Heritage-Diener Soybean Seed Quality Update
The hot/dry summer and fall of 2007 has affected the quality of soybean seed production across the industry. Mechanical damage to the seed as a result of dry moistures at harvest has lead to low germination tests. Each time the soybean seed is handled, the percent germ declines. Treating the seed with a fungicide seed treatment, an additional handling process, is also negatively affecting the percent germination scores. Because we want to provide the best quality soybean seed to our customer, we have elected not to treat any additional soybeans with a fungicide treatment for this coming sales year. We will still be able to deliver a large percentage of our untreated soybean seed at or above 90% germ and fulfill most existing orders.
After receiving our seed, be as gentle as possible with the seed to preserve the high quality germs at planting.
In the past five years that I have tested our soybean seed treatment, we have consistently shown higher plant stands and yield in early-planted plots. We are committed to offering our PunchOut seed treatment for our soybean products and will continue to promote it in the future. However, if seed treatments are not available, then we would suggest delaying planting until soil temperatures are warmer and fields are drier. Planting slightly more seeds per acre would also ensure better stands particularly under cool/wet conditions.
Again, at Heritage-Diener we are committed to provide our customer the best quality seed possible to achieve the high yields you have been accustomed to receiving from our top soybean products. Please feel free to contact your local Heritage-Diener seed representative for more information.
Have a great week!
Dan Childs, Agronomist
