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| Early season evaluation in University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign research documents improved plant health and comparable emergence of MaxStax versus traditional liquid seed treatment. |
Source: Meristem Crop Performance sent via AgPR–the news distribution service for agriculture
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| Dr. Connor Sible |
PIATT COUNTY, Ill. — Planting naked, early soybeans can be scary.
For Justin Huisinga of Piatt County, Illinois, the 2025 harvest was on the line, along with 150 years of his family’s legacy on the land. For years the Huisinga family has treated their own soybeans to help manage early season emergence risks, but this year, they decided to try dropping the traditional liquid soybean seed treatment and going naked.
“Well, on April 13th, [when we planted] it didn’t feel super great. I mean, you’ve got to trust the system. I was a little skeptical as I was filling the planter, but here we are,” Huisinga said. “These are Hopper Throttle MaxStax Soybeans that I planted naked. They look good.”
For more: Justin Huisinga: Plant Early. Go Naked with Hopper Throttle MaxStax watch this video.
A limited launch of 250,000 acres of MaxStax was announced at Commodity Classic in 2025. Each pail of Hopper Throttle MaxStax Soybean is designed to treat 40 acres (one seed box) and contains 16 components including biologicals, synthetics and micronutrients. Meristem Crop Performance patented Bio-Capsule Technology offers for the first time ever a complete seed-fluency delivery system including U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registered products. MaxStax includes IonLock zinc for agronomic and plant health benefits while also ensuring coverage of active ingredients on the seeds for effective seed protection while eliminating the need for liquid seed treatment. Click here for more information on the MaxStax Soybean Pail.
MaxStax sets soybeans up for profitability by using lower-cost untreated seed while capitalizing on the ability to plant early with confidence.
“In general, the earlier you plant, the higher the yield potential,” said Dr. Connor Sible, with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). “In rough ballpark numbers, you lose half a bushel per acre per day as you get into those more optimal conditions.”
Sible, through the UIUC Crop Physiology Laboratory, is evaluating soybean stand establishment and yield in no-till soybeans planted into corn fodder comparing traditional liquid seed treatments, naked soybeans and naked soybeans treated with Hopper Throttle MaxStax at the planter in replicated plots. Click here for more on the UIUC research: Dr. Connor Sible: Hopper Throttle with Excavator AMS.
Early season evaluation in the UIUC research showed comparable emergence between the traditional seed treatment package and MaxStax treatment. Combined with the $40 replant program and the total value of the offerings, MaxStax farmers can have the confidence to go naked, and go early to set the stage for more bushels at harvest.
“With MaxStax, farmers can better protect their soybeans from early season pests and diseases while reducing cost and optimizing their crop’s genetic potential to go after 6-8 more bushels per acre. We’re out to give soybean growers a $45 per acre advantage,” said Mitch Eviston, Meristem Founder and CEO. “Our patented Bio-Capsule delivery system is what makes this possible. We are confident this technology works. And farmers can be confident in planting naked, planting early and innovating with MaxStax for a better yielding future for soybeans where never again will farmers plug a planter with a liquid seed treatment.”
About Meristem Crop Performance
Meristem Crop Performance, Inc. helps farmers produce more bushels for less cost per bushel. Meristem is the global leader in delivering live, in-field biologicals through the patented Bio-Capsuleโข technology platform. Meristem significantly reduces waste and increases productivity in crop input systems through accelerated access to innovation, improved supply chain efficiency, and advanced concentrates. Learn more at www.meristemag.com.
