Have you “fungal-screened” your seed lot?

Many reports over the course of the winter suggest that we can expect issues with the quality of cereals and pulses this spring, caused by the heavy rainfall and high moisture levels experienced during the summer and fall of 2016. The excessive moisture has made it challenging to control diseases and keep harvested seeds healthy.

Excess moisture also affects the seed’s ability to dry up and achieve proper dormancy, thereby affecting germination and vigor. This spring, it won’t be surprising to see farmers seeding crops with germination and vigor below normal. To make matters worse, the high level of seed-borne pathogens will limit growth and cause a wide variety of damping-off, root rot and other early-season seedling diseases, which will thin stands and set the crops back in their growth and development.

Fungal screening is the most valuable tool available to farmers to avoid seeding pitfalls. Knowing the prevalent seed-borne diseases can help you make an informed decision about which seed treatment to use. A good suppression of these diseases with the right fungicide, combined with the promotion of a healthy and vigorous root system using Primer Mn, can lead to good establishment and better tolerance to early-season stresses.

While the fungicide reduces the population of the pathogen, preventing it from building up in the field, a primer such as Primer Mn helps the seedling access phosphorus, potassium, zinc and other crucial micronutrients which are unavailable early in the season due to cold and wet conditions.

OMEX offers seven tailor-made Primers to address deficiencies in seed nutrient density, promote root growth and improve emergence and early-season establishment. Contact your OMEX local representative or dealer to see how primers can improve growth and development and the overall health of your crop in the First 30 Days.