There’s some good news for farmers facing possible Asian Soybean Rust outbreaks. Rust losses are covered by crop insurance. To collect payments, however, a grower must prove rust-infected fields were sprayed. That’s the word from the USDA’s Risk Management Agency. In other words, farmers need to carefully document what they did in an effort to curtail losses – what, where, when, and how much fungicide was applied?

“This is a good reminder for soybean growers and custom applicators to be prepared to store detailed data that will be needed at a later date to document insurance claims or for other crop input tracking needs. This is a valuable extra service for retailers to offer growers” says Dr. Nyle Wollenhaupt, worldwide agronomy manager for Global Technologies by AGCO.

“In some cases, two or three fungicide applications, possibly including different product brands or active ingredients, may be necessary. This can become quite difficult and really complicated to keep in order. Having the right equipment in the cab to automatically store application data can save time and frustration and ensure claims are approved by your insurance carrier,” Wollenhaupt continues.

Many RoGator owners are familiar with the ease of data logging offered by Falcon® II or Viper™ controllers, which are among the most advanced technology options offered by Ag Chem in new application equipment or as upgrades. Both systems provide “as-applied” field records at the touch of a button. “Many RoGator operators routinely program their in-cab electronic systems to store date and rate of application, product formulation, field location and EPA registration numbers on a memory card. Then it’s just a matter of transferring data to the office computer,” Wollenhaupt explains.

More information on data-logging capabilities is available by contacting your Ag Chem representative, at local Ag Chem parts and service dealers or by visiting www.rogator.agcocorp.com.

Ag Chem Offers Free Spray Guide for Soybean Rust

To help growers and custom applicators stay on target with the right nozzles and other important fungicide application techniques, Ag Chem created an easy-to-read spray guide. “Spraying Fungicides is Different” provides recommendations on nozzle types, boom height, pressure and water volumes required for thorough fungicide coverage. It’s all done in the context of comparing fungicide application to the more common experience of spraying herbicides. To receive a free copy of “Spraying Fungicides is Different,” call Ag Chem toll free at 1-877-454-3346.

AGCO Corporation, headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, is a global designer, manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment and related replacement parts. AGCO distributes its products in more than 140 countries. AGCO offers a full product line including tractors, combines, hay tools, sprayers, forage tools, tillage equipment and implements through more than 9,200 independent dealers and distributors around the world. AGCO products are distributed under the brand names AGCO®, AGCO®Allis, AGCOSTAR®, Challenger®, Farmhand®, Fendt®, Fieldstar®, GLEANER®, Glencoe®, Hesston®, Lor*Al®, Massey Ferguson®, New Idea®, RoGator®, SisuDiesel™, Soilteq™, Spra-Coupe®, Sunflower®, Terra-Gator®, Tye®, Valtra®, White and Willmar®. AGCO provides retail financing through AGCO Finance in North America and through Agricredit in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain and Brazil. In 2003, AGCO had net sales of $3.5 billion.