Chatham, Ontario, Canada
September 16, 2008
Pride Seeds has
announced a new corn seed sizing system to meet the needs of
corn producers. “The move to a new TrueFlex Grade System
reflects our analysis of the scope of planters being used by
producers today and the trend of where producers will be taking
planter technology into the future,” says Stephen Denys, Vice
President of Sales and Marketing with Pride Seeds. He notes that
today there are three general categories of planters being used
by Canadian producers – air, plateless and plate planters.
“In the end what matters most is consistency – consistency of
size and consistency in weight to ensure a uniform seed drop
across the farm,” notes Denys. “TrueFlex offers true consistency
in size and weight within each grade category to ensure a
uniform and consistent seed drop. Plus the system offers
flexibility in being able to provide a series of seed size
ranges with uniform size and weight in each range to meet the
preferences of growers .”
The system is based on grading specific weight ranges derived
from the high quality seed produced in Canada by seed growers in
Southern Ontario. Within each size range (large, medium, small
and value), seed sizes and weights are matched to produce a
uniform graded product. These grades are designed to
specifically meet the needs of air and plateless type planters
where uniformity in size or weight is the critical determinant
in seed drop consistency. In addition, for each hybrid there
will be a specific medium flat and/or round seed grade designed
specifically to meet the needs of growers using plate planters
where uniformity in size is the critical determinant.
“For producers, this system will ensure true sizing for
consistent seed drop. For our dealers, the system will reduce
the number of grades and resulting inventory management time
required through winter and into spring planting,” adds Doug
Alderman, National Sales Manager for Pride Seeds. “It will be
much easier to match inventory to customer needs including the
ability to offer producers the same weight range for their
planting needs on a consistent basis. This has become an
important factor as farms get larger and the need increases to
cover more acres using similar planter settings in the available
days to plant each spring.” The result is a better system for
producers and a better and easier system to manage for our
dealers.
Pride Seeds TrueFlex Grade System
TrueFlex Large 26-31 kg/80M
TrueFlex Medium 1 21-25 kg/80M
TrueFlex Medium 2 17-21 kg/80M
TrueFlex Small 17-21 kg/90M
TrueFlex Value 17-21 kg/100M
Note that the available graded Medium flat and/or round size
for each hybrid will be announced by November of each year
following seed harvest.
Does Seed Size Matter?
One of the questions most often asked with regard to seed size
is - does seed size matter to potential yield?
“The straight forward answer is no - size from a genetic
potential does not affect yield,” says Fred Sinclair, Manager of
Product Development and Agronomy with Pride Seeds.
“All seed of a given hybrid is derived from the same genetic
material and has the same genetic potential when planted the
following spring.” Although many studies have been done, there
is no direct correlation between seed size and yield potential
when planted under the same conditions using the same
population.
“The reality to seed production is that we are working with seed
produced from an ear of corn,” adds Sinclair. “Seed size will
vary due to several factors including field conditions in the
year of production, environmental conditions especially during
pollination and grain fill, and characteristics specific to the
parent lines of the hybrid.”
Once the seed corn is produced it is graded from large to small
(small seed from the tip of the ear, large from the base end and
medium grades from the middle) and for size and weight. Great
lengths are taken both during and after seed harvest to ensure
uniformity of seed size and weight.
“Where size does matter is in planter settings,” Sinclair says.
“Population drop should be monitored and planter settings or
ground speed should be adjusted where needed to ensure a uniform
population drop and placement in the soil.”
Where producers find themselves with the choice of switching
seed sizes or switching hybrids, Sinclair advises producers to
always stick with their hybrid choice first. “Yield potential is
based on the genetic potential in the seed. It is a better
management decision to stick with the hybrid that matches your
field and adjusts the planter setting versus rolling the dice on
a hybrid that may not be the best fit but is available in the
preferred size”, adds Sinclair.
As a best practice, all planter settings and wear parts should
be reviewed before spring to ensure the planter is in ready mode
when conditions are favourable to plant. “Planters should be
ready to go in April”, says Sinclair. “This means taking
individual units apart during the winter and early spring to
check all parts from disk openers and seed firmers to plates,
meters, brushes or fingers and springs to ensure any maintenance
or replacement is done early, not in the rush of planting.” Good
planter maintenance together with in-field management helps to
ensure you maximize your yield potential with any seed size.
Pride Seeds is part of
AgReliant Genetics which features one of the largest corn
breeding and testing programs in North America. Based in
Chatham, Ontario, Pride Seeds is performing everywhere you go
through a full range of corn, soybean and forage varieties
designed to meet the needs of producers across Canada. |
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