'Brought a new fungicide to the market together'

The new fungicide belanty is a welcome addition to the package of resources for arable farming. All major foliar fungi in sugar beets and alternaria in potatoes are effectively controlled. "We can make nice schedules again."

After the successful introduction of fungicides based on Revysol in cereals (including Balaya, Revytrex and Priaxor Duo), the new active substance will make its appearance in sugar beet and potato cultivation in 2023 with the new fungicide Belanty. Crop managers Henco Bouma and Michiel Bosdijk of BASF expect that the arable farming practice will soon be convinced of the performance of the new product. "The Revysol in Belanty is a real innovation," says Bouma. "The substance is strong on many fungi and is gentle on the crop."

Additional tools in sugar beets
According to Bosdijk belanty in sugar beet cultivation are welcomed with open arms. "Many products have disappeared in recent years. The fungicides that are still authorized all contain the same active substance. With Belanty, sugar beet growers will soon have a strong alternative partner with a new active substance." Multi-year trials show that Belanty is effective on all major foliar fungi. Not only cercospora, but also ramularia, rust and mildew are effectively controlled. "With Belanty, the sugar beet toolbox gets a very nice addition," says Bosdijk.

Increased yield in potatoes
Bouma also expects a smooth introduction to potato cultivation for Belanty. "We have been testing Belanty against alternaria for six years now and we get great results. Each time it appears to be just as strong or stronger than a current reference drug. That is why we think Belanty will become an interesting alternation partner in alternaria schedules."

The fact that combating alternaria is really useful was shown last summer in a trial in South Holland. Bouma: "The grower where the trial was located wondered at the end of August whether spraying on his commercial plot was useful. Two weeks later, the untreated objects were covered and they yielded 2 tons less. With an early attack, the damage can still be much be bigger."

Observations on the test fields show that belanty is also effective on sclerotinia. "We will set up specific trials for this in the coming years," says the crop manager. "But for alternaria in potatoes and foliar fungi in beets, we can at least make nice schedules again from 2023."

BASF has extensively tested Belanty for several years on several potato trial fields. The fungicide shows a very strong effect against alternaria.