Brazil: Fungicide Sprays Down

Avatar for Matt Hopkins By Scott C. Lucas|7 May 2007

In the 2005/06 season, growers made an average of 3.5 fungicide sprays, Aprosoja said. This season, the average was 2.5 applications, thanks in part to a countrywide preventative campaign that included an isolation period where planting was forbidden.

The association stated that rust outbreaks were delayed as much as 80 days due to the government-driven program. The association added that on top of lowering costs for farmers, the reduced applications also will help stem fungicide resistance to the disease.