Greetings!
It's hard to believe we're so close to the end of the year. We hope the BioWorks Bulletin really has provided you with "Info to Grow". If you enjoy this newsletter, please send it  to your colleagues. We would love to share our information with them too! Enjoy your Thanksgiving! |
| Powdery Mildew on Fall Crops |
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By Dr. Chris Hayes, SE Regional Technical Sales Manager
A change in the weather is a welcome relief for the southeast. The long hot days are being replaced by cooler weather, which helps move the color. Poinsettias are almost finished, shortly they go out. Liner growers are busy planting for the next season. Yes, growers are busy inside and outside the greenhouse.
This time of year also brings about challenges, especially from mildews. Resting mildew spores on your plants favor this time of year. They too like a change in the weather. For example, Downy Mildew spores can germinate in as little as three hours when temperatures fall below 68°F and relative humidity reaches 85°F. When does this happen in the southeast? About every night this time of year in many areas. Now is the time to use preventatives for mildews!
 MilStop® is a safe and effective way to prevent mildew from damaging your foliage and can even knock down cottony growth of Powdery Mildew. MilStop can be used almost up to the moment of shipping; it carries a 1-hour REI and is OMRI Listed for organic food and fiber production. It contains surfactants for better coverage but will not leave an unsightly residue.
Click here for more informatio on MilStop including label, MSDS and technical info.
Also -- If you're a visual person, and you'd like to see just how an application of MilStop works on Powdery Mildew spores, check out our MilStop movie!  |
| Technical FAQ |
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By John Francis, Director of Technical Services
Q. What are the main benefits of biological fungicides?
A. While there are still some who are unsure about using biological pesticides, we continue to hear success stories from growers both in and outside the U.S. Additionally, BioWorks is committed to researching and providing effective products, and regularly takes part in University trials for efficacy testing.
With that preface, in simple terms, here are many of the benefits of biological fungicides:
- Safer to workers, plants, environment
- Cost effective: For example, one treatment of RootShield® biological fungicide protects plant roots for 12 weeks, eliminating monthly chemical drenches
- Less stress on plant roots
- Proactive, rather than reactive: Used as a preventative, before you see root damage and the plant's growth has already slowed down
- Low or 0-REI: fewer late nights and weekends spent drenching
- Excellent fit with sustainability programs
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