By John Wood, Certis Biologicals Regional Manager, CA South Central Valley
We’ve been talking for quite a bit about the importance of finishing out this growing season strong and ways that you can start preparing now for a successful 2021 growing season. I hope that you’ve taken all of that advice, talked about it with your PCA and used it to benefit your farm or your operation.
If you haven’t, my feelings will be spared if you’ll take this one last piece of advice I have for you to heart. I think it’s the single most important thing that you can do to help protect your trees for next year.
Before the fall rains start, you need to plan for a dormant spray using either Kocide® 2000-O or Kocide® 3000-O.
Certis Biologicals' Kocide products feature BioActive™ technology, offering pound for pound the most effective control of bacterial and fungal diseases on the market. In my opinion, it is a no-brainer for protection during your dormant period and for added security going into the next growing season.
Our Kocide products are the most trusted, proven and reliable copper fungicide/bactericide on the market. They’re the industry-standard and the most technologically-advanced copper you can get.
Kocide is a copper hydroxide fungicide/bactericide. As the hydroxide ions break down, fungistatic levels of elemental copper are released over a long period, preventing spore germination and fungal growth.
I could talk all day about the many benefits that our Kocide products have. Growers tell me that they love the ease of use and the excellent formulations, making applications painless for applicators. It has superior rain fastness and a 48-hour REI. It’s also OMRI Listed®, residue-exempt and flexible enough to be used in both conventional and organic production. It can also be tank mixed, so you aren’t making multiple applications.
Even more, it’s made right here in the USA.
Timing is key on these Kocide dormant sprays. The first one should be happening soon, before the fall rains begin. The second should come in late dormancy, usually late January or February, for maximum impact. These one-two applications will reduce inoculum and protect against Bacterial Blast, Bacterial Canker and Coryneum Blight (Shot Hole).
We never know what the rest of the year holds for us, but if the weather is a concern, it can add significant stress to our trees or leave a climate that can breed disease. A dormant Kocide application provides the barrier you need to keep your trees protected during dormancy.
I’m always happy to talk more about Kocide, so if you are interested in how you can harness its power for yourself, please reach out at asktheexpert@certisbio.com.
Remember, there are countless coppers. But there is only one Kocide!
This series is part of a partnership with Tree Nut Farm Press. You can read the original here.
