The Effect of Soybean Seeding Rates and Ilevo Seed Treatment on Profitability and Economic Risk.

Currently, a majority of soybean seed treatments packages contain multiple a.i.’s providing broad spectrum control of many early season pathogens and insects, which can decrease plant stand severely and limit yield.  However, until the introduction of fluopyram (iLeVO, Bayer CropScience AG), control of SDS, caused by Fusarium virguliforme, was mainly sought through breeding resistance and cultural practices like delayed planting.  Unfortunately, breeding for genetic resistance has been difficult and while delayed planting can reduce foliar disease development, the yield loss due to delayed planting is significant. A yield loss of 21.2 kg ha^-1 day^-1 from delaying planting past the first week in May has been reported in WI. Therefore, iLeVO may provide growers the opportunity to control SDS in early planted soybeans.  Unfortunately, since 2013 soybean commodity prices have decreased by approximately 45% putting increased pressure on management practices (seeding rate) and inputs (seed treatment) to be cost effective, meaning they at least break even or actually increasing profit.  Ultimately, growers want products that provide a consistent return on investment across multiple environments (fields and years), especially for seed treatments where whole field use is required but disease and insect levels are difficult to quantify.  Therefore, we look to quantify the yield, profit, and economic risk benefits of a broad spectrum fungicide + insecticide seed treatment and a pathogen specific seed treatment (iLeVO) across various seeding rates, environments, and within current soybean production economic realities. Results will be available at the meetings, after 2016 fall harvest.