Credenz® seed quality gets put to the test

Major rainfall during last year's harvest will impact seed quality

Every year Mother Nature creates weather conditions that impact seed quality, and this year was no exception. In fact, adverse weather this past year was more severe and covered a larger geography than most years.

 

“Regardless of the severity of the weather conditions, we rigorously put all our Credenz seed lots through strict quality control testing protocols,” said Marc Hoobler, BASF U.S. Soybean Agronomy Lead. “Only after each lot is completely tested and evaluated will we select the highest quality seed lot to be shipped to our valued customers.”

 

Below we have described just a few of the critical quality tests that each lot goes through before being selected.

 

Sand Germination Test
Sand Germination is used to determine the percentage of seed that will germinate within a given lot under optimal field conditions. Why do we use the Sand Germination test instead of Rolled Towel Germination? This method provides additional information for each seed lot that shows the amount of seed that has been negatively impacted by mechanical damage or pathological problems.

 

Accelerated Aging (AA) Test
While not required by law, Credenz brand soybean seeds undergo vigor testing (Accelerated Aging). The test is used to estimate the potential field emergence of a lot under less than optimal conditions. Why do we do the AA test? Less than optimal conditions can be a common occurrence during soybean planting and emergence in many soybean-growing areas.

 

Soak Test AKA Chlorine Soak Test
This quick test, using bleach and water, is designed to reveal soybean seed coat damage that may have occurred naturally, or during the harvesting or handling process. Why is knowing seed coat damage important? The seed coat is the outer layer of protection for the living soybean, and any damage to the seed coat can lead to abnormal seedling development and could allow pathogens to infect the seed.

 

Visual Appearance Evaluation Rating
Each harvested and conditioned lot is examined for visual defects, such as purple seed stain, diseased and discolored hilum, or wrinkled or etched seed appearance. This evaluation is used to determine the best quality lots for conditioning and/or distribution to our valued customers.

 

Other Laboratory Testing
Other testing performed includes, but is not limited to, Trait Purity, VP Hilum, Pure Seed Evaluation, Moisture and Noxious Weed Seed. Quality Control personnel evaluate all test results and select only lots that meet our high standards for distribution.

 

Conditioning Process
Harvested seed is conditioned using modern soybean conditioning equipment, i.e., air-screen cleaners, gravity tables, color sorters and/or spiral separators. This equipment removes diseased, damaged, misshapen, discolored seed, weed seed, trash and other undesirable contaminants.

 

Seed Treatment
A seed treatment can be used to provide protection against seed- and soilborne pathogens like Rhizoctonia, Pythium, Phytophthora, Fusarium and Phomosis, early-season insects, nematodes and SDS. Seed treatments will be critical to see early vigor and a yield advantage. Implementing a full seed treatment package including a broad-spectrum fungicide will be paramount to maximizing plant stands and vigor. The use of appropriate seed treatment products can help improve germination and emergence when seed-borne diseases are of concern. The protection offered by seed treatments will aid in stand establishment and vigor under challenging weather conditions.

 

Variety Choice
No matter the maturity group, Credenz offers a lineup of high-quality varieties tailored to meet any field condition with a strong defensive package to help combat diseases.

 

“In the Midwest, CZ 3309GTLL continues to be at the top of every trial for performance no matter where it’s planted,” said Hoobler. “As for the Southern region, Credenz varieties are bred to broadly adapt across a variety of soil conditions and cropping systems, including livestock and cotton environments.”

CZ 1859GTLL 1.8 maturity, stable high yield across multiple environments, good defensive package with IDC, SCN, BSR and PRR tolerance and great standability
CZ 2889GTLL Late mid-group 2 maturity, top-end potential, good option for well-drained soils in IL, IA, NE and nice lateral branching for row spacing flexibility
CZ 3309GTLL 3.4 maturity, excellent SCN and PRR field tolerance, solid agronomics and standability
CZ 4308LL 4.3 maturity, taller, rugged plant type with top-end yield potential, moves well north to south, best at 140K planting population
CZ 4918LL Late maturity group 4, consistent-yielding, good standability and strong defensive package
CZ 5105LL 5.1 maturity, excellent FELS tolerance, yield and standability

One new option for growers in 2019 is Credenz LibertyLink GT27,™ and more than 30 varieties with this trait are going to be available for the growing season. These varieties allow growers greater flexibility when it comes to managing weeds. With tolerance to both Liberty® herbicide and glyphosate, growers can now include those solutions in their applications.

 

With Credenz, growers can feel assured they are planting a high-quality germinating seed that will establish an excellent stand with the potential to maximize their yield potential.

 

To learn more about seed quality and Credenz, reach out to a local BASF representative.

 

Always read and follow label directions.

 

Credenz, Liberty and LibertyLink are registered trademarks of BASF. GT27 is a trademark of MS Technologies and BASF. MS Technologies is a trademark of MS Technologies, LLC. © 2019 BASF Corporation / MS Technologies, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

About BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division
With a rapidly growing population, the world is increasingly dependent on our ability to develop and maintain sustainable agriculture and healthy environments. Working with farmers, agricultural professionals, pest management experts and others, it is our role to help make this possible. That’s why we invest in a strong R&D pipeline and broad portfolio, including seeds and traits, chemical and biological crop protection, soil management, plant health, pest control and digital farming. With expert teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we connect innovative thinking and down-to-earth action to create real world ideas that work – for farmers, society and the planet. In 2018, our division generated sales of €6.2 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or any of our social media channels.

 

About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 122,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around €63 billion in 2018. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.

 

©2019 BASF Corporation. All Rights Reserved.