Proof of the Take-All Treatment Pudding

Specialist take-all seed treatment was hailed as a major breakthrough at its 2001 launch, but how has it actually performed in practice? We assess the real value of the novel seed fungicide three years on with the aid of a leading seed industry expert.

June 2004 - The all-new chemistry of Latitude (silthiofam) came to the UK market offering to raise the performance of second wheats significantly towards the level of first wheats. Average yield improvements of 0.5 t/ha were identified in moderate take-all situations through to over 1.5 t/ha where infections were severe. And the opportunities offered to increase flexibility in rotations, drilling dates and variety choice were widely talked about.

While these claims were certainly bold, Banks Cargill seed director, Charlie Whitmarsh has no doubt that the seed dressing has lived-up to its initial promise in three years of commercial use.

Despite taking-off well in its first season, he has seen sales increase impressively each year since then, more than doubling their original volume by last autumn. What is more, over 80% of users have placed repeat orders in each of the two subsequent years, and most have increased the amount of seed treated.

"To us increased levels of repeat business are the acid test of success," Charlie Whitmarsh stressed. "They really haven't been surprising given the average yield improvements achieved by growers, but they've been especially satisfying given the intense wheat price pressures of 2002/3 in particular.

"This performance confirms we were right to choose silthiofam over potential rival, fluquinconazole from the outset for its superior take-all activity; something that has clearly been accepted since then in the progressive repositioning of fluquinconazole as a multi-purpose seed treatment rather than an out and out take-all treatment."

Banks Cargill's commercial experience over three years mirrors the average 0.73 t/ha yield improvement recorded in NIAB Latitude-treated second wheat trials over the past four years.

Using HGCA annual average Eastern region wheat prices for the years in question, Charlie Whitmarsh calculates this represents an average margin over treatment costs of more than £27/ha.

Equally importantly from his point of view is the fact that even in 2002 which saw the lowest treatment response combined with the lowest wheat price, the margin over treatment costs still exceeded £9/ha (Table).

"Across four very different years agronomically and economically, this analysis gives an accurate assessment of the real value of silthiofam treatment," explained Mr Whitmarsh. "All the more so because the trial responses are so similar to those we see in commercial practice.

Table: Specialist Take-all Treatment Margins (2000-2004)

Year NIAB Trial Response (t/ha)* HGCA Average Price (£/t feed wheat)** Margin over Latitude Cost (£/ha) *** 2000 1.06 67 46.20 2001 0.67 70 21.90 2002 0.57 60 9.20 2003 0.62 91 31.42 Mean 0.73 72 27.18

^*Average response from 19 NIAB trials with second wheat over the four years
^**Annual average Eastern UK price ex-farm
^***Latitude at £25/ha from typical seed rate

"Looking ahead over the coming few years, wheat at £72/t is probably a fair average expectation on which to base our calculations," he observed. "But even at £60/t and in a season where take-all isn't so problematic it's reassuring to find that treatment is likely to more than pay its way."

Latitude treatment is particularly likely to prove value for money with Banks Cargill's approach of only recommending treatment in field situations in which its agronomists establish the risk of take-all through discussion and risk assessment.

Including wheats after set aside and spring barley as well as true second wheats, this helps overcome the commercial risk associated with the great variability of the disease with soil conditions, rotation, drilling date and seed rate as well as season.

"At least as important as the financial returns our growers have seen from specialist take-all treatment undertaken on the basis of a proper risk assessment, is the impetus the dressing has given them to improve overall second wheat management," added Charlie Whitmarsh.

"In all but the driest seasons, being able to reliably bring forward second wheat drilling by 7-10 days has proved a real boon for establishment and management, although second wheat's shouldn't be drilled before 1st October in most areas of the country," he pointed out.

"At the same time, we've seen far more understanding of the value of good variety choice for the second wheat slot. Alongside old favourites Consort, Hereward and Deben, our growers are increasingly looking towards newer varieties like Einstein Gladiator and Istabraq which seem to have good second wheat characteristics. And thankfully, they are shying away from definite no-nos like Robigus and Solstice in this position.

"Knowing they can actually do something to address the scourge of take-all has encouraged growers to work with our agronomists to fine-tune the whole year-round second wheat management package," Charlie Whitmarsh concluded.

"This extends to correcting soil problems, ensure good seedbed consolidation, adjusting N applications and using PGRs to stimulate root development. Which is precisely the approach likely to add the greatest and most sustainable value to their rotations."