Fungicide seed treatments have proven invaluable to corn production, and planting treated seed is a standard practice. But what about soybean production--should fungicide seed treatments be standard practice? First, why use a fungicide seed treatment? Fungicide seed treatments are used for managing seedling diseases that are caused by fungal pathogens. Seedling diseases result in lower plant populations and reduced plant vigor, and as a result, lower yields in corn. In contrast, however, a reduced stand of soybean may not always mean a lower yield.