Unauthorized Crop Harvesting 2025: Options for Farmers Amidst Lacking Approval - Exploring Farmer Strategies
In the world of agriculture, protecting cereal seeds from diseases and pests is a critical task. The approach to this challenge has evolved over time, with new methods and technologies being developed to address the complexities of seed health and yield stability.
Hot water and steam treatments have a long history in seed treatment, but their success hinges on precise temperature control. Any deviation can impact germination, making this method a delicate process.
Seed treatments, compared to area treatments, are more efficient, precise, and require less active substance per hectare. This efficiency is crucial, as the trend is moving towards modular seed treatment systems, where biostimulants are combined with micronutrient beadings to promote root growth and increase the stress tolerance of seedlings.
One of the key challenges in seed treatment is the application of these substances in a stable and effective form, without impairing the environment or germination. The active substance Fludioxonil, for instance, is the only approved active substance that reliably protects against Smut in wheat and barley. However, if Fludioxonil disappears from the EU approval list, there is no equivalent alternative, potentially leading to far-reaching consequences.
Alternative methods such as electron treatments only work against externally adhering pathogens. This limitation highlights the need for solutions that can tackle internal infections. Research is opening up new paths in this regard, with plants naturally producing their own defense substances to protect themselves from pests and diseases.
Biological seed treatments like Cedomon or Cerall, based on bacterial cultures, are gaining importance and can help control certain fungal diseases like scald or Fusarium. These treatments, along with plant strengtheners like Tillecur or Smart-Seed G, promote root growth and increase the stress tolerance of seedlings.
However, the range of approved seed treatment agents has dramatically decreased in recent years, including in 2025. This decrease poses a significant challenge, as farmers must rely on multiple strategies: resistant varieties, combined seed treatment systems, and in the long term, new sources of active ingredients to secure yields.
The number of approved cereal seed treatments is also decreasing, which could significantly impact feed production by offering sustainable options to reduce costs and environmental effects in livestock feeding systems. In the area of insecticidal treatments, only Signal 300 ES can be used against wireworms and cereal aphids (in winter wheat and barley) until March 2026.
Protecting cereal seed becomes more complex due to factors such as fewer active substances, increasing pathogens, and climate change. Klaus Strotmann, on our website, discusses alternatives for protecting seed from diseases like Fusarium, Smut, and Snow Mold. As we navigate these challenges, the future of seed protection remains an evolving landscape.
