Prior to each season, farmers make decisions on when, where and what crop inputs will be used on their fields. Unpredictable conditions emphasize the need to start the season off on the strongest footing, while allowing flexibility to react to abiotic and biotic factors that arise. Increasingly, trial results are demonstrating that the use of an effective seed treatment in cereals is crucial in maximizing crop potential and managing key cereal pests regardless of varying considerations like soil temperature and soil moisture.

Is there disease present in the soil?

Pathogens that cause the most common and damaging soil-borne diseases are always present in prairie soils, no matter if it’s cold, warm, dry or wet. The right seed treatment application is a critical tool alongside agronomic best practices like crop rotation, shallow seeding, soil drainage and nutrient management.

Soil moisture chart. Showing what conditions favour different soil-borne diseases based on soil temperature and soil moisture
Source: Bayer SeedGrowth

Should I be concerned about wireworms or other pests?

In addition to soil-borne diseases, wireworms can impact crop yield year-over-year. Based on their extensive lifecycle, wireworms can be challenging to eliminate; however, they are a pest best controlled through seed treatments. Temperature and soil moisture also play a significant role in the presence of wireworms, determining whether they come to the surface, or head deeper down to cooler and moist environments.

Wireworm damage on cereal seedling
Source: Bayer Market Development

How can you minimize wireworm damage?

Proactive seed treatment in a wireworm-affected field give crops the opportunity to emerge faster and stronger while discouraging pests from feeding on developing root systems. The greatest damage from wireworms occurs in early spring as they move to the soil surface, attracted to CO2 given off by germinating seeds – and wireworm damage in the field can easily be mistaken for poor germination.

Beth Brown, Senior SeedGrowth® Specialist with Bayer recommends treating cereal seeds with an insecticide to minimize the effects of wireworm damage, while increasing seed survivability rates and plant stand.

Wheat field with wireworm damage on hillside
Source: Bayer Market Development

Raxil PRO and Raxil PRO SHIELD – What’s the difference?

Raxil PRO’s unique formulation leverages the power of Tebuconazole, Prothiconazole and Metalaxyl for complete contact and systemic disease protection. First-class protection from Fusarium graminearum and true loose smut gives plants a healthier start with strong emergence and higher yield potential.

diagram showing systemic and contact seed disease protection on a cereal seed, and which active ingredients provide which type of protection
Raxil PRO provides systemic and contact seed disease protection.
Source: Bayer Crop Science

Raxil PRO SHIELD provides the same early-season establishment and disease protection benefits of Raxil PRO with the addition of Stress Shield insecticide, to prevent pests like wireworms from feeding on crops by forcing them into a prolonged dormant state. Facilitating natural plant growth and development, even under stressed conditions, Stress Shield provides a supplemental energy source for internal repair and coping systems to draw on. The results are a superior root establishment, improved vigour, larger plants and increased yield.

Raxil PRO SHIELD mitigates environmental stressors, both abiotic (drought, excess moisture, freezing temperatures) and biotic (insect, disease) factors, to protect the seed through harsher conditions, maximizing yield potential and delivering superior quality seed.

Bar chart showing increasing plant stand density across 20 internal wheat trials.
Source: 20 Bayer SeedGrowth internal wheat trials (Western Canada, 2016) Your results may vary according to agronomic, environmental and pest pressure variables.

How does Raxil PRO perform in the field?

Raxil PRO employs a micro-dispersion formulation that allows for more thorough, even seed coverage with every use – combining effective and efficient treatment for every field. When applied in cooler pre-season temperatures, Raxil PRO users will find that variable weather conditions are less likely to affect the treating process. Specially formulated for low viscosity even at fluctuating temperatures, Raxil PRO minimizes the impact to seed treatment flow rate, ensuring you are applying the right amount of product every time.

Larry Penner of PenWest Seeds has made Raxil PRO a top choice for seed treatments year-over-year. It comes down to the convenience of solution application and comprehensive protection against seed- and soil-borne diseases. According to Penner, “The feedback we receive from growers using Raxil PRO is entirely positive, a standout being that the product delivers consistently, with low dust-off rates and minimal build up.”

Bringing together top agricultural modes of action, the combination of Raxil PRO and Stress Shield deliver exceptional fungicide and insecticide activity, enabling you to get the best out of your fields, every season.

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ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Bayer, Bayer Cross, Bayer SeedGrowth®, Raxil® and Stress Shield® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group. Used under license. Bayer CropScience Inc. is a member of CropLife Canada. ©2022 Bayer Group. All rights reserved.