Vydate is one of only two fully approved nematicides available for use within the UK. Vydate is used by sugar beet growers on light sandy soils for control of trichodorus and longidorus nematodes which feed and cause damage to sugar beet roots. It alsoprovides effective control of PCN (potato cyst nematode) in potatoes as well as control of free living soil nematodes (FLNs) some of which can also transmit Tobacco Rattle Virus leading to Spraing in this crop.
Following the shut down of Du Pont’s La Porte factory in November 2014, there have been limited supplies of Vydate available for growers. Approximately 75% of product was already in the UK in Spring 2015 so there was some short supply.
However, there has been no production of Vydate during 2015 so NONE is currently available for Spring 2016. The plant remains closed while the US carry out investigations into the fatalities. It was hoped that it would re-open this Autumn, but it is more likely to be mid January 2016 (still only a possibility, not a definite.)
So there is a possibility that product may be available for late spring 2016. DuPont have confirmed they will advise the market once this position is confirmed. The objective of the recent communication was to advise growers as early as possible to allow them to make the best alternative plans for spring 2016 cropping