(January 2009) When soybean planting is delayed like it was for many growers in 2008, the soybean plant loses time to develop a sufficient number of nodes, reducing pod generation and general pod filling capability due to a smaller plant size. When faced with delayed planting in soybeans, one good strategy is to increase seeding rates and go to a narrower row width to help compensate for lost node production.

Another thing you can do to jumpstart your soybean crop in 2009 is use seed treated with Warden® CZ, as one of the main benefits of seed treatments is the production of a better stand. Although some soybeans compensate well for an even loss of stand, there will still be yield loss, and seed treatments provide inexpensive insurance to protect against this.

"Seed treatments help develop good plant health early on, and it all starts with a good canopy," explains AgriSolutions™ and CROPLAN GENETICS® brand regional product manager Gary Nowaczyk. "The more leaves a plant has early on, the more sunlight the plant can take in and the more shade it can create, improving plant strength and weed control, respectively."

Seed treatments were the big story when it came to Answer Plot® soybean trials in 2008. For instance, a study performed at the Belgrade, Minn. Answer Plot® site on a heavily manured soil showed that fields treated with Warden® CZ showed much better emergence than plots left untreated. And in the nine Illinois Answer Plot® sites, treated seeds put forth 4 bu/acre more yield than untreated seeds.

Warden® CZ also provides insect and disease protection from many pests including the soybean aphid, bean leaf beetle, seed corn maggot, wireworms, Pythium, rhizoctonia, phytophthora and more.

"Seed treatments make a difference even when you're planting beans that have a Rps1-k or c gene," Nowaczyk adds. "Even though these genes carry resistance to early cool season diseases like phytophthora and pythium, the treatments complement the genes and improve protection again these diseases."

Improved vigor from Cruiser® plus Warden™ RTA® seed treatments has also been noted in CROPLAN GENETICS® Answer Plot® sites. In some environments, node production has increased with seed treatments versus untreated soybean seed.

For more customized assistance in selecting the right seed treatments for your soybeans in 2009, turn to your local CROPLAN GENETICS® seed specialist.