Key Takeaways
- Meristem Crop Performance Product Introduction: HOPPER THROTTLE™ MAXSTAX™ Soybean is a seed fluency system delivering 16 crop inputs for enhanced yield and efficiency.
- BIO-CAPSULE™ Technology: Enables co-packing of EPA-registered active ingredients with optimized seed coverage and protection.
- Cost and Yield Advantage: Aims to save farmers up to $45 per acre while protecting seeds from pests and diseases.
- Limited Release: Available to select dealers for the 2025 crop season with a $40 per acre replant program.
- Enhanced Seed Coverage: Research demonstrates 10x seed coverage with live microbes compared to traditional treatments.
Revolutionizing Soybean Seed Treatment
Meristem Crop Performance (Profile) announced its innovative HOPPER THROTTLE™ (HT) MAXSTAX™ Soybean system at the American Seed Trade Association’s Field Crop Seed Convention, offering a transformative approach to soybean seed treatment. Designed to replace conventional liquid seed treatments, MAXSTAX leverages BIO-CAPSULE™ Technology to deliver 16 essential crop inputs directly through a planter box fluency system.
The product’s limited release for 2025 targets select dealers, with plans to deliver enhanced efficiency and cost savings to soybean growers.
Key Benefits for Farmers
- Comprehensive Protection: MAXSTAX provides fungicides, insecticides, inoculants, biocontrols, and micronutrients in one system, offering effective protection against seedcorn maggots, phytophthora, and sudden death syndrome (SDS).
- Cost Savings: Meristem CEO Mitch Eviston noted: “Farmers currently spend up to $24 per acre on seed treatments. MAXSTAX offers superior protection and can optimize genetic potential for a $45 per acre advantage.”
- Simplified Application: Each pail of MAXSTAX treats 40 acres, requiring no specialized handling or equipment.
- Enhanced Seed Coverage: Independent research highlights 10x the effective seed coverage compared to traditional seed treatments, enabled by Meristem’s BIO-CAPSULE™ Technology.
Cutting-Edge Technology
BIO-CAPSULE™ Delivery System
This patented system co-packs active ingredients, including fungicides like METALAXYL™ and PREPHYTE™, ensuring live microbes remain active until they reach the seed coat.
16-Component System
HT MAXSTAX includes six BIO-CAPSULE components and a base mix of talc, graphite, micronutrients (zinc, manganese, iron), enzymes, and active carbon.
Field Insights
Farmers and researchers report substantial benefits:
- Greg Evans, Ohio Farmer: “The difference in seed coverage through the planter box is shocking. Adding PREPHYTE and METALAXYL further improved results.”
- Jon Bokmeyer, Ph.D., Director of Ag Ingenuity Partners: “BIO-CAPSULE technology nearly doubled bacillus CFU count compared to traditional treatments.”
Future of Soybean Farming
MAXSTAX aims to redefine soybean seed treatment by enhancing germination, improving plant stand counts, and reducing replant costs.
“MAXSTAX provides a solution to protect soybean seeds even in cold, wet planting conditions,” said Nathan Louiso, Meristem Crop Performance Eastern VP of Sales. “With healthier plants and fewer losses, farmers can achieve better yields and lower expenses.”
Meristem plans to continue refining its BIO-CAPSULE platform, delivering innovative solutions to soybean growers worldwide.
