Nematodes, which are microscopic worms, are everywhere. They’re the most ubiquitous organism on Earth. While their levels and specific species vary depending on soil health and type, geographic location, previous cropping cycles and field management history, nematodes chew into corn seedlings in every field.
I usually get to about here in a description of nematodes before the grower or retailer I’m talking to says something along the lines of: “But nematodes aren’t a big deal in my fields.”
I wish that were true.
Nematodes attack crops silently and with few obvious symptoms. Less severe nematode damage will cost yield without a grower ever realising a problem exists. More severe nematode damage — which can appear as wilting, yellowing, stunting, poor growth, uneven tasseling, poorly developed or swollen roots, and root lesions — is generally misidentified as herbicide or fertilizer injury, insect feeding, soil compaction, drought or other more top-of-mind crop health risks. Despite their under-the-radar status, their damage is devastating: on average, nematodes cost US growers more than 70 million bushels of corn annually.
Let me throw a number at you: 4.8 bushels. When we analyzed the yield data from over 290 trial sites grown in multiple states across four trial years, Bayer’s new Acceleron N-314 corn delivered an average year-over-year continuous improvement in yield of 4.8 bushels compared to a check. That benefit comes from a combination of seed treatment, traits, germplasm, and — here’s the particularly exciting piece — new Acceleron N-314 nematicide.
Acceleron N-314 is the first ever dual mode of action chemistry and biological nematicide for corn. It brings together the proven nematicide Fluopyram, which controls nematodes at every stage in their lifecycle, with a bacteria called Bacillus firmus, which enhances plant health and creates a living barrier against nematode attack.
Adding the nematicide to top-notch germplasm, industry-leading traits, and a full-spectrum seed treatment improves the total package, ensuring growers have every opportunity to realize those corn seeds’ genetical yield potential.
Trial results consistently show Bayer seed treatment is measurably better than others on the market. The addition of N-314 next generation nematicide means the top-performance treatment even better. That’s a monumental achievement made possible because we paid attention to a little tiny organism that silently robs yield literally from under farmers’ feet. We’re solving for a pest nobody has paid attention to, and the results are — very clearly — in the bin and at the bank.
