A week of online MH guidance

UPL is presenting a week of guidance videos on how to use the plant growth regulator, maleic hydrazide for sprout suppression. 
Technical Manager, Don Pendergrast (pictured), will guide users through the changing landscape of which actives are available, and how to get the best out of MH. The short videos will be released each day next week at lunchtime via twitter, and contain two minutes of bite-sized guidance on how MH works, best use guides, details of its own MH product FAZOR, culminating in a discussion with Adrian Briddon from Sutton Bridge Crop Storage Research, and an opportunity to ask questions directly to the manufacturer and independent researchers.
The loss of CIPC means growers are turning to established alternatives such as maleic hydrazide (MH).  MH is applied in the field as a foliar spray whilst the crop is still growing, and works by stopping cell elongation and division, whilst still allowing the plant to continue bulking. The anti-sprouting action continues to last in store.
The field-treated MH potatoes arrive at the store with the active already working, so there is a reduced requirement for applications of other sprout suppressants in store. Integrated approaches to sprout suppression using MH in field followed by in store applications of oils are likely to become the new normal.
UPL’s maleic hydrazide product FAZOR has been around for 20 years, and has commonly been used for volunteer potato control as much for its benefits as a sprout suppressant.
Adrian Briddon from AHDB’s Sutton Bridge Crop Storage Research said: “It’s important to get the application of MH right. Done well, the results can be long lasting, but done badly at the wrong timing or with the wrong water volumes, the result will be poorer sprout control and the need for further post-harvest treatments.  Follow the product stewardship and MH is an effective product for sprout control.”
Technical Manager for UPL Don Pendergrast, added: “We have a long experience with this product, and well understand how to get the best out of it.  A best use guide is available to ensure stewardship and best practices are followed by growers, to deliver the best value and highest quality crop production. Some growers may be trying this for the first time, or are coming back to it after using CIPC, but for the next few years we expect MH will be the backbone of the sprout suppression programme, and we want to help growers get the best results.”
To watch the series of short videos visit twitter and search #UPLFieldVision.