New seed treatment products launched

DECATUR, Ill. — New seed treatment products to protect corn and soybeans from early-season problems were a topic of discussion at the Farm Progress Show.

Dale Ireland is Syngenta’s lead in research and development efforts for corn and soybean treatments in the United States and gave some insight into products rolling out of the pipeline.

The most recent commercial launch was Saltro that was available beginning in the 2020 growing season.

“Saltro is a seed treatment for sudden death syndrome and soybean cyst nematodes. It’s very safe for the seed and seedlings, which was kind of a new development compared to the leading competitor,” Ireland said. “We’ve offered a very safe, effective product that’s been growing the most rapidly in that space of SDS and nematodes of any product in the market.”

Another new seed treatment product, Vayantis, received U.S. registration early this year. The fungicide product’s active ingredient is picarbutrazox, a new mode of action for pythium and phytophthora.

“This is going to allow growers to plant earlier with more confidence and more safety against early water molds that are essentially pythium species. Pythium is active and problematic to seeds and seedlings from about 45 degrees to about 75 degrees. When you’re able to plant early, we know you’re maximizing your growing season by planting earlier and having more growing time to maximize yields,” Ireland noted.

“We also know that in soybean especially in the last several years planting rates as well as planting dates have been going earlier and with lower seeding rates. So, that simply means every seed counts more than ever. And when you plant early there’s more stress and having a good seed treatment including Vayantis is every important.”

A combination of Vayantis and CruiserMaxx Vibrance that will be called CruiserMaxx APX are awaiting registration.

CruiserMaxx Vibrance for soybeans to protect against early-season insects and diseases including pythium, fusarium and rhizoctonia “has been a very successful product for us for the last seven years,” Ireland said.

Adding the benefits of Vayantis will provide even more protection early on in the plant’s development, according to Ireland.

Pending registration, CruiserMaxx APX seed treatment will be commercially available on a small scale in 2022 and market-wide in 2023.