Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76FEBRUARY 2017 SEEDWORLD.COM / 45 AS THE COMPETITION toughens in the seed market, leading seed companies distinguish themselves by adding value to their product — the seed. The demand for more complex appli- cations and recipes for pelletizing and encrusting increases, and so does the demand for proper equipment to decrease dust and environmental impact, maximize capacity, minimize time loss for cleaning and increase quality control. The risk of not having the proper equip- ment can result in poor or uneven quality of your product. Applying more products to the seed increases the need for proper drying equipment, for example. Twenty years ago we introduced the batch treater with integrated drying in the bowl by adding air. This is still only an option if you have a fairly simple applica- tion, and you know exactly what drying time is required. This means you always have the same parameters like humidity, temperature etc. over the day/week. The challenge is that you have to release the seed at the precise moment. If the seed runs in the bowl until it’s dry, you have already started the process of rubbing off your coat, and a great deal of your investment goes into your ventilation system instead. Drying seed in your treater also decreases your capacity significantly. By using a proper after-treatment dryer, you get to control the quality of your product, you minimize dust issues and give your seed a nice surface finish. Some characteristics of a proper seed treater for pelletizing are: • Stainless steel in the walls of your SEED TREATMENT EQUIPMENT Is Your Seed Coating Equipment Really Fit for Pelletizing? KETTY NILSSON NOROGARD PRESIDENT @NoroGardAB • Ketty@NoroGard.com • NoroGard.com bowl, which prevents a lot of wear and maintenance. • A lining in the bottom that provides proper friction to create accurate motion of the seed. The quality of this lining is crucial. • Closed systems for liquids and powder dosage systems protect employees, the envi- ronment and also gives a high application rate control with even production quality. • A drying table that gives you control of quality and frees up capacity also allows you to be flexible and introduce more options in your product range — whether it´s volume seeds, vegetable seeds or grass seed, for example. Investing in the proper seed treatment equipment for pelletizing always gives you a return on investment. Quality is remem- bered long after cost is forgotten. IN NORTH AMERICA, abiotic stress man- agement is not a subject that many people talk about, but abiotic stresses can have a significant impact on crop production. Abiotic stresses are simply the environmen- tal and non-living factors that can have a negative impact on plants. Examples of abi- otic stresses include high winds, drought, floods and extreme temperatures. When the topic of abiotic stress man- agement is discussed, people often think of plant growth regulators, plant hormones, or so-called “snake oils” or “fairy dusts”. There are many products that claim to help pro- tect seeds and make young plants stron- ger to better manage in-season stresses, but not all of these claims have the science behind them. So, when people hear “abiotic stress management”, they often think about these unproven products. There are quality seed treatment prod- ucts out there that have solid science behind them, which shows they protect the seed and young seedlings from diseases and insects. This improves plant stand and early plant development, helping plants better manage abiotic stresses throughout the season — you really only get one chance at establishing a good stand and healthy start when you plant the seed. An example of these seed treatments is the fungicide sedaxane (branded as Vibrance). It has been shown to boost a crop’s rooting power by delivering enhanced disease protection, leading to stronger root systems and improved crop performance in more than 18 different crops. A strong root system allows plants to increase their water and nutrient uptake, which results in plants that are hardier and better able to withstand abiotic stresses. Additionally, larger roots enable plants to mine water during dry periods where stunted plants may struggle. In fact, a SEED TREATMENT STEWARDSHIP Abiotic Stress Management: More Than Just Fairy Dust KRIS PAUNA COMMERCIAL PRODUCT LEAD SEEDCARE, CEREALS & DFC, SYNGENTA kris.pauna@syngenta.com • syngenta.com recent University of Nottingham study looked at how sedaxane can help plants with their photosynthetic response and get through periods of drought during the growing season. When we talk about abiotic stress management and rooting power, it’s that combination between broad-spectrum disease protection and healthier plants and root systems that ensures the plant will be better positioned to tolerate those stresses throughout the growing season, leading to higher, more consistent yields. The concept of abiotic stress manage- ment is backed by sound science and research continues to explore new chem- istries that go beyond targeting a disease or insect. Scientists are exploring what new chemistries can bring to the plant to help it develop in a way to better tolerate abiotic stresses throughout the entire season.