Bare vs. Treated Winter Crops

Fall crops are very important to put a seed treatment on. The stress mitigation of the fungicide and insecticide helps winter crops survive winter stress better.

Dr Brian Beres research: https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2134/agronj2015.0497
When using a seed treatment for fall crops, the seed treatment companies have a winter survival benefit to credit you, if your winter crop fails, (slight programming differences by brand)

Below we had a customer compare untreated winter wheat vs. a fungicide and insecticide treatment and the fall results showed a big difference in stage
The next picture is from May 19 showing the difference in the same field. (Davis McCarthy of Simplot)
I really think there is value to fall crop seed treatments for establishment & winter kill.



Seed Treatment Coverage Thoughts
Seed treating is a fun topic! Some people go without, some apply it haphazardly, and some people are right on with use rates.

Quality of Treatment 
We calibrate each seed lot so we are within 1% and usually within 1/2 of a % of target use rate.
Coverage is another issue though, as you can be accurate on rates, but is coverage as good per seed or on each seed? Good coverage with treatments means every seed and each area of the seed is coated with the same amount of treatment. That's why rather than using larger drums or faster treaters we went a different route for faster treating.

Dusting Off
On dusty seed like rye and triticale we ad additional products to reduce dusting off and improve coverage. 

Shipping Treated Seed 
When booking seed we do work with a trucking company who does haul treated seed if you don't want to put it in your own trucks.