A NEW RANGE of seed treatments available to growers for this autumn is set to replace current market leaders, according to Bayer CropScience.

Based on new active ingredients, Redigo (prothioconazole), Redigo Twin (prothioconazole + fluoxastrobin) and Raxil Pro (prothioconazole + tebuconazole + triazoxide) bring high levels of control of early seed and soil-borne diseases, the firm said.

All three products also offer improved fusarium control at a lower dose rate, which Bayer believes will help reduce packaging and disposal costs.

Redigo and Redigo Twin will replace Sibutol (bitertanol + fuberidazole), which currently has 33% share of the wheat seed dressing market, said the firm’s product manager, Adrian Cottey.

In the barley market, Raxil Pro will be the main option, replacing Raxil S (tebuconazole + triazoxide). “Again that brings fusarium and michrodochium activity, which is something other seed treatments are not that strong on in barley.”

Bayer will also be introducing the new Deter range of seed treatments, based on a new insecticide clothianidin to replace Sibutol Secur and Raxil Secur by autumn 2006.

“Redigo Deter and the barley product based on Raxil do what the Secur version did and more,” said Mr Cottey.

Both offer better control of aphids, gout fly and frit fly, plus a unique label claim for a reduction in grain hollowing caused by slugs, he said. “It will deter the slug from eating the seed but it doesn’t kill the slug.”

For more on Bayer’s new seed treatments, see this week’s FARMERS WEEKLY magazine (May 27).