Question:

What is your take on Vydate in furrow on peanuts versus Velum + imadicloprid? Price per acre seems more attractive at around $31.00/acre versus over $45.00. Will thrips control be at least equal to the Imadicloprid combination?

Jordan:

Thrips control with Vydate will be as good as imidacloprid, in some places in the state Vydate may be slightly better (if you have resistance to imidacloprid.) Vydate in-furrow has little to no activity on nematodes. In my experience in multiple trials, Velum has very limited activity on nematodes. If you are trying to pick up nematode suppression with Vydate and Velum, for the price, you will get very little based on our work with Velum and what I have seen from others with Vydate. If you really need to suppress nematodes, AgLogic has been proven to suppress nematodes and control thrips. But yes, it is expensive. If you have high populations of nematodes, you need to consider metam sodium. Imidacloprid alone followed by a timely application of Hemi plus surfactant (unless you are sure there is no acephate resistance in your area), is the least expensive option for thrips. I just don't think, based on our research and what I have seen from others, that Vydate or Velum in the seed furrow brings a great deal to the table for nematodes. That leaves you with thrips control as the driver (if you decide AgLogic is too expensive, even though you get suppression of both thrips and nematodes), and imidacloprid followed by Hemi plus surfactant is the least expensive, effective option.

Question:

The grower with questions, has asked if the claims of overall plant health benefits, and a level of protection from Velum with white mold, are valid.

Jordan:

I don’t see a major value from Velum as an in-furrow on plant health. In trials I’ve had with Velum, nothing translates to yield. A foliar application of Propulse might make a greater contribution (same ai plus prothioconazole) if it can get moved in by rain or irrigation. Certainly southern stem rot is an issue in our state. But with our fungicide programs and variety resistance to stem rot, given our more modest levels of this disease compared to the southeast, I don’t think we need to invest more on stem rot. We just need effective fungicides in the 2, 3, and 4 window of our 5-spray programs for this disease.

Gorny:

Vydate tends to wash out quickly, especially in sandier soils, and that is why we don't see much activity on nematodes. If applied to heavier land though, it can pick up more nematode control activity. I agree with David's thoughts on AgLogic and metam sodium fumigant if trying to address nematodes.  

Reisig:

Two things I would stress is the erosion of good control we are seeing with both imidacloprid and acephate across the state. If you do advise a spray, I would absolutely go with Hemi + Surfactant.