Seed treatments are allowing farmers to put seed in the ground earlier in spring.

"15 years ago seeding May long weekend was considered early and now guys are seeding during the second or third week of April," says Doug Lindberg, Seed Care Specialist with Syngenta. "Seed treatments help it get through some of those early season hardships."

He says this "vigour-trigger" allows the plant to get a head start, leading to earlier canopy closure and improved plant stands.

"Yield is all that really matters at the end of the day," says Lindberg.

Dan Bardi, Seed Treatment Specialist with Bayer CropScience says producers who don't apply seed treatment are missing out on increased returns.

"Farmers are leaving money on the table by not using a seed treatment. Early season diseases cause an estimated 6 to 7 percent yield loss annually on the prairies. Not only do these disease reduce plant stand, they also reduce plant health," he says.

Bardi points out good coverage is key.

"A blotchy or salt-and-pepper type appearance of your treated seed is an indication of poor application. Each seed is a plant and each plants needs the right dose of active to guarantee the best results," he says. "If you were to take half an aspirin when the product label says to take two aspirins, you're likely still going to have a headache. The same applies when putting a seed treatment onto seed."

~ Tuesday, March 8, 2011 ~