New Seed Treatment Options for 2014

As we gear up for the busy farm meeting season, farmers can be sure to learn about a few new product releases from their favourite crop protection company. 2014 appears to be no different with many new options coming out for growers in the area of seed treatments.

Earlier in 2013, I was at a conference where the discussion centered around seed treatments, specifically surrounding the use of fungicides, as being the next big push for many of the crop protection companies, as this is where many feel a large boost in production can be achieved. New product announcements definitely reflect this new commitment towards better seed care products, as we look at a few of the new offerings registered and set to be available for the 2014 growing season (listed alphabetically by company):

Bayer CropScience: Bayer has pumped up their tried, tested and true Raxil lineup with new Raxil Pro. Raxil MD (metalaxyl/tebuconazole) has been an option for many years, with previous years’ upgrades to include an insecticide (imidacloprid) to make Raxil WW for growers with a wireworm issue. Now with Raxil Pro they have added prothioconazole (active in fungicides such as Prosaro and Proline) to the MD version, which is a significant upgrade when trying to tackle seed borne disease in the fusarium family. If wireworms are a problem Bayer has also added the prothioconazole to Raxil WW making Raxil Pro Shield. For full details, click here.

DuPont: Dupont’s new insecticide seed treatment has been talked about a lot lately and will now be available for select canola seed varieties as an option over and above the neonicitinoid insecticide already included in the majority of canola seed treatments. Lumiderm (Cyazypyr, or cyantraniliprole) is a new class of insecticide group (Group 28) with systemic activity that can be a hedge against cutworm infestations. This product can save you a trip over the field with insecticide, or cover you if you missed a patch of cutworms while scouting. Once they chew into a plant or two this active ingredient will paralyze them, causing them to starve to death. To top this off the flea beetle spectrum has been shifting from crucifer to striped flea beetles which have an increased tolerance to our typical neonicitinoid insecticide treatment, but the striped flea beetles are still susceptible to Lumiderm making it beneficial for many areas. Lastly, this active is extremely safe to beneficial insects, humans and Dupont has from early observations seen some increased vigor and plant health effects which they are digging deeper into as write this. Click here to learn more.

Syngenta Canada: Over the past couple of years Syngenta has included the Group 7 active sedaxane in several new products for excellent activity on rhizoctonia root disease, and for 2014 they have another option for pulse growers. Vibrance Maxx (Fludioxinil/metalaxyl/sedaxane) will be available for 2014 and approved for use on pulses, for those who feel they do not have the wireworm pressure to require a Cruiser product. Cruiser Maxx Vibrance Pulses (also new this year) has the same actives as Vibrance Maxx plus thiamethoxan insecticide.

I encourage everyone to ask their reps, agronomists or retails for more information on these new products and see if they are a fit for your operation…and don’t forget to test your seed!

GMAC 300-250

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