By Kent Wolfe CCA-ON, 4R NMS
Crop Sales Specialist
AGRIS Co-operative - Dutton
Wanstead Farmers Co-operative

Seed selling season is definitely in full swing right now. As we discuss your variety requirements with you for next year, one item that sometimes gets overlooked in the discussion is the different treatment options that are available and how they can contribute to improved yields at harvest.

You hear us talk about the importance of planning and how it needs to be done on a field by field basis; the same holds true for seed success.

The first and most important decision is still the variety choice. You have to start with the right variety for the field it is being planted into but treatment options or combinations of them can definitely compliment your yield potential with the variety.

What I would like to look at are the four main seed-applied groups of products that are available to us and their main role to maximize your soybean yields.

Fungicide seed treatments

A fungicide seed treatment is the basic treatment. The main role of this treatment is to manage two different types of pathogens - seed born fungal pathogens like Phomopsis seed decay fungus and soil born pathogens like Pythium, Fusarium, Phytophthora and Rhizoctonia.

We have two different offerings here depending on the which seed partner you are getting your seed from. Vibrance Maxx is a combination of metalaxyl-m (Group 4), sedaxane (Group 7) and fludioxonil (Group 12) fungicide products. Acceleron Basic is a combination of Prothiconazole (Group 3) Metalaxyl-m (Group 4) and penflufen (Group 7).

Insecticide seed treatments

Insecticide seed treatments are another option that will provide early season protection against wireworm, seed corn maggot, bean leaf beetle, aphids, white grubs and leafhoppers.

Fortenza is a non class 12 (Cyantraniliprole) insecticide which is the main product available for seed that comes into the branch treated from the processor.

The other option that used to be the standard insecticide product a few years ago is CruiserMaxx is a class 12 neonicotinoid (Thiamethoxam). This treatment option is only available at some of our bulk treatment sites and requires that a pest assessment has been completed for the field being planted with the treated seed and that you have taken the IPM course in the last five years.

Inoculent seed treatment

Inoculants are another treatment option that benefits the soybean plant with improved nodule formation, increased nitrogen fixation and enhanced nutrient availability to support early root and shoot growth. Optimize ST is a specially selected Bradyrhizobium janonicum inoculant and LCO (lipochitooligosaccharide) technology that is viable on the seed for up to 220 days.

Nematode (SCN) and Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) treatments

These treatments are becoming increasingly more necessary as we see more damage and yield loss each year throughout our trade area from them. Here we have a couple of different options to pick from.

ILEVO with fluopyram (Group 7 SDHI fungicide) is a product that suppresses the effect of infection for both SDS & SCN and root lesion nematodes. This product is highly systemic and is absorbed by the emerging seedling and translocated into the cotyledons and unifoliate leaves. Because of this systemic activity, you may see a typical discolouring in the outer margins of the cotyledons referred to as the “Halo Effect”. This temporary injury has been proven that it does not result in yield losses.

Saltro with adepidyn is also a (Group 7 SDHI fungicide) and works in a similar way by suppressing the effect of early-season infection but differs in that it does not show the early phytotoxicity or “Halo Effect” in the plant. Saltro is currently registered for SDS suppression but is awaiting PMRA approval for both SDS and SCN suppression to be added to the label. It is expected to be approved by next spring.

These products are not stand-alone treatments and needs to be used in combination with variety selection that has an SCN trait and tolerance to SDS.

These treatment options are simply just that; options that can range from a single base fungicide treatment to multiple combinations of different products.

Some may have a fit and positive economic response potential; some could be just considered good insurance while others may not be a fit on your farm at all.

Take the time to have the discussion and work through some scenarios on a field-by-field basis with your seed specialist at your local AGRIS Co-operative and chose the right mix for you.