Boost Crop Establishment with Advanced Seed Treatment Technology

You want to protect every asset on your farm, and your seeds are no exception. However, the moment they are planted into the soil, they become vulnerable to insect pests, diseases and stress, putting your potential yields at risk.
Protecting your seeds from the very beginning can be an investment with significant impact on your bottom line. The right seed treatment, like a shield or suit of armor, can make all the difference.
Here are the four main types of seed treatments you’ll want to consider:

• Fungicide seed treatment: Protects seeds and seedlings against fungal diseases that cause decay, damping-off and poor emergence.
• Insecticide seed treatment: Guards young plants from early-season insect feeding that can damage roots and shoots.
• Nematicide seed treatment: Targets damaging nematodes in the soil that attack roots and reduce nutrient uptake.
• Biological seed treatment: Uses beneficial microbes or natural compounds to enhance plant vigor, improve nutrient availability or suppress soilborne pests.

To learn more about what a seed treatment is, watch this BASF video.

Even the smallest efforts can have big outcomes for your crops. Let’s look more closely at how seed treatments can support your crop success at planting.

Benefits of seed treatments

Improved germination rates

Infected and insect-damaged seed will have lower germination rates. Research has shown that the appropriate seed treatments for your area or fields can increase germination by 10-15%.¹ Seed treatments can also enhance seed vigor, leading to faster and more uniform emergence.
The most effective seed treatment will depend on the history of your field and what crops you plan to grow. Consider whether you have experienced high disease pressure or insect pressure in your fields before selecting the seed treatment that best suits your needs.

Insect and disease protection

In addition to supporting germination, seed treatments play a critical role in protecting seedlings during their most vulnerable early growth stages. Early-season insects (like seedcorn maggot and wireworm) and soilborne pathogens (such as Phomopsis seed decay fungus, sudden death syndrome and Pythium root rot) can significantly reduce plant stands and delay development, especially when planting into cool or wet soils.
However, consider your regional and local circumstances before investing in corn or soybean seed treatments. Southern regions typically exhibit predictable patterns of insect damage in young seedlings, whereas northern parts of the country may be assumed to have deceivingly lower insect pressure due to colder winters. However, seed treatments are still very much necessary in northern climates that still have plenty of insects that overwinter such as soybean cyst nematode and corn rootworm.²

Selecting an insecticide or fungicide seed treatment tailored to your local pest and disease pressures can help minimize stand losses and protect yield potential. These treatments act as a targeted barrier against threats such as seedborne fungi, damping-off pathogens, seedcorn maggot, and bean leaf beetle, reducing the need for early rescue applications later in the season.³

Improved vigor and stand establishment

Planting early can help maximize yield potential, but it also exposes seeds and seedlings to cooler, wetter soils that increase the risk of disease and delayed emergence. Research has shown that fungicide seed treatments can improve stand establishment in early-planted soybeans by limiting damping-off and seed decay, especially when soil temperatures are below 50 F.⁴
Early, healthy growth helps seedlings outcompete weeds and tolerate stressful conditions. A strong stand not only protects yield potential but also enables more accurate scouting and management decisions as the season progresses.

Product recommendations for seed treatments

There are many effective options to protect your crops and support early growth. For soybeans, Ilevo® offers targeted protection against sudden death syndrome and soybean cyst nematodes. For corn, Poncho® Votivo® combines an insecticide for early-season insect pests with a biological component that protects against nematode damage.
For both corn and soybeans, biological seed treatments can help improve root development, increase nutrient availability, and support overall plant vigor. Selecting the right product and applying it strategically can maximize protection and yield potential. Consult with your seed supplier to see what seed treatment options they offer.
Explore BASF’s comprehensive portfolio of seed treatment solutions to protect your seed investment and set your crops up for success.

Experts are available to help you make your seed treatment decisions. Reach out to your seed retailer, a nearby extension office agent, or a seed company professional like your regional BASF representative.

________________________________________________

Endnotes

1. Stoetzer, Ethan, and Daren Mueller. “Should You Use a Fungicidal Seed Treatment on Low‑Quality Soybean Seed.” Integrated Crop Management News, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, 6 Dec. 2018, crops.extension.iastate.edu/cropnews/2018/12/should-you-use-fungicidal-seed-treatment-low-quality-soybean-seed.
2. Wise, Kiersten, Carl Bradley, Martin Chilvers, Shawn Conley, Travis Faske, Loren Giesler, Daren Mueller, Edward Sikora, Damon Smith, Albert Tenuta, and Kelley Tilmon. Factors to Consider Before Using a Soybean Seed Treatment. Crop Protection Network, 1 Feb. 2018, cropprotectionnetwork.org/publications/factors-to-consider-before-using-a-soybean-seed-treatment.
3. Schug, Hayden. “Early‑Season Soybean Pests.” University of Maryland Extension, 6 May 2025, extension.umd.edu/resource/early-season-soybean-pests.
4. Licht, Mark. “Mitigating the Risks of Very Early Soybean Planting.” Integrated Crop Management News, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, 14 Apr. 2020, crops.extension.iastate.edu/post/mitigating-risks-very-early-soybean-planting.