Maximizing crop health: the impact of biological seed treatments

By Laurie Bedord

While it may be small, a kernel of corn is tasked with a big job. The seed must withstand myriad obstacles such as unpredictable weather, disease, and pests in its quest to grow into a healthy crop. Biological seed treatments complement conventional farming practices, giving producers more ways to protect and enhance plant health while using fewer synthetic inputs.

″Farmers continue to face numerous challenges in producing abundant, healthy crops, and seed treatments remain an essential tool that enables more sustainable and economical farming,″ says Prabdeep Bajwa, vice president, seed applied technologies at Corteva Agriscience. ″They help ensure farmers ‘Win the Start’ so seed reaches its full genetic potential. The additional protection from seed treatments also supports sustainable practices such as no-till, reduced-till, and early planting.″

Seed treatments contribute to reducing a farmer’s environmental footprint. ″They may reduce the amount of crop protection products that need to be applied to soil or sprayed on crops later in the season,″ he says. ″Seed treatments can also help farmers use fewer resources including labor and fuel.″

With more than 10 years deploying biological seed treatments in North America, Corteva has now expanded globally. In three years, the company has developed a portfolio that includes 16 biostimulants, biofungicides, and bioinsecticides.

Better Understanding = Better Adoption

Biologicals are not a new concept, but they have been gaining momentum in the past few years. ″I have been working with biologicals for a long time,″ says Keith O’Bryan, director of product development, seed treatments at Pivot Bio. ″Like anything else, the better understanding you have, the more apt you are to use it.″

Biological seed treatments are no different.

″We are working with living organisms that produce a form of nitrogen the seed can use throughout the growing season, so they need to be managed differently,″ he says. ″When you understand how on-seed nitrogen applications work and where they perform best, you can then begin to look at how they might fit into your management plan. As that understanding continues to grow, so will adoption.″

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