The grapevine moth, grape mealybug or the Mediterranean fruit fly are pests which have been causing problems to table grape producers for decades, but the company Suterra currently offers a combination of three products that can help us improve the value of our production by controlling these phytosanitary problems with an environmentally sustainable approach.
Its sponsorship in the next edition of Grape Attraction underlines its interest in providing new solutions to the development of this crop, one of the most important for Spanish and European agriculture.
Magnet® MED, of Suterra, is consolidating its position as the product of choice for the control of Mediterranean fruit flies. It offers greater comfort and ease of installation than classic traps. Magnet® MED also provides protection to the crops outside of the most sensitive period of the harvest and thus contributes to decreasing the pest populations in the treated area.
Furthermore, Suterra has a broad range of products for mating disruption within the CheckMate® range. Currently, the company is making a significant commitment to the promotion of active pheromone diffusers in spray form, commonly known as Puffers.
CheckMate® Puffer® LB provides multiple advantages over traditional diffusers designed to control the spread of grapevine moth. This technology is getting a great reception from the sector, which particularly appreciates the reduced need for labour. Moreover, thanks to the Puffer Service program, with its collection and recycling system, no waste is generated, thus helping cut costs.
CheckMate® VMB-XL is marketed as the first product using mating disruption to control grape mealybug. The effectiveness of this product is twofold, as it improves both the fruit yield and the crop quality.
Use of the 3 technologies, reduction of active ingredients
"We have managed to reduce the use of chemical treatments and their impact on the environment, allowing us to consider the use of biological control," explains Pepe Olivas, head of the technical department of the group El Ciruelo, which has named the combination of these three products as the "trio-pack".
Regarding Checkmate Puffer®, Pepe mentions its easy installation and the reduced need for labour it involves, but stresses its constant and uniform release over a period of 6 months.
"Typically, the acreage that conventional diffusers can cover is reduced after 2 months of use; moreover, their effectiveness is actually superior," he remarks.
Referring to Magnet MED, he stressed that thanks to this product it will no longer be necessary to perform any additional treatments to control fruit flies in table grapes during the campaign. In the interview, Pepe also made some very positive comments about Checkmate® VMB-XL, which is being used from the first year of production on 1 year old plantations.
"We believe it is the best option for a satisfactory control of the grape mealybug," he says, insisting that this product is a safe bet for the future.
For more information:
Carolina Maset (EU Marketing Manager)
SUTERRA
Plaza América 2, 9ª
46004, Valencia, Spain
T: +34 96 395 67 43
M:+34 647 957 907
[email protected]
suterra.com
