CropTalk
Volume 20 | Issue 2
What’s new with Bayer CropScience products
Seed Treatment – An Investment that Pays H
eavy precipitation last year in most parts of the prairies has set the stage this year for poor seed quality and high disease pressure. And, of course, there is no way of predicting what this year will bring in terms of disease pressure. Disease forecasts for 2011 predict that overwintering inoculum levels will be high for seed and soil-borne diseases such as tan spot, septoria and fusarium head blight on wheat, net blotch and scald on barley, ascochyta blight on chickpeas and peas and white mold on canola and pulses. Cool spring conditions could delay germination and excessive moisture in April will increase seedling disease pressure from seed decay, leaf spots and blight. More than ever, getting the seed out of the ground and well established is critical. There are several practices growers should respect: follow the recommended crop rotations, use resistant varieties whenever possible, scout fields and protect seed from disease with a seed treatment. Today’s seed treatments have evolved significantly over the past several years. Consider Raxil® MD, a combination of two highly effective systemic fungicides, tebuconazole and metalaxyl. The water-based, ready-to-use formulation is designed for both commercial and on-farm treating. Micro-dispersion technology ensures that the seed is uniformly covered, which is essential for effective control. And with the introduction of Raxil WW, growers can protect against disease and wireworm damage.
Protect your seed, right from the start Cold soil For reduced tillage growers seeding into cold soil, the soil temperature can delay crop establishment and opens the door to infection from seed- and soil-borne diseases. Seed treatment protects the seed during this time until the soil temperatures increase.
24 | Farm Forum | Spring 2011
Warm soil For soil that is warm, growers need to be aware that Fusarium garminearum, the pathogen that causes fusarium head blight flourishes causing seed blight, and root rot. Seed treatment will protect against Fusarium garminearum ensuring the seed germinates and gets out of the ground.
Seed-borne disease For seed that hasn’t been tested for seed-borne diseases, it is wise to use a seed treatment to prevent fusarium and smuts from developing. If you’ve purchased certified seed, the tag should indicate whether any diseased kernels were found along with the type of disease.
Insect pressure If there has been insect pressure historically or at seeding, consider applying a seed treatment like Raxil WW that contains both a fungicide and an insecticide. This will prevent damage to the plant from emergence until the crop is established.
Crop rotation The risk with continuous cropping is the build-up of disease inoculum in the soil. Seed treatment can help minimize potential losses from these soil-borne diseases. It is advisable to follow strategic crop rotation and use a good quality seed treatment. Not only will the current crop be protected, the build-up of disease inoculum can be avoided in the future. Whether growing conditions are ideal or not, using a seed treatment pays off in the long run, helping to establish the crop and deliver higher yields and better quality this season and keep soil healthy for the next growing season. CT