Seed Treatment Study

In an effort to deliver the best products to our growers, IFSI is conducting research into improved seed treatments. In doing so, IFSI is offering growers an opportunity to participate in on-farm seed treatment trials. The goal of these trials is to compare the industry standard in seed treatment (what is currently applied to IFSI Sweet Corn) and a new seed protectant package on a larger scale. Small-plot research conducted for the last 6 seasons across the country has indicated this new package delivers more uniform emergence and better stand establishment than the current standard. On-farm trialing in 2021 is the critical next step in validating and demonstrating the effectiveness of this new seed treatment. IFSI is committed to provide farmers with the best seed protectants on our products. Thank you for being a partner in this development.

Supplemental Data

IFSI participates in annual seed treatment trials evaluating new active ingredients and new combinations of actives. Trialing more than 10 different treatment options in trials across the country annually. The last 6 seasons, combinations including Maxim Quattro have had an average stand improvement of 4.32% over the standard. Nearly 70% of observations had a positive response. 21% of these observations had more than a 10% improvement in stand over the standard. See the data for all 232 observations in figure 1 below.

Figure 1:

Maxim Quattro treatments improve stands in environments that are both stressful and more favorable for seed germination. This is presented in Figure 2 below. Any data point above the red line would be a positive response with Maxim Quattro compared to the standard. As figure 1 presented, 69% of these observations are positive. The dotted blue line having a different slope indicates a slightly better performance of Maxim Quattro treatments in lower stand environments. Not necessarily surprising that higher stress or higher pathogen environments benefit more greatly from the better performing treatment. It is also worthy to note that in more favorable environments, the Maxim Quattro treatment still outperformed the standard in a majority of observations. For hybrids classified as strong vigor vs. weak vigor MQ treatments performed similarly, 4.8% and 4.1%, respectively. This indicates the new treatment would provide the grower a season long and hybrid wide benefit although the largest improvement would be in higher stress environments.

Figure 2:

Methods

In order to make a fair comparison, the standard treatment and the new seed treatment should be planted side by side on the same day. Each entry should be planted in field length strips using the same planting population normally used by the grower. Depending on what fits the grower's operation best, a block trial, where each treatment is planted in larger sections, or a repeated strip planting scheme could be used. Strips should be 4 or more rows wide.

Planting Schemes:

In order to assess the difference between treatments, data will need to be collected at various points throughout the growing season. Gowers or dealer representatives will need to make assessments at emergence, V3-V5, and at or near harvest. Requested observations are outlined in the reporting sheets below, but include differences in emergence, stand counts, vigor assessment, plant health, and yield if possible. At time of planting, please submit to seedtreatment@ifsi.local the following:

Plant Date:
Location (GPS coordinates):
Comments (Field conditions, previous crop):

At appropriate times, seedtreatment@ifsi.local will follow up with a survey through email for feedback throughout the growing cycle, with targets at Emergence, V3-V5, Harvest.