Wheat growers are being urged to use the new generation of seed treatments this autumn to maximise yields from both first and second wheats in 2006.
"This year there are better products available with a wider range of benefits, so growers would be wise to use them as an extra tool to make the crop pay," says independent variety consultant Richard Fenwick.
"First wheats are the profit-makers, so with crop prices at the level they are maximum yield has got to be the aim. That means plugging any disease risks or weaknesses from the time the seed goes into the ground."
He points out that seed treatments based on fluquinconazole, such as Epona, can reduce build-up of inoculum of the foliar diseases Septoria tritici and yellow rust as well as seed and soil-borne diseases.
"A seed treatment with activity against foliar diseases is likely to be cost-effective, particularly with high yielding varieties with lower resistance scores such as Robigus, Glasgow and Hereward (yellow rust), Cordiale (yellow rust and Septoria tritici), and Gladiator and Napier (Septoria tritici)."
Mr Fenwick adds: "Growers need to focus attention on maximising the yield potential of second wheat to close the gap on first wheat and achieve a successful financial return. The take-all protection and improved rooting from the use of Jockey seed dressing improves the yield performance, and is important to support a profitable farm rotation."
