New Purdue publication helps growers decide on fungicides

The guide, Fungicides for Field Crops, was edited by specialists from five universities and printed by the American Phytopathological Society. It covers all aspects of fungicide use, including different modes of action, how to use them in various crops and ways for farmers to test efficacy through their own on-farm trials.

"Fungicide use has really gained popularity since 2007," said Kiersten Wise, Purdue Extension plant pathologist and one of the publication's editors. "Producers are much more aware of the benefits of fungicides in field crop production, and they're very interested in trying them.

"With the giant increase in the interest in fungicides, we thought this would be a good resource to help provide those producers with the information they need."
Fungicides can be used in a variety of field crops to help with disease control and prevention. The guide covers major crop diseases and helps farmers and crop advisers identify which fungicides might be effective on each.

More recently, there has been growing interest in application timing, and with farmers planting their crops this spring, the publication's release is timely because they need to make some of their fungicide decisions now.