The economic benefits provided by seed treatment have been captured in many scientific trials over the years. The following brassica trial highlights the financial impact pests can have in a farming system. The trial in Canterbury demonstrated that Ultrastrike® treated kale seed produced an additional 7,800 kg of dry matter per hectare (DM/ha) than untreated seed at harvest. The net financial benefit was $1,500/ ha, a high return on the $60/ha investment in seed treatment.

The replicated plot trial was sown on 4 November 2016 following cultivation, whereby Ultrastrike treated and untreated kale seed were sown at 4 kg/ha. Pre-emergent insecticide (300 ml/ha Magister and 300 ml/ha Lorsban) was applied on 7 November 2016. Plant counts were undertaken at 13, 28 and 40 days after sowing. The trial was yielded on 6 June 2017.

An observation from the trial was that the poor establishment of the untreated seed was largely attributed to Springtail pressure during the first 2-4 weeks after sowing. Although a pre-emergent insecticide was applied, this did not protect the untreated seed from eggs, which hatched after the insecticide spray was applied. The Ultrastrike treated seed was protected against Springtail (including eggs that hatched) for six weeks after sowing, by which time the treated seed plots were well-established with good plant canopy.