USA
October 2, 2012

Diseases and insects are a constant threat to row crops no matter what region of the country you are in. Overly wet soils and improper drainage can lead to the development of fungus, which can lead to seedling disease. There are some factors that cannot be controlled during the planting months, like rain and insect presence, but seed treatments exist to help that seed overcome some of these obstacles. A seed treatment product will generally contain products with multiple modes of action, meaning multiple ingredients that all work to accomplish the main goal of allowing the seed to emerge strong from the soil to give it the best chance of survival. Those products generally include an insecticide and a fungicide.

The fungicides are designed to protect against diseases like Pythium, Phytophthora, Fusarium, and Rhizoctonia. These diseases, while all different, can cause root rot, sudden death, damping off, and other root and seed harming effects that cause the plant to emerge weak and more susceptible to the elements of a cold or wet spell before emergence.

Insecticides are designed to fight insects that are more likely to appear in the first 30 days after planting. Seed treatments are designed to protect against both above ground insects like bean leaf beetles and soybean aphids, as well as underground insects like seedcorn maggots and wireworms.

Seed Treatment options are plentiful, so researching and looking at historical data about your farm will be key in selecting the right seed treatment solution for you.

Website: http://www.monsanto.com

Published: October 2, 2012