
HGCA has been funding independent trials assessing the performance of fungicides against key economic disease of winter wheat since 1993. The risk of yield loss has to be balanced against cost savings when selecting the appropriate fungicide dose. Most fungicides are applied at doses well below those recommended by the manufacturers. An important consequence is that liability for poor control no longer rests with the manufacturer. The risk of yield loss must be balanced against the potential financial benefits of using reduced doses, by selecting a fungicide dose that is 'appropriate' to a particular crop's needs.
Fungicides are subjected to severe testing. From 1994 to 2007 a single spray was applied at a range of doses on varieties which were highly susceptible to each major disease and at sites where disease pressure was high. However, an independent review conducted in 2007, covering HGCA's involvement in a range of activities related to disease control in winter wheat, has led to several modifications in the fungicide performance protocol.
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