New Seed Coatings Enabling Exciting No-Till Changes

Polymer-based seed coatings will allow no-till farmers to expand relay cropping and plant soybeans earlier.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 6:42am

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A bold, highly structured abstract painting featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals in earthy tones of green, brown, and blue, conceptually representing the complex scientific forces and natural mechanisms behind new seed coating technology that is enabling transformative changes in no-till farming.Innovative seed coating polymers enable no-till farmers to expand relay cropping and plant soybeans earlier, transforming traditional planting practices.Menlo Park Today

Innovative new seed coating technology from Intellicoat Corp. in Menlo Park, California is expected to enable significant changes in no-till farming practices. The polymer-based seed coatings can delay germination until soil temperatures are ideal, allowing no-till farmers to expand the use of relay cropping systems where soybeans are planted into growing wheat just weeks before harvest. Farmers will also be able to no-till soybeans earlier ahead of corn planting.

Why it matters

These new seed coating innovations have the potential to transform no-till farming by enabling more efficient and productive cropping systems. Relay cropping of wheat and soybeans can boost yields and land utilization, while earlier soybean planting ahead of corn can improve soil conditions and timing. The technology represents an exciting advancement that could drive widespread changes in no-till farming practices.

The details

The Intellicoat seed coating technology is based on a newly invented class of polymers called Intellimers that regulate water uptake and delay seed germination for a predictable period of time. This will allow farmers to shift to wider 12-inch and 15-inch wheat rows and expand the use of relay cropping, where soybeans are no-tilled into growing wheat just 3 weeks before small grain harvest. Intellicoat also expects the coatings will enable farmers to no-till soybeans earlier ahead of corn planting, taking advantage of ideal soil conditions even when air temperatures are still cool.

  • Intellicoat expects to have enough seed coating material available for 50 to 100 soybean growers to plant wheat in 12- and 15-inch rows this fall.
  • Widespread distribution of the Intellicoat seed coatings is expected in time for the 2001 fall wheat planting and 2002 spring bean planting seasons.

The players

Intellicoat Corp.

A California-based company that has developed a new class of polymer-based seed coatings called Intellimers, which can regulate water uptake and delay seed germination.

Jim Beuerlein

An agronomist at Ohio State University who has been working with the Intellicoat seed coating technology.

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What they’re saying

“Some contain a temperature switch so the coatings crystallize and let water through when soil temperatures are just right.”

— Jim Beuerlein, Ohio State University agronomist

What’s next

Intellicoat officials expect to have enough seed coating material available to meet the needs of 50 to 100 soybean growers who will plant wheat in 12- and 15-inch rows this fall, with widespread distribution of the coatings expected in time for the 2001 fall wheat planting and 2002 spring bean planting seasons.

The takeaway

These new seed coating innovations from Intellicoat have the potential to drive significant changes in no-till farming practices, enabling more efficient and productive cropping systems like relay cropping of wheat and soybeans, as well as earlier soybean planting ahead of corn. The technology represents an exciting advancement that could transform how no-till farmers approach planting and crop rotation.