Latitude Newsletter

April, 2003 - Monsanto has pledged its commitment to ongoing dialogue and transparency, respect for people worldwide, and for the sharing of knowledge and benefits with all interested parties. It is with this in mind that I welcome you to the first Latitude newsletter. In it we will share with you Latitude related information and keep you updated on progress through the sales season. Included in this first edition is a brief review of Latitude and Take-all, the susceptibility of our South Africa markets to the pathogen and a brief review of Monsanto’s ongoing efforts at building and sustaining a mutually beneficial relationship between farmers, seed treatment units and Monsanto.

Take-all
Take-all, caused by the fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis is the most damaging soil borne disease of cereals worldwide and is one of the key reasons why subsequent cereal crops yield lower than first cereal crops. When germinating, seedlings from a newly planted cereal crop come into contact with the Take-all pathogen, colonization of the roots occurs. Root infections lead to restrictions in the nutrient and water uptake, and eventual loss in crop yield and quality. It is estimated that full control of the disease could increase yields by 10 - 50% in affected crops. More than 140 years after it was first recognised, Take-all is still a major concern for cereal growers because of its widespread distribution and the absence of varietal resistance and chemical control.

Latitude is the first new generation of fungicides specifically designed for Take-all control and can reduce both the severity of root rot and incidence of white heads, which can result in an increased yield and grain quality. Latitude shows excellent crop safety and compatibility with other seed treatments. It should be co-applied with standard seed treatments for control of seed borne diseases.

Susceptibility to Take-all

Western Cape market
Wheat monoculture is widely practiced in the Cape with rotation options usually being other cereal crops, pasture, or fallow. These are generally all susceptible to take-all or amplifier crops for the Take-all pathogen. The incidence and risk of take-all is therefore significant.

Irrigation market
Double cropping of Maize and wheat is the most profitable combination under conditions where farmers are able to harvest first wheat yields. Conditions are, however, very often well suited to the survival of the Take-all pathogen. That is, the incidence of a moist environment, alkaline sandy soils, high temperatures (hot and dry conditions during grain fill also increases damage), and rotation practices (wheat is susceptible to take-all and maize is an amplifier crop).

Results of Latitude Compatibility with other seed treatments conducted at Monsanto Laboratories in the UK

• Latitude is fully compatible with Vitavax and is not influenced by the addition of insecticides.
• Latitude is acceptable compatible with Raxil, although Raxil does appear to cause some flocculation. This is worsened by the addition of insecticides especially Merkaptotion.
• Latitude + Raxil was found to disperse normally and acceptable over seed which had previously been treated with Merkaptotion.
• Mixture compatibility does not appear to be influenced by water hardness, cation content or pH.

Sustaining the relationship between Monsanto, seed treatment units and farmers

Quality control
Seeds treated with latitude must receive the recommended dose rate of active ingredient. To ensure quality excellence, Monsanto has undertaken to test every batch of seed treated with Latitude for a threshold level of Silthiofam.

To date, Monsanto has received and tested in excess of 40 seed samples. These have all been tested with results being communicated back to the treaters within 5 days of receipt of the samples by Monsanto.

Trail work
Results of over a thousand trials conducted by both Monsanto and independent organizations in Europe and SA show conclusively the benefits of using latitude. Namely

• A healthier root and plant system
• Reduction in black and rotten roots of up to 60%
• Reduction in white ears of up to 40%
• Yield and quality recovery (compared to untreated controls)

Latitude trial results in the Western Cape indicate a yield benefit of >10% since the inception of trials in 2000. Prior to 2002, similar results were obtained from the Irrigation areas. In 2002, however, mixed results were obtained in the irrigation areas, with some trials giving yield increases, some giving quality increases, some giving both yield and quality increases and others giving none. 2002 was, however characterized as having the most diseases in wheat for the last 20 years, with take-all being only one of a number of diseases displaying similar symptoms.

Market Research
Market research conducted by Monsanto in both the cape and irrigation markets yielded the following information:

• Take-all awareness & severity
• Wheat farmers are fully aware of Take-all.
• Most wheat farmers perceive to have take-all in varying levels of infestations. Perceived yield loss associated with Take-all varies from an average of half a ton in the Western Cape to almost two tons in the irrigation areas.
• Demand
• Farmers in the Western Cape display a high demand for Latitude.
• Two distinct groups of farmers in Irrigation areas.
1. Latitude did meet farmer’s expectations in 2002.
• Farmers will continue to use latitude
• Farmers consider Latitude to be a quality product and value for money.
2. Latitude did not meet farmer’s expectations in 2002.
• Farmers will dis-continue to use latitude
• These farmers perceive themselves to be susceptible to Take-all
• Indicates mixed results and corresponds to trial data for 2002.
• Farm saved seed
• Western Cape market displays high need and intention to use Latitude on Farm Saved Seed.
• Cape farmers will treat farm saved seed at certified seed treatment sites and are prepared to pay a royalty on the treatment of their farm saved seed.
• Data from the irrigation areas indicates a preference for certified seed. This corresponds to a lower usage of farm saved when compared to the Western Cape.
• Perception ratings
• Western Cape universe perceives Latitude to be a quality product. Current Latitude users perceive the benefits to be higher than non-users. Once farmers have used Latitude they see the benefits for themselves.
• Perception rating of Latitude in the irrigation areas was significantly different amongst farmers that will use latitude in 2003 (55%) and those who will not. Perceptions of farmers who will use Latitude in 2003 are that it is a quality product.

Recent articles relating to Latitude

• Landbou Weekblad : Article published by the Small Grain Institute in the Landbou Weekblad about the different diseases that cause white ears
• Landbou Weekblad : 13 December 2003 – "Middel teen vrotpooitje toon potensiaal" deur Johan Fouche.
• Koring Fokus : February 2003 - Latitude pamphlet and advert "Die Sleutel tot koringverbouing"
• Landbou Weekblad : 21 February 2003 – "Marknavorsing en proefresultate steun die gebruik van Latitude vir vrotpooitjie beheer".

Contact details
For more information about Latitude please contact: