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Syngenta US News

Syngenta continues WeevilTrakSM scouting to assist with annual bluegrass weevil control

Course updates and Long Island product registration available for 2020 season

GREENSBORO, N.C., USA, April 20, 2020 – For the 2020 annual bluegrass weevil (ABW) season, Syngenta is continuing its work with independent researchers to provide golf course superintendents with tools for monitoring and control through its annual WeevilTrakSM program.

“This is a challenging time golf courses across the country. Syngenta is committed to helping our customers manage ABW on their courses,” said Stephanie Schwenke, turf market manager for Syngenta. “We continue to work with researchers on monitoring sites responsibly and safely. As some of the courses have already started progressing through stages, following the WeevilTak blogs will become more important than ever as the researchers give updates on their experiences and what they are seeing at their courses.”

NEW for 2020: Ference® insecticide is now approved to control ABW on golf course turf in Kings, Queens and Suffolk counties in New York under a Section 24(c) Special Local Need label. Golf course superintendents on Long Island must make applications in accordance with the Special Local Need Label and must have a printed copy of the Section 24(c) label in their possession at the time of application.

Syngenta has also added new courses that will serve as ABW research stations, including:

  • Hendersonville Country Club in Hendersonville, North Carolina

  • York Golf and Tennis Club in York, Maine

  • Elk River Club in Banner Elk, North Carolina

  • Old Westbury Golf and Country Club in Old Westbury, New York

“As the managing consultant of WeevilTrak, I am working with other scientists to try and predict the optimal timing for applications targeting annual bluegrass weevils,” said Steve McDonald, owner, Turfgrass Disease Solutions. “We know time will be precious for the foreseeable future with limited staffs and minimal inputs. We understand these concerns and will try to be concise and informative with our communications.”

Other tools available for 2020 include:

  • The Syngenta Optimum Control Strategy outlining a proven ABW treatment protocol that can help manage resistance as ABW control applications are planned

    • 94% of surveyed1 WeevilTrak users said resistance management is an important consideration as they choose what to spray

  • WeevilTrak text alerts, which provide timely updates on local ABW progression

  • The WeevilTrak blog, updated by 11 industry-leading ABW researchers and featuring 189 blog posts from the past five seasons

  • Secondary course monitoring for additional localized stage-progression information

  • A growing degree day model designed specifically for ABW


WeevilTrak continues to be a trusted resource for superintendents who battle this insect each year. Results from the latest survey of WeevilTrak subscribers1 showed that:

  • 98% of users found WeevilTrak email alerts valuable

  • 88% of users said WeevilTrak was their top tool for monitoring ABW followed by plant phenology and soap flushes


Valuable information through WeevilTrak is only available for subscribers. Register now and sign up for text alerts by visiting WeevilTrak.com. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter with @SyngentaTurf by using #WeevilTrak.

1Survey distributed by Syngenta to WeevilTrak subscribers in December 2019 with 251 total responses.

About Syngenta
Syngenta is one of the world’s leading agriculture companies. Our ambition is to help safely feed the world while taking care of the planet. We aim to improve the sustainability, quality and safety of agriculture with world class science and innovative crop solutions. Our technologies enable millions of farmers around the world to make better use of limited agricultural resources. With 28,000 people in more than 90 countries we are working to transform how crops are grown. Through partnerships, collaboration and The Good Growth Plan we are committed to improving farm productivity, rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more visit www.syngenta.com and www.goodgrowthplan.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Syngenta and www.twitter.com/SyngentaUS.

Media Contacts:
Mark LaFleur
(336) 632-6138
mark.lafleur@syngenta.com
​​​​​​​
Kelsea Mullane
(919) 870-5718
kmullane@gscommunications.com

Web Resources:
WeevilTrak.com
GreenCastOnline.com/Ference
Twitter.com/SyngentaTurf
Facebook.com/SyngentaTurf

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©2020 Syngenta, 410 Swing Rd., Greensboro, NC 27409. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties and/or may have state‐specific use requirements. Please check with your local extension service to ensure registration and proper use. Ference may be used for control of annual bluegrass weevil on golf course turfgrass only in accordance with the Special Local Needs provisions of the EPA under a FIFRA Section 24(c) registration. You must comply with all of the limitations for use set forth in the 24(c) registration. Ference®, GreenCast®, WeevilTrakSM and the Syngenta logo are trademarks and/or service marks of a Syngenta Group Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.