Lincoln, Nebraska
July 31, 2009

Source: Crop Watch news service
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

New winter wheat seed treatments have proven very effective, increasing yield by one to two bushels an acre even when no disease is detected, said Bob Klein, Extension western Nebraska crops specialist.
Fungicide treatment is crucial in controlling or preventing disease in wheat and the small, consistent yield increase more than pays the cost.

Wheat diseases appear every year and Klein often sees damaged fields that could have been saved with treated seed. He recommends that producers select certified, treated wheat seed. Choose varieties that have performed well in local tests, he said.

“I just don’t think you can afford to gamble and not use a seed treatment, especially with the quality of seed treatments we have today,” Klein said.

Klein highly recommended that these treatments be professionally applied. Producers used to mix their own treatments, but without professional equipment, it was difficult to apply the fungicides evenly. As a result, producers seldom got a very good performance from these treatments.

Faith Colburn, Communications Specialist
West Central REC, North Platte

Website: http://cropwatch.unl.edu/

Published: July 31, 2009