Grain SA August 2017

n American producer named Mr David Hula holds the exist-

ing world record maize yield. His record stands at almost

33 400 kg/ha, a truly confounding yield. In South Africa, we find it

hard to imagine getting such high yields – for the moment, at least.

But the important thing to learn from this astounding achievement

is that the potential to grow more than 30 tons of grain per hectare

is locked into our local genetics as well. It is there – all in the seed.

So if we can access the same genetics as the Americans, why do

we not get these immense yields in South Africa? The answer lies

in the magnitude of differences between our local environment and

that of Charles City, Virginia, where Hula hails from.

Climate, soils, scales of production and pest pressure all play a

role in eroding away at the genetic potential of the seed and eating

away at the ultimate yield we end up with.

Bayer SeedGrowth™ understands that when a producer takes the

best seed the genetic world can offer and plants it in the soil, that

seed is exposed to a multitude of threats, prowling and ready to

rob the young seedling of its full potential yield. We recognise the

importance of getting a crop to a great start by minimising or

eliminating these potential threats at the seedling stage. With

SeedGrowth, Bayer has taken the science of on-seed applications

and turned it into an art.

To give crops their best possible start you need competencies in

many fields. Normally such competencies exist separately, with

insufficient interaction. But Bayer has combined them into a single,

unique and integrated system – Bayer SeedGrowth.

With Bayer SeedGrowth the whole becomes more than the sum of

its parts. SeedGrowth is an integrated system that keeps track of all

aspects of the seed treatment and business process. SeedGrowth

supplies products, coatings, equipment and services.

Products

For centuries some unknown disease had turned whole fields of

maize black. Only in the early 19th century was a fungal pathogen

identified as the cause. In 1911 the Bayer chemist, Mr Georg Wesen-

berg, discovered that chlorophenol mercury effectively controlled

those fungal pathogens without impairing treated seeds’ ability to

germinate.

In July 1914 this active substance was launched as the liquid

seed treatment Uspulun®. The significantly higher yields it made

possible marked the dawn of a new era in farming, and a century of

innovative advances from Bayer.

At Bayer we are constantly designing fresh approaches, chemis-

tries and modes of action, looking forward in areas such as climate

change and environmental safety.

Seed treatment products from Bayer SeedGrowth are first-class

solutions for combating pests, diseases, nematodes and the like,

as well as for enhancing crop efficiency. They enable plants to

develop their full genetic potential by ensuring healthy crop

establishment.

In this way, they contribute to higher yields, and that help grow the

businesses of all stakeholders. The Bayer SeedGrowth portfolio

of seed treatment products have a solution for almost every indica-

tion and crop.

Insecticides

Insect pests can harm crops in the early stages of emergence,

through damages to the plant and as vectors of viruses in many

crops. Many soil insects like wireworm and corn root worm can

be devastating. The same is true for the increasing pressure from

nematodes.

Sucking insects like aphids and leafhoppers can also transmit

viruses that at the end limit the productivity of the plant and re-

duce the yield potential. So early protection through seed applied

insecticides is the ideal method of preventing losses from insects

and viruses.

Fungicides

Fungal diseases can stop the emerging seedling or harm the plant.

Some seed borne diseases like smuts and bunts can only be

controlled by a fungicide on the seed, but soil borne diseases like

damping-off (pythium and rhizoctonia) can also be controlled by

seed application. With this, the development of a healthy root sys-

tem, the basis for optimal crop establishment and yield production

is secured.

Biologics

Today’s producers face unique challenges and increasingly seek so-

lutions that span synthetic chemistry, molecular biology and biolog-

ics. Demand is growing for biologics, which are often effective in

small quantities, and Mr Marcus Meadows-Smith, head of Biologics

at Bayer Crop Science Division expects the broader biologics market

to triple by 2020.

Coatings

In short, coatings make treatments stick to seed. But coatings also

refer to a broader portfolio of seed-applied technologies – film coats,

fluency powders, drying powders and pelleting processes.

There are many benefits to using Bayer coatings: Uniform seed

treatment application for optimum coverage, as well as improved

adhesion and coverage so all beneficial additives stay on the seed.

These coatings also protects operators and the environment from

chemical dust exposure by reducing emissions by up to 95%.

Furthermore, these coatings provide branding and visual differen-

tiation through vivid colours, improved flow ability in the planting

equipment and sow ability on the farm as well as providing micro-

nutrients to promote plant growth.

As an integral part of the comprehensive and fully integrated system

for on-seed applications that is Bayer SeedGrowth, our coatings spe-

cialists enjoy unrestricted access to the Bayer SeedGrowth product

pipeline. As a result, they develop coatings that are entirely compat-

ible with our new and innovative seed treatment products.

Augustus 2017

ADVERTORIAL

The science and art behind

Bayer SeedGrowth

JAN COETZER,

Bayer customer and

channel manager:

SeedGrowth