A number of new seed treatments are registered for the 2013 growing season. Evergol Prime and Vibrance claim improved suppression of Rhizoctonia in wheat and barley. Maxim XL claims control of Rhizoctonia in canola, while Cruiser Opti claims control of various insects in seedling canola. EverGol Prime

EverGol Prime is a new seed treatment from Bayer that claims to provide suppression of Rhizoctonia as well as control of Smuts and Bunts.

Vibrance

Vibrance is a new seed treatment from Syngenta that claims to provide suppression of Rhizoctonia and control of Smuts, Bunts and Pythium.

Maxim XL

Maxim XL is a new seed treatment from Syngenta that claims to provide control of Rhizoctonia and Pythium, plus suppression of seedling Blackleg in canola.

Paddock history, soil moisture, soil nutrition, planting date and disturbance at sowing, all play a role in determining the extent of Rhizoctonia infection. In situations where Rhizoctonia has historically been a problem, treating seed with EverGol Prime or Vibrance may be beneficial. EverGol Prime and Vibrance have not been compared directly to one another at this stage.

In situations where Rhizoctonia is unlikely to be a significant issue, treating cereals for smuts and bunts every second year with a low cost alternative is generally sufficient.

Cruiser Opti

Cruiser Opti is an insecticide seed treatment which is claimed to have control against Aphids, Red Legged Earth Mites and Blue Oat Mites, similar to current seed treatments such as Emerge or Gaucho, with the addition of Lucerne Flea suppression.

Insecticide seed treatments reduce the need for blanket insecticide sprays and form an important part of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy. The incidence and economic impact of the insect being targeted should be known, prior to choosing a seed treatment, as the cost of the treatments varies significantly.

The following tables compares new and existing seed & fertiliser treatments. Click Image to enlarge.

New Seed Treatments