b'As wireworm scientists, weve been trying to find a chemical that would work for years now. We are all very happy to have another tool in the toolbox. CHRISTINE NORONHAseasons, Cimegra actually kills wireworm outright, explains Noronha. We also found when we went back to the site and put out bait samples in the fall, we were finding fewer worms in the plot compared to Thimet, which means we were actually reducing the population. Noronha is pleased with the Cimegras in-field efficacy as growers have been running out chemi-cals to use for wireworm control.As wireworm scientists, weve been trying to find a chemical that would work for years now. We are all very happy to have another tool in the toolbox, she says. Canada has about 30 wireworm species which prove costly to Canadian agricultural producers. P.E.I.s potato fields are typically hardest hit.BASF has received approval in Canada Wireworms have been quite the issue herefor Cimegra, a new in P.E.I., especially in the last 10 years, explainsinsecticide which kills Barrett. Its been a little better the last threewireworms. or four years, due to a combination of weatherPHOTO: BASFconditions and growers using newer management tools. But, theyre a major cost to producers. In the fresh crop, more than one or two little holes is all it takes to make a potato unmarketable. If theFrom the work weve completed, we do see goodWere hoping for early Q1 this year for that, says damage is considerable, they can be an issue inactivity on diverse species of wireworm (in) bothFriesen. From there, she says it typically takes processing too.eastern and western Canada.two to three years for additional countries to While Noronhas research shows Cimegra wasThe low rate of product required for effectivecome online. successful against P.E.I.s specific populations ofcontrol is another positive of the new product. For now, she recommends producers maintain wireworm, research trials across the country showWith Thimet, the nature of the insecticidevery open communication with their buyers if similar results in other regions as well. She saysrequires a large quantity of granules applied tothey are considering using Cimegra on their trials run in British Columbia by AAFC Researchthe soil. But with Cimegra, it appears that you canpotato fields. Scientists Bob Vernon and Wim Van Herk showedget effective control with a very small amount ofWeve been proactively engaging with a lot similar damage and population reduction resultsactive ingredient per acre. That means residuesof potato (processing) companies to understand to those achieved in the P.E.I. trials.will be limited, Barrett says. Its definitely ofwhere their distribution goes. We encourage Meanwhile, BASF conducted its own trialsinterest anytime we can use a more targetedanyone who is interested in using this product to across the Canadian Prairies at various sites inchemistry thats not broad spectrum and thattalk to their processor, may that be a Cavendish southern Alberta and southern Manitoba.requires smaller amounts: thats always goodor a McCain, about what they are accepting. If In our prairie trials, we saw really positivefrom a sustainability standpoint. the (processed) product is staying within Canada results for reduction in damage, says AllisonTo date, Cimegra has only been approved for useor within North America, there is no issue with Friesen, BASFs technical marketing specialist forin Canada. Friesen says BASF hopes to complete itsutilizing (Cimegra).insecticides. She notes the early timing of seedingAmerican registration in short order and expectsTerence Hochstein, executive director with the for winter cereals meant fall trapping wasnt pos- registration in additional countries to follow.Potato Growers of Alberta, estimates that 40 per sible, so no wireworm population data is availableOnce we are registered in the U.S., we willcent or more of Albertas acres are impacted by for western Canadian fields. However, she says,have harmonized MRLs for all of North America.wireworm. That number is likely to increase as 22 SPUDSMART.COM WINTER 2021'