Hey farm gals, it’s Kara from Lange Girl Farms!
The big horses were out grazing this morning with their steady, grounded energy, while the alpacas moved along the fenceline checking everything out in their thoughtful way. I took time to hand-weed a few stubborn spots near the herbs and torch some young weeds before they could spread. The Siberian huskies had their own space to run, the llamas kept their quiet lookout, and the chickens and ducks were happily occupied in their secure run. These simple mornings without chemicals feel right — the land stays alive, the animals stay strong, and we have real peace of mind.
In Part 5 we followed the money and the Driscoll’s licensing model. Now in Part 6 we go back to the beginning: how fluxapyroxad was discovered, developed into a commercial SDHI fungicide, and became a standard tool on strawberries and many other crops. This history shows the same pattern we’ve seen across every series — a chemical is introduced for convenience and disease control, adoption spreads, and regenerative farms are left protecting their clean systems from the fallout.
Discovery: From Research to Commercial Fungicide
Fluxapyroxad belongs to the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) class. It was developed by BASF in the early 2000s as part of a new generation of fungicides designed to target fungal respiration more effectively than older products.
• Researchers identified the molecule’s ability to inhibit Complex II in the mitochondrial electron transport chain of fungi.
• Extensive field testing showed strong activity against a wide range of important pathogens, including those causing gray mold, powdery mildew, and root rots.
• It was commercialized in the mid-2000s and quickly adopted for use on high-value crops like strawberries, berries, grapes, and cereals because it provided both preventive and curative control with good rainfastness.
Its systemic properties allow it to move within plant tissues, protecting new growth — a big advantage for crops like strawberries that have a long harvest window.
Development and Widespread Agricultural Use
Fluxapyroxad’s key selling points were:
• Broad-spectrum activity against many Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes.
• Relatively low application rates compared to some older fungicides.
• Usefulness in both field sprays and seed treatments.
Strawberry growers in particular embraced it because berries are delicate, prone to mold in humid conditions, and need to travel long distances to reach supermarkets. It became part of standard conventional spray programs, often applied multiple times per season. As global berry demand grew, so did fluxapyroxad use — especially on large-scale operations supplying major brands.
The fungicide was positioned as a modern, targeted tool. However, its single-site mode of action means fungi can develop resistance relatively quickly with repeated use — a problem now seen in some strawberry-growing regions.
Why This History Matters on Our Homestead
The story of fluxapyroxad — from lab research to widespread use on conventional berries — shows how “solutions” for disease control and shelf life often come with trade-offs. We refuse it entirely. We grow our own berries when possible, source from trusted local regenerative farms, or preserve what we harvest. We hand-weed, torch weeds, plant cover crops, and support beneficial fungi and bacteria in the soil because those methods build true balance instead of relying on synthetic fungicides that can leave residues and contribute to resistance.
Our alpacas and big horses graze clean pasture we’ve built without these chemicals. Our huskies, llamas, chickens, and ducks live without the added burden. The pattern is the same across every series: a chemical is introduced for convenience, resistance or new problems develop, and regenerative farms are left protecting their clean systems and choosing carefully what they buy or grow themselves.
Series Roadmap – What’s Coming Next (The Final Part!)
Part 7: Reclaiming our land – our exact holistic methods (hand-weeding, torch burning, mulch, cover crops, livestock grazing with our alpacas and big horses), Michigan-specific tips, and how we grow or source clean berries without these fungicides.
This deep history isn’t just background — it explains why so many of us have walked away from conventional berry production entirely. We can learn from the past and build something better.
Pin/save the entire series and comment below: Did the development timeline or resistance concerns surprise you? How has this history shaped your choices on the homestead? I read every comment and appreciate your stories.
If you want to support a small regenerative farm that refuses these chemicals, check our shop for wildcrafted salves (perfect for hands after torching or weeding), herbal teas grown right here without sprays, or non-GMO seeds to start your own clean garden. Every purchase helps us keep protecting what matters.
We don’t have to carry forward this cycle. We can choose healthier soil, healthier animals, and healthier families—one deliberate, natural step at a time.
See you in the final Part 7, farm gals!
With love from the pasture,
Kara
Lange Girl Farms
