Seed Filmcoat

Seed Filmcoat

Seed Filmcoat

Germains strives to provide our customers with high-quality seed filmcoat treatments that are safer to use and offer additional plant protection from pathogens that will aid the success of your crops. Seed film-coating is the precision application of agrochemicals such as color dyes, fungicides, insecticides, and other beneficial microorganisms to raw seeds or seed pellets. Filmcoat applications of agrochemicals are designed to apply the chemicals at the approved label rate as required by the California Department of Pesticides.

Seed filmcoat process

The film-coating is a seed treatment process that encases the active ingredients within a thin film of binding materials that improves handling and reduces dust off for end users. The filmcoat binders keep the material where it belongs, on the seed. Because the agro-chemicals are placed directly on the seed or pellet, the filmcoat may also provide the disease protection it was developed to control. The benefits of the selected agrochemicals begin working at emergence vs. having to wait for spray applications after planting.

Filmcoating can be added to raw seed; however, specific pesticides do require them to be added as far always from the seed as possible to limit phytotoxicity. Some chemicals may cause damage when applied directly to the seed. Under these circumstances, Germains will, therefore, apply the agrochemical to the exterior finish of the customer’s selected seed pellet as a filmcoat.

Quality control and safety

All of Germains seed filmcoat applications are routinely tested by our Quality Control department to ensure that the application of agrochemicals is controlled and adheres to state and federal regulatory standards. Also, to prevent seeds treated with any agrochemical from accidentally consumed by humans or animals, all seeds treated with any chemical or biological filmcoat are color-coded in accordance to the Food and Drug Administrations’ safety guidelines 21 CF, Part 2.25. All colorants used in Germains filmcoating process are 40 CFR, Part 153.155 approved.

Seed filmcoat treatments offer many benefits including:

  • Precise and even distribution of agrochemical treatments
  • Carrier of seed-applied crop protection products
  • Reduction in dust exposure
  • Strong binding agent
  • Higher visibility in the field
  • Product identification
  • Increased shelf life

Guide to seed treatment stewardship

The Guide to Seed Treatment Stewardship is a valuable resource that provides critical information and up-to-date guidelines for seed handling. Jointly produced by the American Seed Trade Association and CropLife America, the purpose of the guide is to educate farmers and seed companies about how to manage their treated seeds effectively and to minimize the risk of exposure. Click here for more information.

Contact us for more information

Germains offers a wide range of seed treatments providing a consistently high level of quality treated seed. As our offer for seed treatment is extensive, please do contact us with any inquiries you may have for your seed so we may tailor an offer for you.

Product List

Crop Protection Seed Treatments

The following is a list of seed applied crop protection treatments that are available upon request. Some of the crop protection seed treatments listed may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Please check with your local extension service to ensure registration status before ordering.

Crop Protection | Seed Treatment Manufactured by Valent U.S.A

Crop Protection | Seed Treatment Manufactured by BASF

Crop Protection | Seed Treatment Manufactured by The Dow Chemical Company

Organic Biological Crop Protection | Seed Treatment Manufactured by Bioworks

Organic Biological Crop Protection | Seed Treatment Manufactured by Natural Industries | Monsanto BioAg

Organic Biological Crop Protection | Seed Treatment Manufactured by Verdera

Crop Protection | Seed Treatment Manufactured by Bayer Crop Sciences

Crop Protection | Seed Treatment Manufactured by Syngenta

Species availability:
Broccoli, Cabbage, Cantaloupe, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Cucumber, Jalapeno, Leek, Lettuce, Melon, Onion/Shallot, Parsley, Parsnip, Pea, Pepper, Pumpkin, Radish, Squash, Swiss chard, Tomatoes, Watermelon

Filmcoat elite is a new upgraded conventional filmcoat scientifically formulated for carrots and jalapeno peppers. Filmcoat elite improves plant nutrient uptake and supports early plant development that aids in increasing root size, improved uniformity, and yield potential.

Filmcoat elite Carrot Overview

Key benefits

  1. Larger seedlings with longer, more developed roots: Optimize access to moisture and nutrients
  2. Vigorous leaf canopy growth: Outcompete weeds and maximize photosynthesis
  3. Uniform root growth: Beneficial for maximizing harvest of root crops
  4. Increased yield potential: Beneficial for growers

Field trial results

In collaboration with growers, plant breeders and seed dealers, Filmcoat elite on carrot has been trialed for three seasons in California and Mexico, providing consistent trial results.

Improvement of overall yield

Improved uniformity

Uniformity of root crops is particularly important to support effective harvesting. As illustrated left, the Filmcoat elite seed treatment resulted in improved carrot uniformity, compared to the control.

Filmcoat elite on carrots

Filmcoat elite (left) vs. Untreated (right)

Increased yield

Yield increases of up to 20% have been noted for Filmcoat elite on carrot, ultimately offering more value to everyone.

control vs. Filmcoat elite on carrots

control vs. Filmcoat elite on carrots

Control vs. Filmcoat Elite

Total Yield per 9ft Control vs. Filmcoat

Filmcoat elite Jalapeno Overview

Situation

A commercial breeder who produces jalapeno pepper varieties that are popular amongst growers in North America and Mexico inquired with Germains Seed Technology to see if a treatment could be developed to improve the vigor and foliage growth of jalapeno plants. The treatments also needed to be compatible with crop protection products such as thiram. Their objective was to increase the plant’s foliar mass of a popular jalapeno variety to help protect the fruit from sun damage. They theorized that the dense canopy would protect the fruit from sunscald and therefore improve the number of harvestable fruit and improve yield.

Solution

Sunscald may decrease harvestable yield, especially when harvesting the crop two or three times. To obtain more foliage and improve plant vigor for sun protection, the Filmcoat elite treatment was applied to jalapeno pepper seeds. Two independent commercial growers in Bakersfield, California, and Sinaloa, Mexico planted 100,000 seeds treated with Filmcoat elite thiram and 100,000 treated with thiram. The grower’s reported “that jalapeno seeds treated with Filmcoat elite and thiram produced more developed roots, stronger plant structure, and more foliar weight, and reduced the number of fruit damaged by sunscald.”

Key benefits

  1. Vigorous leaf canopy growth: Protect fruit from sunscald, optimizing plants for multiple harvests
  2. Larger seedlings with increased foliage: Improve plants ability to withstand the transplant process
  3. Enhanced root development: Strengthen plants for growth in harsh growing conditions
  4. Increased yield potential: Provide benefit for growers

Field trials

Compared with seed treated with only a filmcoat with Thiram, grower trials demonstrate that jalapenos treated with Filmcoat elite and Thiram develop more roots, stronger plant structure, a more vigorous plant canopy to protect fruit from sunscald, and a continued onset of flowers after first harvest. Filmcoat elite is compatible with emergis® priming, thiram, and other crop protection seed treatments.

Results

untreated vs. treated filmcoat

Untreated vs. Treated filmcoat on jalapenos

Compared to seed treated with only thiram, trial data suggests that the jalapenos treated with Filmcoat elite combined with thiram developed more roots, stronger plant structure, heavier plant weight and more setting fruit. Trial data also reports that the crops experienced a continued onset of flowers after the first harvest.

Need a pellet with the same benefits?

Based upon our success of ProPellet® elite for celery, Germains has tailored the PPL elite as an upgraded pellet that adds the elite benefits that help support a plant growth for a healthy Jalapeno and carrot crops.

Species availability:
Carrot, Jalapeno, Tomatillo

Germains offers a wide selection of crop protection products that may be applied as a seed filmcoat treatment to a number of species. Please contact us today to confirm which products may be applied to your crop, or click on the product hyperlinks to access detailed information from the manufacturer’s website. Contact us today for pricing!

Seed Treated with Biological Film Coating | T-22 Approved for Export to Mexico

Species availability:
Arugula, Basil, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cantaloupe, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Cucumber, Jalapeno, Kale, Leek, Lettuce, Melon, Onion/Shallot, Parsley, Parsnip, Pepper, Pumpkin, Radish, Spinach, Squash, Swiss chard, Tomatoes, Watermelon