Choose an effective seed treatment to start the 2019 season strong. 

With the 2018 growing season in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to begin thinking about how to improve pest management strategies for next season’s crop. Reflecting on 2018 conditions will help you make informed decisions for the upcoming season and get your soybeans off to the strongest start possible.

Weather

2018 planting was delayed by frequent and heavy rain events that lasted through the spring. Throughout the Midwest, cold, wet weather delayed planting and constrained timelines, which created difficulties throughout the season.

Wet, cold soils at planting can inhibit germination and stand establishment. But using a quality seed treatment can offer better emergence and help get soybeans to canopy closure quicker, which is a crucial part of starting the season strong.

Diseases

The University of Minnesota Extension says planting in cool, wet soils can lead to seedling diseases like Pythium. So, there was an increased risk of early-season diseases for Midwestern soybeans this year. Ohio State University Extension says diseases like Rhizoctonia prefer warm, wet weather, like what was seen in areas in the South later in the year.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln says disease pressure can be hard to predict, as all 3 elements of the disease triangle need to be present: a susceptible host (soybeans), pathogens and environmental conditions favorable for disease development.

This year’s weather conditions demonstrated why it’s important to be prepared for anything with a strong line of defense. A powerful seed treatment like CruiserMaxx^® Vibrance^® Beans, a combination of registered products, is an insurance policy for any weather condition and is vital for protecting soybeans during the critical early-growth stage.

Nematodes

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) reproduction was accelerated in IA due to consistently warm temperatures later in the year, according to a report from Iowa State University. Once SCN is found in a field, it can’t be completely eliminated, so it’s important to manage SCN with an integrated approach.

Integrated management tactics include:

• Testing soils for the presence of SCN and assessing the level of infestation
• Planting SCN-resistant soybean varieties
• Rotating your fields with non-host crops
• Treating your seeds with an effective, seed-applied nematicide

In addition to protecting your soybeans against early-season diseases and insects, seed treatment is the only seed treatment on the market that offers season-long, lethal activity against SCN.

Talk to your local Syngenta sales representative to learn more about selecting the right seed treatment to protect your crop. Know what’s on your seed, and know that your soybeans are protected from whatever Mother Nature throws at them.

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