Soybean Treatment

For 2006, Trelay will be treating Roundup Ready soybean seed with SoyGard™, a seed-applied fungicide from Gustafson. SoyGard is the only soybean fungicide containing two systemic fungicides, which offers broad-spectrum protection against primary and secondary diseases.

SoyGard is effective against Rhizoctonia, Pythium, Phytophthora, Fusarium, pod and stem blight, and seed borne sclerotinia.

In no-till soil screening tests, SoyGard gave superior results compared to other seed treatments. Stand counts were improved the most with SoyGard when comparing untreated seed to treated seed in a two-year study. Finally, a 3-year yield trial proved SoyGard enhances yield more than competitive seed treatments.

Conventional soybean varieties will be treated with SoyGard seed treatment as well. The cost of soybean seed treatment is included in Trelay’s soybean price as in prior years.

Inoculants for Soybeans

In the search for high soybean yields, the use of seed inoculants is encouraged as a way of maximizing yields. Timely application and complete mixing at the planter are ideal; however, planting within 4 hours of application and getting complete coverage on each soybean is not always possible.

New soybean inoculant products have demonstrated better nitrogen-fixing ability over traditional products. New formulations contain 10 to 100 times more bacteria and adherence to the seed is improved. In cold soils, no-till seed beds, and areas where rotations spread out soybean crops, inoculants have shown definite yield improvement. Earlier planting is also a reason to consider using an inoculant.