Manhattan, Kansas
June 13, 2007
Mother Nature has thrown nearly
every challenge at this year’s wheat crop. Freeze, flooding,
hail and disease have all taken their toll throughout much of
the state. In addition, prolonged wet conditions may yet lead to
premature sprouting in the field. Many of these factors will
lead to seed quality issues for planting next year’s crop. It is
anticipated that light test weight and disease, primarily
Fusarium (scab), will be a significant problem this year. Scab
can cause a dramatic reduction in the germination capability of
a seed lot. With that in mind, it is highly recommended that
farmers check the quality of their seed by having samples
professionally tested by a seed lab. Testing seed before
planting is the only way to know what will grow after the seed
is in the ground.
As always, starting a crop with certified seed is the best
option. There are often several quality factors separating
bin-run from professionally prepared seed, according to
Kansas Crop Improvement
Association (KCIA) seed lab manager Eric Fabrizius.
“Certified seed has been under scrutiny from planting to
harvesting and cleaning and is subsequently tested,” he said.
“The testing ensures that the spread of weed seed is minimal and
that the seed will in fact germinate and has the potential to
grow a new crop. Untested bin-run seed does not give the same
assurance of minimal weed seed or an acceptable germination
level.”
In the certification process, samples of seed from every field,
in addition to being inspected before harvest, are tested in the
KCIA seed lab. Registered seed technologists test for
germination and purity, assessing the seed’s likelihood of
growing under a range of conditions. It is only after meeting
the minimum requirements of the field inspections and lab
testing that seed receives a “certified” label.
Saved seed, although it may descend from certified seed, can be
just about anywhere on a wide spectrum of quality. Typical
farmer-saved seed carries more potential for varietal
contamination, which jeopardizes the disease package, maturity
dates, and yield potentials that known, pure varieties have.
If you do intend to plant saved seed, send a sample to the lab
to verify the quality first. The cost of a test is small
compared to the many costs of a poor stand from low seed
quality. A complete test (purity, germination and noxious weed
analysis) will cost $26 from the KCIA laboratory.
To learn more about submitting seed for testing prior to
planting, contact the Kansas Crop Improvement Association by
phone at 785-532-6118 or by e-mail at
kscrop@kansas.net.
Kansas Crop Improvement Association (KCIA) is the official
seed certifying agency in the state of Kansas. KCIA is a
non-profit organization of hundreds of seed growers governed and
supported exclusively by the growers themselves.
KCIA creates the opportunity for members to participate in
integrity-based quality assurance programs that provide superior
seed and plant products by utilizing research, education,
certification and uniform standards that result in safe, stable,
secure seedstock supply. |
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