CFS Trial Shows Outstanding Results!
Dec 02, 2018
Cody Schmeling, CFS Agronomist
I have seen quite a few positive agronomic impacts from using seed treatments over the last number of years. First and foremost, are yield increases which provide us with a return on investment (ROI). But in those areas with higher yield we are also seeing other impacts and the ”why” with increased stand and early season plant vigor. I have witnessed Pythium and/or Phytophthora wipe out a soybean stand between tile lines in untreated beans while the same bean with treatment in the same field maintained a more uniform stand.
Impact of seed treatment is confirmed in the data. 6.21 bu/acre on a 2018 trial of Warden RTA + Vibrance + iLevo. This particular package of treatments cost the grower $22.55/unit (planting at 140,000 seeds/acre so 1 unit=1 acre). 6.21 bu/acre increase using $9/bu selling price still adds $33.34/acre to the growers bottom line above the added investment of the treatment.
I have always been a believer in seed treatments, and this trial helped to confirm that they are a cost-effective tool for increasing ROI. We have been adjusting soybean populations the last few years and trying to find the optimum final stand, and I believe we can save money by planting a little less seed when treating with a quality seed treatment. An increase of 10,000 plants/acre or more using seed treatment allows us to drop the populations down a bit to offset potential white mold issues, while remaining confident that we have a good stand to achieve high yields. In this particular case, the grower saw the benefit in the combine of over 6 bushels and will be using more seed treatments in the future.
I have seen quite a few positive agronomic impacts from using seed treatments over the last number of years. First and foremost, are yield increases which provide us with a return on investment (ROI). But in those areas with higher yield we are also seeing other impacts and the ”why” with increased stand and early season plant vigor. I have witnessed Pythium and/or Phytophthora wipe out a soybean stand between tile lines in untreated beans while the same bean with treatment in the same field maintained a more uniform stand.
Impact of seed treatment is confirmed in the data. 6.21 bu/acre on a 2018 trial of Warden RTA + Vibrance + iLevo. This particular package of treatments cost the grower $22.55/unit (planting at 140,000 seeds/acre so 1 unit=1 acre). 6.21 bu/acre increase using $9/bu selling price still adds $33.34/acre to the growers bottom line above the added investment of the treatment.
I have always been a believer in seed treatments, and this trial helped to confirm that they are a cost-effective tool for increasing ROI. We have been adjusting soybean populations the last few years and trying to find the optimum final stand, and I believe we can save money by planting a little less seed when treating with a quality seed treatment. An increase of 10,000 plants/acre or more using seed treatment allows us to drop the populations down a bit to offset potential white mold issues, while remaining confident that we have a good stand to achieve high yields. In this particular case, the grower saw the benefit in the combine of over 6 bushels and will be using more seed treatments in the future.