Paul Fabry, the President of Plant Food Systems, Inc., grew-up in the citrus industry as a grower with his father.  In 1981 Plant Food Systems, Inc. was formed and began manufacturing liquid fertilizers.  The Florida citrus industry lost 60% of its production to citrus greening over the past 20 years. As President of Plant Food Systems, Inc., and facing challenges of a severely threatened industry, Paul created and patented Kphite 7LP Fungicide/Bactericide to have the strongest molecules available to combat HLB (bacterial organism) that was destroying the Florida citrus industry.  Today, Paul Fabry is regarded as a key grower and manufacturer responsible for preserving and resurrecting the Florida citrus industry.

 

Paul says, we offer the same product to Georgia Pecans.  We know a lot about citrus trees but not so much about pecan trees.  Cooperating with the University of Georgia Pecan Team, USDA Byron, and key growers we have learned a lot about how Kphite 7LP fits into pecan productions and disease control.

 

Early applications are key, says Gary Veal, Technical Sales Agronomist for Plant Food Systems, Inc. We have learned that Kphite 7LP chemistry is best overall for preventing leaf-scab in pecans based on university research.  Kphite 7LP can be used as a stand-alone treatment, no tank-mix required at 2-3 quarts per acre for leaf-scab in pre-pollination sprays.  Legally, the number of applications of Kphite 7LP is unlimited.  However, says Veal, our 2020 spray recommendation limits the applications. We want to be good stewards by rotating to other classes of fungicide.

Veal also comments, Kphite 7LP is much more than scab prevention.  Multiple, and sequential applications can enhance and protect the trees root system.  Kphite 7LP is the best choice for hedged trees as the chemistry protects the new growth resulting in a healthy flush of new growth and insuring future production. Lastly, the Kphite 7LP chemistry is known to “switch-on” the immune system, activating the tree’s natural ability to prevent diseases.  Multiple, sequential applications are required to put this mechanism in motion, says Veal.  Kphite 7LP is rated as “low risk” for pecan-scab building resistance allowing growers to make multiple and sequential applications early.