Why use coated seed? Isn't it better to inoculate the legume crop myself?

Historically, when inoculation is done by farmers at the time of planting, poor results are all too common. Sometimes, this is due to using the wrong inoculant (for example, using soybean Rhizobia for alfalfa). Also, poor handling and storage of an inoculant can lead to Rhizobia desiccation and death even before it is applied. Nitro-Coated® seed leads to more consistent inoculation results and is the most ideal way to obtain successful legume stands. In addition to supplying the best strains of the right Rhizobium species, coating helps with seed flow through the planter. Further benefits include supplying lime and fungicides at the germinating root zone to provide for a better “micro-environment” for the young seedling roots. The Nitro-Coat® process is more consistent than inoculating at the time of seeding, provides better seed flow, and enhances the seed’s micro-environment for greater seedling survivability.