one of a number of abundant tweets that add to the information and pointers surrounding the hub.
Hub subscribers are also invited to carry out their own split-field yellow rust trial. This will involve the first 50 growers who register interest within the trial portal and meet the split-field criteria (you must be growing Reflection, for starters).
Those who qualify will be provided with a free 5 litre pack of multi-site fungicide folpet to try with an azole plus SDHI at the T1 timing against your standard field application.
CPM verdict
The Septoria Hub isn’t likely to replace an agronomy information service you currently subscribe to, and it certainly isn’t the first guise of the virtual agronomist.
But there is some useful information that’s been brought together with technical updates – just the technical guide itself may be reason enough to join the free service.
This has been presented in a clear and easy to navigate format – you can see there’s been some resource and expertise applied that has helped shape this service.
There is the question of whether the information is skewed, as it’s been put together by a manufacturer with a vested interest, and there’s plenty of pull towards Adama’s fungicide portfolio on the site.
But we reckon most growers who subscribe will be able to cut through to the information they want, and there’s some genuinely useful guidance on offer, provided in a refreshingly different way, that’ll add to the tools you’ll use to keep septoria at bay.
Get connected
Click here to sign up to the Septoria Hub.
Who to follow on Twitter: @AdamaUK_ @abbie_bieny @AliBosher
CPM would like to thank Adama for sponsoring this article and for providing privileged access to staff and to its website to help put the review together.
