Economics of Soybean Seed Treatments

Paul Esker and Shawn Conley

Field Crops Extension Plant Pathologist and State Soybean and Small Grains Specialist

University of Wisconsin and UW-Extension

Contact Emails: paul.esker@gmail.com; spconley@wisc.edu

Integration of components

WSMB-funded soybean seed treatment research

Soybean sown earlier into cooler and wetter soils and seed has much higher value

Stand count is important

Reduced stands = reduced yield potential Plant population (30-inch rows)

140k (8 plants/ft) 105k (6 plants/ft) 70k (4 plants/ft)

Stand reduction (%) Percent of yield potential

0 (full stand) 100 97 95

10 98 96 93

20 96 93 91

30 93 90 88

40 89 86 83

50 84 81 78

60 78 75 73

The reduction in stand was achieved by random placement of 12-inch gaps within rows 2 to 4 weeks after planting (Source: University of Illinois)

Seedling diseases

Phytophthora sojae

Pythium species

Rhizoctonia solani

Fusarium species

Pre- and post-emergent ‘damping off’

Causal organisms:

Oomycetes vs fungi

Oomycetes

Phytophthora sojae, Pythium species

• Cell wall composed of cellulose

• No cross walls in hyphae

• Diploid nuclei in vegetative state

• “Swimming” spores

• More closely related to brown algae and diatoms

True fungi

Fusarium species,

Rhizoctonia solani

• Cell wall composed of chitin

• Cross walls in hyphae

• Haploid nuclei in vegetative state

• Air- or splashed- dispersed spores

• More closely related to animals

Management of early season soybean diseases

• High quality disease-free seed

• Crop rotation

• Soil conditions and drainage

• Resistance

• Fungicide seed treatments – Early planting in cold, wet soils

– Reduced till and no-till fields

– Germination < 80% and indications of low seed vigor

– Previous history of soilborne pathogens

Conditions for disease development

Soil moisture Soil temperature

Pythium Flooded Cool (50-60 F)

Phytophthora Flooded Warm (70s F)

Fusarium Wet to dry Cool to warm

Rhizoctonia Damp to wet Warm (70-80s F)

Phytophthora Root Rot

• Losses estimated, 39 million bushels (2005)

• Phytophthora sojae

• Fungus can infect plants at all stages of growth – Seed rot

– Damping-off

– Root and stem rot

• Occurrence in fields with poor internal drainage, or in fields that have been saturated for 7-14 days due to high rainfall

Rot and Damping-Off

• Phytophthora Root Rot

(Phytophthora sojae)

• Mortality prevalent in wet areas

• Use seed treatment or resistant varieties

Phytophthora and Variety Selection

Soybean genes Phytophthora races controlled

Effectiveness in Wisconsin

Rps 1a 1, 2, 10, 11, 13-18, 25 Limited effectivenss

Rps 1b 1, 3-9, 3-15, 17, 18, 22, 24

Rps 1c 1-3, 6-11, 3, 15, 17, 2, 23, 24 Effective in 75% of fields

Rps 1k 1-11, 13-15, 17, 18, 22, 24 Effective in 99% of fields

Rps 3 1-5, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 23, 25

Rps 4 1-4, 10, 12, 16, 18-21, 25

Rps 6 1-4, 10, 12, 14-16, 18-21, 25

Rps 1k, 6 1-11, 12-22, 24, 25

http://fyi.uwex.edu/fieldcroppathology/soybean_pests_diseases/phytophthora_soybean/

Survey of soybean seedling diseases

Isolates or soil received from 12 states State No. of fields sampled No. of putative oomycete cultures

Arkansas 1 1001

Illinois 6 219

Indiana 5 401

Iowa 9 394

Kansas 7 250

Michigan 12 276

Minnesota 6 251

Missouri * 6 0

Nebraska 4 90

North Dakota ** 6 225

South Dakota *** 6 0

Wisconsin 6 132

Total 74 3239

Average 6.2 270

*Soil samples collected, isolates will be baited; **Not including mid-season isolates; *** Isolates collected being purified

Oomycete species diversity

43 Pythium species 2 Phytophthora species

Rhizoctonia solani? • What is the potential for loss?

• 2011 Trials (Arlington ARS)

– No seed treatments

– Direct comparison of soybean varieties:

• With R. solani placed in-furrow @ planting

• No R. solani

– Conventional tillage system and no tillage system examined

– Varieties examined:

• S21-N6 (Syngenta); P92Y51 (Pioneer); AG2431 (Monsanto)

Conventional tillage

• Yield (P<0.10): reduced ~ 10% in AG2431, with similar trends in reductions for the other two varieties

• Key measures of productivity were similarly inconclusive like in the no tillage environment

No tillage

• Yield (P<0.10): reduced 8.4% for P92Y51 compared (others were trending negative, but no evidence statistically of differences)

• Key measures of productivity inconclusive although canopy reflectance suggested that there was greater stress in plots receiving inoculum

Seed treatments

• Estimated use (Munkvold 2009): –1996: 8%

–2008: 30%

–Current (estimate): > 50%

–Where does this fit into our system? Fungicides? Insecticides?

A3646 - Soybean

• Table 3.9 has expanded with numerous additional products (see also Appendix 1c)

Seed treatments

Active ingredient

Phytophthora sojae

Pythium species

Rhizoctonia solani

Fusarium species

mefenoxam/metalaxyl

E E N N

azoxystrobin - P F F

fludioxonil N N G G

ipconazole - P F G

pyraclostrobin - P F F

trifloxystrobin - P F F

E = excellent; G = good; F = fair; P = poor N = none

Available online @: http://ipcm.wisc.edu/download/pubsPM/Whats_on_your_seed_FINAL_4.pdf

Soybean seed treatment trials in Wisconsin

Generation 1 and 2 trials

Generation 1 Trials • Years: 2008 to 2010 • Locations: 9 each year (27 environments) • Design: randomized complete block • Three seed treatments:

– Untreated control

– ApronMaxx RFC

– CruiserMaxx

• Four soybean varieties each year (not all used in

all trial years)

Pathogens: Pythium, Phytophthora, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia spp., Sclerotinia and Phomopsis spp. (suppression) Insects: aphids, bean leaf beetle, and seed corn maggot

Esker and Conley. 2012. Crop Science 52:351-359.

Analyses

• Two types of analyses performed:

– Multi-environment analysis – what is the effect of soybean variety and seed treatment on early-season stand and yield?

– Bayesian economic analysis – quantify the probability that the use of seed treatment would be cost-effective

• Our definition implies that the cost of the product was covered by an expected relative increase in yield

Results

• Multi-environment:

– While differences in early season stand, no evidence of impact given all above levels required to achieve maximum seed yield

– Interaction of seed treatment by variety

• “Slicing” this interaction…response differed across varieties for untreated and ApronMaxx (P < 0.001)

• However, response was consistent for CruiserMaxx (P = 0.2794)

– Results that make over generalizing recommendations difficult…

Components of economic analysis

Seed treatment price ($ ac-1)

Grain sale price ($ bu-1)

Actual yield (bu ac-1)

4 6 40

10 9 60

12 80

We examined combinations of costs and yield to calculate a “cost relative yield”, which indicated the minimum % gain needed to

offset the cost of treatment

Results - environments

• Relative ratio ranged from -6.4 to +11.6% (variation in response across environments)

• Probability of breaking-even ranged from: – <1% at Fond du Lac in 2008

– ~ 100% at Galesville in 2009

• Low seed treatment price (across yields): 56 to 67% of environments > 50% probability

• High seed treatment price: 22 to 56%

Seed treatments?

Seed

treatment

GSP = $6 b-1 GSP = $9 bu-1 GSP = $12 bu-1

RR P

AY =

40

AY =

60

AY =

80

AY =

40

AY =

60

AY =

80

AY =

40

AY =

60

AY =

80

--------- -bu ac-1----------- ------------bu ac-1---------- ------------bu ac-1----------

Apron

Maxx

1.5 0.030 42 72 84 72 87 92 84 92 94

Cruiser

Maxx

2.9 <0.001 3 56 88 56 93 100 88 98 98

The relative ratio means that the range in yield protected is ~ +0.6 bu ac-1 @ 40 bu ac-1 to 2.3 bu ac-1 @ 80 bu ac-1 for +1.5% or

+2.9%, respectively

Response differs among varieties

Soybean

cultivar Seed treatment

GSP‡ = $6 bu-1 GSP = $9 bu-1 GSP = $12 bu-1

RR† P

AY = 40 AY = 60 AY = 80 AY = 40 AY = 60 AY = 80 AY = 40 AY = 60 AY = 80

------------bu ac-1------------ ------------bu ac-1------------ ------------bu ac-1------------

AG1403 ApronMaxx -3.2 0.014 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.2 0 0.2 0.3

CruiserMaxx 0.5 0.702 0.2 4 10 4 14 24 10 24 23

HS2025 ApronMaxx 2.7 0.254 67 75 78 75 80 82 78 82 83

CruiserMaxx 1.3 0.571 11 27 37 27 41 49 37 49 48

HS20R80 ApronMaxx 4.1 0.012 93 97 98 97 98 98 98 98 99

CruiserMaxx 2.4 0.139 13 40 57 40 63 73 57 73 72

KB177RR ApronMaxx 3.6 0.030 88 93 95 93 96 97 95 97 97

CruiserMaxx 7.7 < 0.001 98 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

KB194RR ApronMaxx 4.4 0.007 95 98 99 98 99 99 99 99 99

CruiserMaxx 7.1 < 0.001 96 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

P91Y70 ApronMaxx 0.07 0.978 25 33 37 33 39 42 37 42 44

CruiserMaxx 1.7 0.491 15 32 43 32 47 54 43 54 54

P91Y90 ApronMaxx -1.0 0.689 14 19 23 19 24 26 23 26 28

CruiserMaxx -0.4 0.877 3 9 15 9 18 23 15 23 23

Generation 1 summary • Complexity for making broad recommendations

regarding use of seed treatments

• Basing decision to apply solely on variety…where information may be lacking about effects of different diseases…is not necessarily best approach

• Multi-faceted approach that integrates probability of breaking-even provides step in right direction for developing risk matrix to improve decision-making

– Commenced in 2011 “Generation 2 Trials”

Chippewa Falls

Marshfield Seymour

Fond du Lac

Hancock* Galesville

Arlington

Janesville

Lancaster

Generation 2 Trials Seed treatments including: fungicide(s), insecticide(s) and nematicide(s)

• Years (2011-2013)

• Regions

– Southern

– Central

– N. Central

• Seed treatments

– UTC

– ApronMaxx RFC

– CruiserMaxx

– Avicta Complete Beans

– Trilex 2000

– Poncho/VOTiVO System

– metalaxyl + pyraclostrobin

– metalaxyl + pyraclostrobin + imidacloprid

• Varieties

– AG2330, P92Y30, NK S21-N6

E. Troy*

Seed treatment Products rate

ApronMaxx RFC AMRFC 1.5 fl oz/cwt

CruiserMaxx AMRFC Cruiser 5 FS

1.5 fl oz/cwt 0.085 mg/seed

Avicta Complete Beans AMRFC Cruiser 5 FS Avicta

1.5 fl oz/cwt 0.085 mg/seed 0.15 mg/seed

Trilex 2000 Trilex 2000 Allegiance

1 fl oz/cwt 0.55 fl oz/cwt

Poncho/VOTiVO System Trilex 2000 Allegiance Poncho/Votivo Gaucho PSF 1010 Yield Shield

1 fl oz/cwt 0.55 fl oz/cwt 2 fl oz/cwt 1.6 fl oz/cwt

1.5 fl oz/cwt 0.1 oz/cwt (dry)

Conley Special #1 Metalaxyl Pyraclostrobin

0.8 fl oz/cwt 0.4 fl oz/cwt

Conley Special #2 Metalaxyl Pyraclostrobin Imidacloprid

0.8 fl oz/cwt 0.4 fl oz/cwt 1.6 fl oz/cwt

What we applied

Effect of seed treatment on early-season stand

Seed treatment Plants per acre (000’s) Test statistics

UTC 115 P-value = <0.0001

Metalaxyl + pyraclostrobin 113 LSD (5%) = 5.7

Metalaxyl + pyraclostrobin + imidacloprid 112

AproxMaxx RFC 114

CruiserMaxx 126

Avicta Complete Beans 127

Trilex 2000 113

Poncho/VOTiVO System 121

Variety Seed Treatment Yield (bu/ac) Test statistics

AG2330 UTC 65.6 P-value = 0.0194

AG2330 Metalaxyl + pyraclostrobin 64.9 LSD (5%) = 3.02

AG2330 Metalaxyl + pyraclostrobin + imidacloprid 63.7

AG2330 ApronMaxx RFC 65.9

AG2330 CruiserMaxx 64.3

AG2330 Avicta Complete Beans 64.5

AG2330 Trilex 2000 64.4

AG2330 Poncho/VOTiVO System 65.7

P92Y30 UTC 62.5

P92Y30 Metalaxyl + pyraclostrobin 64.2

P92Y30 Metalaxyl + pyraclostrobin + imidacloprid 63.2

P92Y30 ApronMaxx RFC 63.9

P92Y30 CruiserMaxx 66.9

P92Y30 Avicta Complete Beans 65.9

P92Y30 Trilex 2000 63.0

P92Y30 Poncho/VOTiVO System 64.0

S21-N6 UTC 62.0

S21-N6 Metalaxyl + pyraclostrobin 61.1

S21-N6 Metalaxyl + pyraclostrobin + imidacloprid 61.9

S21-N6 ApronMaxx RFC 60.9

S21-N6 CruiserMaxx 61.8

S21-N6 Avicta Complete Beans 61.8

S21-N6 Trilex 2000 61.2

S21-N6 Poncho/VOTiVO System 63.3

Interaction of seed treatment with soybean variety

Working summary for Generation 2 trials

• Differences noted in early-season stand establishment

• Variety x seed interaction is similar to results we were seeing in generation 1 trials

• Currently working on examining the economics for the first year using economic data similar to generation 1 trial

FACTORS THAT CAN BE EXAMINED

How might data be used?

Crop Seed Price Calculator v1.2 (Lauer)

http://corn.agronomy.wisc.edu/Season/DSS.aspx

Hybrid / Variety Variety A Variety B Difference

Seed Price ($/bag) $62.00 $75.00 -$13.00

Economic advantage ($/acre) of Variety A or Variety B. Seed price

difference = $13 per bag: A = $62, Variety B = $75.

Kernels/Seeds per bag

(no./bag) 140,000 140,000 0

Seed Population

(number/acre) 165,000 165,000 0 Yield advantage Crop Price ($/bushel)

Potential plant death (%) 10 10 0 bushel/acre $5.00 $6.00 $7.00 $8.00 $9.00 $10.00 $11.00

Acres per bag (acres/bag) 0.77 0.77 0.00 7 $18 $25 $32 $39 $46 $53 $60

Seed Cost ($/acre) $80.38 $97.23 -$16.85 6 $13 $19 $25 $31 $37 $43 $49

Herbicide Cost ($/acre) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Variety A 5 $8 $13 $18 $23 $28 $33 $38

Insecticide Cost ($/acre) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 yields less than 4 $3 $7 $11 $15 $19 $23 $27

Fungicide Cost ($/acre) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Variety B 3 $2 $1 $4 $7 $10 $13 $16

Insurance Cost ($/acre) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 2 $7 $5 $3 $1 $1 $3 $5

1 $12 $11 $10 $9 $8 $7 $6

Harvest Moisture (%) 20.0 20.0 0.0

Variety A = Variety

B 0 $17 $17 $17 $17 $17 $17 $17

Drying ($/point*bushel) $0.06 $0.06 $0.00 1 $22 $23 $24 $25 $26 $27 $28

Drying Cost ($/bushel) $0.27 $0.27 $0.00 2 $27 $29 $31 $33 $35 $37 $39

Handling Cost ($/bushel) $0.02 $0.02 $0.00 Variety A 3 $32 $35 $38 $41 $44 $47 $50

Hauling Cost ($/bushel) $0.04 $0.04 $0.00 yields more than 4 $37 $41 $45 $49 $53 $57 $61

Trucking Cost ($/bushel) $0.11 $0.11 $0.00 Variety B 5 $42 $47 $52 $57 $62 $67 $72

Storage Cost ($/bushel) $0.12 $0.12 $0.00 6 $47 $53 $59 $65 $71 $77 $83

Yield adjustment ($/bushel) $0.56 $0.56 $0.00 7 $52 $59 $66 $73 $80 $87 $94

Yield adjustment ($/acre) $33.60 $33.60 $0.00

Total Input Cost ($/acre) $113.98 $130.83 $16.85

Components to consider in relation to yield

• Our data provides framework to examine risk

• Using the crop seed price calculator, can examine things like:

– Seed price…without seed treatment compared with seed treatment [hold constant kernel and seeding rate information]

– Modifying seeding rate with use of seed treatment [takes into account the higher price expected to be paid with the seed treatment]

Acknowledgements

U.S. Wheat Barley Scab Initiative