Ironmax Pro wins converts

High performing farmers stopping slugs in their tracks.

BioGro certified Ironmax Pro bait is efficacious along with being much safer for beneficial insects, farm dogs and other domestic pets.

There are possibly no better judges than Murchison, Tasman, South Island dairy farmers Chris and Stacey Hatfield.

With its high rainfall, temperate climate and lush pastures the area is an ideal environment for slugs. But when it comes to protecting their valuable grass (and recently planted maize) the Hatfields are taking a tough, no prisoners approach.

Chris has a long-term vision for their business believes in an investment and result, rather than just a cost approach. And he says it pays off.

“The more yield and quality you produce, the cheaper the crop becomes. Every mouthful the cows take, you see the benefit in the vat. When you’re spending money, you want to see the best return.”

He says that also shows in cow health and welfare.

However, it comes with a challenge. New high density, high performing pastures give slugs more places to hide and are a more enticing feed prospect.

Chris’ approach he says, is aggressive. He uses a hefty dose of Ironmax Pro to take-out not only the adults existing in the pasture but the next generation.

“If you go hard from the get go, that way every plant gets a crack.”

Mark Prosser, Technical Field Representative for PGG Wrightson says dairying in general, is scientific and measurable but Chris sets the bar high, with elevated pasture sowing rates to supress weed pressure and meticulous all-around management.

Mark says, in his experience Ironmax Pro actually draws slugs away from grass or maize. He says he trusts the product, even after multiple rain falls where other slug baits would break down.

“I’ve confidence that it’ll do the job. It’s got endurance in the field and our climate and it’s safe.”

The optimised pellet size and consistency ensure even distribution and a wide spread width. Every pellet has the same size and weight, which equals excellent ballistics. Every load is the same as the one before. Alex Easton, UPL NZ Regional Manager Upper South Island says,

“Contractors we spoke to said they found Ironmax Pro flowed well and suited their metering systems.”

Used to protect crops ranging from chicory and turnips to grass and maize, Ironmax Pro is very rainfast and contains the optimized active ingredient 24.2 g/kg ferric phosphate anhydrous, referred to as IPMax. Iron (ferric) phosphate is a natural component of soil. In Ironmax Pro, it works as a stomach poison on slugs and is fatal once ingested.

Ironmax Pro also uses Colzactive technology developed from oil seed rape molecules selected for palatability, feeding preference and rapid detection by slugs, which actively prefer feeding on the bait to feeding on seedlings.

For more information on Ironmax Pro, talk to your local technical merchant or contact Alex Easton, UPL NZ Regional Manager Upper South Island, at 027 578 0016.