Westfield, Indiana, USA
March 18, 2025
The start of the growing season is similar to a first impression, says AgriGold Agronomist Steven Heightchew. “You only have one chance to get it right, and seed treatments can help crops start strong.”
“If farmers plant too early or don’t protect against a pest and they have to replant, they’ll likely be in the red,” Heightchew explains. “This season, especially, farmers need to have all their ducks in a row. That includes protecting stands with a seed treatment.”
What does a seed treatment protect?
Seed treatments can protect crops against early threats that can leave plants vulnerable to other issues down the road, says AgriGold Agronomist Steven Heightchew.
“Seed treatments act like an insurance measure,” Heightchew says. “They help get crops off to a strong start, protect stands and limit the odds for a replant.” They do so by protecting the seminal root system against seedling disease and early pest pressure until the V3 or V4 growth stage. This is when the corn plant starts relying on its nodal root system.
Corn seed treatment packages are multilayered and typically include fungicide and insecticide. That combination helps protect the corn plant against an early disease infection or pest damage that might inhibit early development and lead to yield loss. In recent years, AgriGold added the fungicide Vayantis® to provide additional protection against threats like Pythium.
Last season, Fusarium caused issues with cornstalk intactness in Heightchew’s southern Indiana territory. Weakened corn plants were also more vulnerable to other issues like tar spot. Consequently, keeping Fusarium away is a major farmer concern this year.
Soybean seed treatments, while multilayered, are more dependent on the specific threats farmers are facing. “Let’s say you plant soybean seed with a lower score for sudden death syndrome. You may want a higher seed treatment rate with a nematicide for added protection,” Heightchew explains.
Not a bailout for poor soil conditions
While seed treatments can help corn and soybeans get off to a more robust start, farmers shouldn’t rely on them to make up for poor planting conditions.
“Trials show seed treatments are effective in limiting replants, but you don’t want to make its job harder by planting into poor soil conditions,” Heightchew says. When a crop is mudded in, the root system will likely be restricted by the compaction layers.
Planting in proper field conditions will improve the odds of successful germination and the formation of robust root structures that support corn and soybean plants from planting to harvest.
To talk through your seed treatment options, reach out to your local AgriGold agronomist.
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