When to treat seeds or effectiveness of seed treatments

Because in most seasons seedling diseases are not a general problem and are unique problems to individual Iowa farmers, producers should selectively use seed treatments in order to reduce production cost. Below are specific cases where one should use treated seeds.

1. When seed quality is poor, such as last year. Seed treatment will not improve germination rate, but will protect further stand loss. Generally speaking, this year the seed quality has been good. Seed quality has not been an issue.

2. Your fields have a history of severe damping off from Phytophtora or Pythium and the coming spring is wet. Phytophthora can cause damping off for some Iowa soybean producers, especially in southern Iowa. However, if spring is not wet, the disease will not be a problem. This also applies to Pythium when soybeans are planted early. Pythium is a cool temperature disease and is not a concern when soybean is planted later in May or after.

3. Replanting.  If replanting is needed, seed treatment is insurance for a good stand.  The lack of stand establishment during germination is a sign of seedling disease in your field. Using seed treatment is a must. However, insects such as seed corn maggots sometimes cause seed rot. Make sure the lack of soybean stand is from disease, not insect when you replant.

4. Early planting. Early planting, planting before May, is not a reason in itself for seed treatment. When soybean is planted earlier, the soil is cool and seedling diseases Pythium and Fusarium occur in cool soils. Past surveys of these diseases indicate Fusarium only accounts for about 10 percent of seedling disease problems in Nebraska and Iowa

Finally, many seed treatment has multiple packaging which includes insecticide such as Cruiser Max. Seed treatment with insecticide will not help aphid control, but it may reduce first generation of bean leaf beetles if the insect is a concern in your production.

Loup Valley Supply Inc. and NuTech Seed can treat your beans with the following:

CruiserMaxx™ Beans

A CruiserMaxx Beans brand product is an insecticide and fungicide seed treatment combination that protects soybean seeds and seedlings against a broad spectrum of seed and foliar-feeding insects, including soybean aphid and bean leaf beetle, as well as all major seed - and soil-borne fungal disease pathogens, resulting in improved stand establishment, increased vigor, earlier canopy closure and enhanced yield potential. No returns or cancellations after treatment is applied.

Trilex/Allegiance (Only if requested)

Trilex/Allegiance seed applied fungicide provides cost-effective control of a wide range of early season soybean diseases sometimes called damping off diseases. It promotes enhanced stand establishment and increases yield potential. Trilex/ Allegiance has systemic, broad spectrum control of many of the early season seed and seedling diseases including excellent control of Pythium and Rhizoctonia along with control of Fusarium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Rhizopus and Cladosporium. Fields with a history of any of these diseases will clearly benefit from the use of Trilex/Allegiance. Do not use treated seed for feed, food, or oil purposes. Store away from feed and foodstuffs. Do not dump unused seed at the elevator. Keep out of reach of children. No returns or cancellations after treatment is applied.