Protecting Young Soybean Plants with Fortify Soybean Seed Treatment
Protecting Seeds Early is Vital for a Strong Season
It takes a great deal of both monetary and time investment to get soybean seeds into the ground each year. The last thing growers want to see is seedlings and young plants struggling or dying off due to damaging factors like diseases and pests. Treating soybean seeds with a proven seed treatment before they even reach the planter is one way to defend them early in the growing season. Our latest blog breaks down some of the threats to young soybeans, and how seed treatments like Fortify Soybean Seed Treatment effectively manage these threats.
Plant Health Advantage
Aggressive Diseases Pose Key Risk to Young Soybean Plants
Two diseases, which can cause massive yield losses in soybeans, attack seeds and seedlings prior to or shortly after emergence:
Pythium, the first disease encountered and most prevalent early-season pathogen in the U.S., attacks seeds and seedlings prior to emergence, causing rot in young plants, as well as causing damping off. Stunting caused by pythium can reduce yield potential by up to 30%*.
Pythium Protection
Phytophthora is one of the most destructive early-season pathogens. This pathogen also attacks and rots seeds prior to emergence, as well as causing damping off, stem and root rot resulting in yield losses greater than 50%**. Damage can be severe enough to completely kill plants.
Phytophthora Protection
Fortunately, there are seed treatments on the market which can defend seeds and seedlings from these aggressive diseases, before they even meet the ground. The active ingredients in seed treatments like Fortify Soybean Seed Treatment provide effective early-season protection against Pythium and Phytophthora.
Keep Other Damaging Diseases in Mind
Common seed-borne and soil-borne diseases such as Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, Sclerotinia, Phomposis and more can also lead to significant damage to soybean roots and stems. Our data shows that Fusarium inoculum may be present in more than half of the fields throughout the country. Fungicides found in Fortify Soybean Seed Treatment help to protect soybean plants against these early-season diseases.
Fighting the Insect Threat Above and Below Ground
The plant injury caused by early season insects can lead to stunting, delays and inconsistencies in emergence, and significant stand loss in soybeans. An insecticide, a component found in Fortify Soybean Seed Treatment, tackles common insect threats like Aphids, Bean Leaf Beetle, Leafhoppers, Lesser Grain Borer, Thrips, Wireworm and more.
Just One Step Towards a Strong Season
Soybean treatment is a very important step in protecting seedlings and young plants from disease and pest damage, and treatment will work best when paired with other smart crop practices, including planting high-quality seeds in well-drained soil, scouting for early pest and disease warning signs, and practicing crop rotation. It’s also important to consider other crop input choices throughout the season, to maintain plant health through harvest. Stay tuned as we share more timely insights about crop inputs here on our Streamline Ag blog.
Fortify delivers:
Unmatched early season protection against Pythium, Phytophthora, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, all common seed-borne diseases and early-season insect pests
Picarbutrazox, a novel mode of action with the most robust Pythium and Phytophthora protection available from one compound in soybeans
Increased plant vigor and enhanced root-health benefits, maximizing water and nutrient uptake
Flexible protection that aligns with today’s soybean-growing reality, whether you plant early in cool, wet soil or later in warmer conditions
*University of Illinois Extension**Ohio State University Extension