Plan Ahead to Defeat Pests and Disease

(Sponsored) The U.S. agriculture industry has been strained to new limits in recent years to meet consumer demand and deliver an abundant food supply, and that includes the nation’s nut growers. Due to significant chemical shortages, delays in receiving products, and pricing and surcharges, nut growers will continue to face significant supply chain challenges in the season ahead.

Disruptions to shipping worldwide have made getting imports necessary for nut production incredibly difficult, costly and time consuming. Demand for many imports has outpaced the ability to transport goods from places like China and India, where production is unpredictable. Raw material supplies are low, expenses to procure those supplies are high, and erratic manufacturing and plant shutdowns challenge planning. Once goods are in the U.S., congested ports and a major shortage of truck drivers has caused additional costs and delays. 

These fragile issues require meticulous attention to detail and industry expertise to manage and overcome. New challenges continue to surface daily, and most crop protection companies are unable to keep up, forcing nut growers and their retail distributors to make short-term decisions. 

So, what can nut growers do to minimize the impact on their operations? It all starts with having a good plan. These three steps will help you create one that works for your operation:

1. Pick the right partners. Chances are, some of the products you rely on may be unavailable or priced to the point where they just don’t pencil out. Choosing the right purchase partners for inputs will be paramount over the coming months and years. Do your homework on same-result alternatives that can be used in case of shortages or pricing fluctuations. 

2. Plan for alternatives. Start planning early, and when putting together agronomic plans, tier product choices based on availability and pricing. That way, if Plan A isn’t workable, you have already analyzed the pros and cons of another option, which can save you from missing any application windows. 

3. Get answers. Look for sources you can trust to ensure you’re getting honest, transparent updates about the barriers to supply and pricing. Having trustworthy information is key to making informed, sound decisions in the face of the barriers facing the industry. 

TREE NUT CROP PROTECTION BACKED BY LOGISTICS EXPERTISE

Ensure access to relevant products by working with Atticus, LLC, a reliable ally to retail distribution. Atticus is focused on delivering relevant, branded-generic products that meet agronomic and business needs so growers get the most from their input requirements. When unforeseen shutdowns or delays occur, Atticus can be agile and provide relevant product alternatives. Atticus actively engages with retailers to help their grower customers secure the critical herbicides, insecticides and fungicides they need to improve and protect nut production. 

Now is the time to meet with your retailer or PCA to create your 2022 pest management battle plan. Discuss the pest or disease challenges you faced last season, determine your treatment threshold and identify the active ingredients best suited for your needs. Branded-generic products from Atticus deliver a value-based solution to conquer your toughest opponents this spring.

Treat orchards for navel orangeworm at hull split (late April to mid-May) with methoxyfenozide, the leading recommendation from the University of California Statewide IPM Program.¹ Atticus delivers this unique mode of action in Inspirato 2 F, an insect growth regulator. Prevent a secondary outbreak of mites by following up with active ingredient bifenazate, found in Enervate 4 SC insecticide.

Get ahead of key diseases, such as Alternaria, rust, scab and shot hole, with a spring application of Vango ESQ fungicide, powered by active ingredients cyprodinil and difenoconazole, or Acadia ESQ, with azoxystrobin and difenoconazole.

Get battle-ready for the season ahead and plan your moves with a reliable ally. Atticus will continue to put its experience to work so nut growers can focus on production and help meet the demands of the food supply now and in the future. Learn more at AtticusLLC.com.

 ©️ 2022 Atticus LLC

 ¹ https://www2.ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/almond/Navel-Orangeworm/