Romanian farmers strengthen wheat with efficient fungicide strategy

In response to the growing pressures of climate change, farmers across Romania are increasingly turning to advanced crop protection solutions to safeguard their yields. Shifting weather patterns, such as longer, warmer autumn shave led to an earlier onset of diseases like powdery mildew, septoria, and eyespot in cereal crops. These conditions challenge the vital process of photosynthesis, which is fundamental to crop development and productivity.

To ensure healthy growth, cereals must maintain a strong foliar system from early stages in spring season. Protecting this system requires effective fungicides that prevent pathogen infections and support optimal photosynthesis conditions. In response to this growing need, Corteva Agriscience, agricultural science and technology company, developed proquinazid molecule, that inhibits spore germination and prevents fungal development by acting on powdery mildew and other pathogens. When paired with prothioconazole, a systemic triazole fungicide with curative and protective effects, the result is a robust defense mechanism integrated in Verben™, a high-performance fungicide specifically designed for early-stage disease control in cereals.

Verben™product’s formulation ensures excellent crop adhesion, uniform distribution, rain fastness within an hour, and extended residual protection. Applied during the first spring treatment, Verben™ supports plant health, strengthens resistance to diseases, and helps maximize yield potential under increasingly unpredictable climatic conditions. For Gabriel Novac Leca, Director of Research and Development at Agricost Great Island of Brăila, Verben™ has proven indispensable. Agricost operates the largest consolidated agricultural holding in the European Union, managing approximately 57,000 hectares, including 9,700 hectares of wheat, in the fertile Danube floodplain.

Novac and his team began applying Verben™ three years ago on the 100% surface coverage of wheat crops as the first fungicide treatment in wheat, a crucial moment in crop development. Since its adoption, the results have been consistent and outstanding.“We use Verben™ as the first phytosanitary treatment on the entire wheat area. It’s an essential component of our disease management strategy, particularly effective against foliar diseases such as powdery mildew and septoria,” says Novac. “We’ve had no significant issues with these pathogens since we introduced Verben™. Its performance is consistent and reliable.”

One of the key strengths of Verben™, Novac explains, lies in its flexibility and synergistic mode of action: “The product combines active substances that work in synergy, offering both preventive and curative control. This helps us maintain healthy foliage during the most sensitive stages of vegetation, which directly supports photosynthesis and, ultimately, productivity.”

In a climate where regulatory restrictions are reducing the number of permitted active substances in crop protection, Novac sees innovation as essential. “Verben™ remains an esential part of our strategy, and it gives us the confidence to meet our yield targets, even under the increasing pressures brought by climate change. It’s a product we trust—and one that has become indispensable in our crop management programs.”

As Romanian agriculture faces growing challenges caused by shifting disease patterns innovativesolutions such as Verben™ are proving essential to ensure crop health and productivity. By combining advanced technologies with field-proven performance, Verben™ empowers farmers to protect their crops from the startof growing stages, sustain high yields, and adapt confidently to evolving farming conditions.

Tags: Romania, yields, protection, fungicide, climate change