When crop input decision stakes are high, include SCN defense
by Jeff Kaiser, Nufarm Seed Treatment Tech Services Manager
Many growers were able to capitalize on a strong soybean season, turning input decisions and favorable growing conditions into higher average yields this season. The outlook for 2022 favors soybeans, but growers will need to weigh their input decisions carefully as costs from fertilizer to fuel reach historic levels. This pressure may warrant extra consideration, including seed-applied solutions proven to minimize risk and improve yield when confronting one of soybean’s biggest threats, Soybean Cyst Nematode or SCN.
SCN continues to expand its impact on soybeans. In past years, SCN pest pressure has been handled by soybean varieties that have either contained the PI88788 trait and or the Peking trait to provide protection, which are demonstrating lower efficacy today as SCN and other parasitic nematodes build resistance. New data confirms that SCN numbers are increasing in the Midwest growing environment, resulting in increased yield loss to soybean production.
We’re accustomed to similar technology wins from our experience with early seed treatments – initially applied to target the disease spectrum that can cause a poor stand or less vigorous plant. Next came seed applied technology building on insecticide, providing protection from insects that attacked the seed resulting in poor stands and potential levels of disease to be vectored into the plant. With all this protection delivering an excellent track record of success, there is one area where plants have been left with a low level of protection: nematodes. Until now.
Trunemco – a patented seed-applied nematode management treatment – has shown excellent levels of protection against the rising levels of nematodes in soybeans and other crops. In soybeans, Trunemco works in combination with any base level seed treatment combination. Overtreatment with Trunemco provides the soybean plant a higher level of protection by working with the plant’s natural enzyme defense system to provide protection as soon as the plant germinates. A second active component in Trunemco colonizes around the newly established roots, providing nematode protection to the plant when nematodes cause the greatest plant damage, early in the life cycle of the plant.
Trunemco has shown to increase plant vigor, generating higher soybean pod counts in all soil types and higher yields at the end of the season. In many cases, it also produces a reduction in overall nematode counts in the soil following the use of Trunemco. For those handling and applying Trunemco, the new technology has excellent storage stability and a very user-friendly label when it comes to PPE. In addition to soybeans, Trunemco is highly effective in controlling nematode damage and elevating yield profiles in corn and cotton – controlling 14 different damaging nematodes species across these three labeled crops.
In conclusion, the 2022 season will require some make-or-break input decisions. In our view, the ROI potential of Trunemco is an excellent opportunity for the 2022 season on corn, cotton and soybeans.