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Seed treatments, biologicals can help boost productivity
Jan. 27, 2015
As commodity prices level out, maximizing performance of corn and soybean seeds and plants has never been more important.
“One of the important things to remember when you have commodity prices not what they were five years ago, or even two years ago, is maximizing the performance of the genetics that you have and reducing your cost per acre means more bushels per acre,” said Mike McFatrich, director of the seed solutions business globally for BASF Crop Protection.
McFatrich said solutions to maintain and boost seed health and plant productivity need to prove themselves when it comes to the bottom line.
“In the current environment of sustainability and making sure we’re talking about environmentally prudent solutions, one of the most important parts, in addition to that, is making sure that we have the kind of products that address the needs of the market, as well as the ability to provide a good return on investment,” he said.
McFatrich said one product group that can help provide added protection beyond the germination stage is biologicals.
“You’re looking at being able to extend the window of protection so when you apply a traditional seed-applied fungicide, how can you move that protection beyond the 35- to 40-day window? Biological products help you do that. They help provide stability of performance in terms of yield stability, and they also provide protection for later season diseases,” he said.
Coating Benefits
Seed coatings can maximize profitability and performance as they contribute to factors such as even populations.
“Making sure you select the kind of seed coatings, particularly where you have the ability to make those selections, like in soybeans and wheat, where you optimize planting populations, you manage seed singulation, you make sure the planting of the seed is as accurate as possible,” McFatrich said.
He said two examples of BASF products that can contribute to optimizing seed performance are Vault HP and Flo Rite 1706.
“One for soybeans is Vault HP, which is a biofungicide and an inoculant. It provides not only a more efficient rhizobia, which helps soybeans fix nitrogen, but also a biofungicide, which can complement traditional seed-applied fungicides and extend that window of protection,” he said.
“Another product is Flo-Rite 1706, which is a coating material that helps seed singulation and plantability,” he added.
Seed treatments can provide an optimum start for the young plant, but once the seedling pokes its head above ground, farmers may need to rethink their plant health strategy.
“I think when you look at the importance of plant health and being able to manage crop protection, I think we’re moving more from the curative stage, where a grower goes out and sees he has a plant disease and may want to apply a foliar application to a preventative phase,” McFatrich said.
Be Proactive
That means looking at products, from seed-applied treatments to post-emergence applications, that can head off any disease or insect pressure.
“With seed treatments, the utilization of seed-applied fungicides and biologicals, we’re looking at how can we help set that plant up for the best opportunity to achieve maximum yield by preventing some of the things and eliminating those challenges. Generally, when you see disease or when you see insect damage, you’re down the road a little bit, so it’s money well spent. Maintaining overall plant health is a critical part of maximizing yield,” McFatrich said.
Looking at all plant health products as an overall system, with products that work together and complement each other, also is an important part of maximizing return on investment of those products. Farmers also should consider moving some treatments onto the seeds to maximize performance.
McFatrich said farmers can look at their total field treatment package and make those decisions.
“For example, if you’re looking at an in-furrow application or a foliar application of an insecticide, what are the things that we can move onto the seed? When you do that, you’ve reduced overall environmental impact,” he said.
Source: AgriNews
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