Seed Treatments Q and A

Name a crop-protection or plant-nutrition category, and odds are there's a company offering it as a seed treatment. The seemingly unending list of fungicides, insecticides, micronutrients and biologicals can create the same "menu anxiety" you feel when a restaurant overwhelms with too many choices.

So, which seed treatments are considered essential today, and which are extra? Katie Dowson, brand manager for Seed Life, an agribusiness in Virden, Illinois, that focuses on treating seed, shared her thoughts with DTN/Progressive Farmer about what growers should expect from their seed treatments.

DTN/PROGRESSIVE FARMER: When you talk to growers about treated seed, what are the main benefits they're looking to realize?

KATIE DOWSON: The first thing is plant emergence. With seed treatment, that crop comes shooting out of the ground so much faster. Thanks to the pest and disease protection, plants are stronger, healthier and have better overall vigor early in the season, and that correlates to yield.

We also hear from growers that their need to replant is reduced substantially thanks to treatment. We did the math, and in 2024, about 95% of the replants we encountered were with seed that was minimally treated or had no treatment at all compared to our top-tier treatment packages.

DTN/PF: Are there limitations to how many seed treatments can be applied together?

DOWSON: There's not a set number, but there's only so much physical space on the seed for products to adhere to. A soybean can handle 6 to 7 ounces of treatment per seed unit. So, if a grower wanted to use products that together exceeded that limit, we'd discuss other options -- maybe applying in-furrow instead. As products evolve and use rates drop, we're able to add more and more.

DTN/PF: Are there product categories that aren't as well-suited for seed treatment?

DOWSON: Not necessarily a category, but we've encountered products with formulations that don't adhere well to the seed or that don't combine well with other products. Some can gum up our seed treater or the planter. So, we'll advise farmers against those. Different styles of treating equipment apply products differently, so it's good to talk to whomever is treating your seed about any potential issues.

DTN/PF: As far as treatment on soybean seed, what do you advise?

DOWSON: Our most popular treatment in 2024 included three fungicides, one insecticide, a product for protecting against SDS (sudden death syndrome) and our own private-label product called Seed Life Armor-SB that we designed with Meristem. It's an 80/20 talc/graphite product that contains biologicals, a biostimulant, active carbon, zinc, manganese and iron. About 60% of our customers chose that package.

Of course, not everyone has $20 to $25 to spend on treatment per unit. In those cases, we offer packages with fewer total products but advise that they at least include fungicide treatment.

DTN/PF: What about on seed corn, since it comes pretreated?

DOWSON: There isn't a lot of seed corn these days that doesn't come with a base treatment already applied. However, there are overtreatments such as our Seed Life Armor-C containing nutrients and microbials that promote strong, vigorous stands early.

DTN/PF: With tighter margins expected in 2025, growers will scrutinize every input, including seed treatments. How might a grower trim costs and improve return on investment?

DOWSON: This may sound self-serving, but seed treatment isn't where I'd try to save a buck. Seed is one of the biggest investments on the farm, and you want to give it the best chance to express its fullest yield potential from the start. We want to make their best seed better.

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-- Follow Jason on social platform X @JasonJenkinsDTN

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