Recently, a disease called Karnal bunt was detected in the southwestern United States. Quarantines are established to keep Karnal bunt out of the Great Plains. The use of certain seed treatments could help reduce the spread of this seedborne disease. No products can control Karnal bunt after it becomes established in the soil. A second major use is to improve stand establishment.
Most treatments do at least a fair job of controlling seed rots and seedling blights.
Scab and black point are two seedborne diseases that can reduce seed germination. If seed has either of these diseases, it should be cleaned to remove all light seeds, then tested for germination rate. Several treatments are available if wireworms are expected to be a problem in stand establishment. C Powdery mildew, Stagonospora nodorum leaf blotch, or leaf rust controlled in the fall. Control may or may not carry through to spring depending on year.