certified seed Archives

A field of canola being grown for hybrid seed, with orange shelters for leafcutter bees in the background.

Hybrid seed doesn’t just happen

Aside from initial research and development to create a variety, a lot of detail goes into the annual production of hybrid seed

By Lee Hart September 26, 2024

With the cost of hybrid canola seed being the No. 1 expense in producing the oilseed crop, Prairie farmers can have confidence knowing each of the 4.25 million canola seeds in a 50-pound bag was produced with care and attention to quality control. That’s the commitment of long-time hybrid seed producers, HyTech Production Ltd., based […] Read more

The older the seed, the greater the loss of vigour and germination will be.

Columns, Crops, Practical Tips

Saving your own crop seed

Don't just assume two- or three-year-old seed, or even last year's seed, will still be viable

By Ieuan Evans March 23, 2024

Look before you leap! Check your seed before you plant. Before getting into the topic of saving your own seed, whether it be cereals or legumes or any crop except for canola, I talked to several consultants and seed growers. Their answers were that few growers use all-new seed every year. These few exceptions actually […] Read more

Crops

Flax Council cautions on seed integrity

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News May 12, 2017

With the latest official acreage estimates showing a jump in flax acres across much of Western Canada, the Flax Council of Canada is urging caution. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s latest Seeded Acreage Report is expecting 1.1 million acres to go into the ground this year, putting pressure on seed supplies, and putting the integrity of […] Read more

Cereals, Crops

Find the right cereal variety for your farm

Agronomy tips... from the field

By Bryan Ulmer February 11, 2016

Variety selection in cereals, like every crop in your rotation, is one of your first and most important management decisions. Each variety is unique, as are the growing conditions on your farm. A variety’s performance is going to vary across environments due to many factors, including soil type, precipitation, fertility, temperature, planting date, pest infestations, […] Read more

Cereals, Crops

Pearce: Cereal seed firm pressing certified seed issue

By Ralph Pearce, GFM Network News July 1, 2015

It’s no secret that the cereal sector has had a tough time trying to convince growers to purchase certified seed, but companies such as C+M Seeds are actively making their case. Palmerston, Ont.-based C+M, during its annual Red Wheat Industry Day on Thursday, brought growers an extensive breakdown of updated plant breeders’ rights (PBR) in […] Read more

Canola

Canola rotations are key

Recommended crop rotations lower inoculum levels and risk of disease

By Melanie Epp March 26, 2015

Crop rotation is of utmost importance to manage residue and soil-borne diseases, and many insect species,” says Randy Kutcher, cereal and flax pathologist, University of Saskatchewan. Knowing this, it’s surprising that many growers still don’t heed rotation recommendations, especially with the potential for devastating diseases like blackleg. Blackleg is a residue-borne disease, he explains. “Residues […] Read more

Crops

Certified seed can save you from harvest headaches

By Dave Harwood March 2, 2015

Canada’s certified seed system has a hard-won reputation for being among the safest in the world. Our growers have a long history of demonstrating a strong system that has become an integral part of our brand as a trusted major exporter of grain. But with that power comes the responsibility of keeping it clean, for […] Read more

Crops, Features

Growing interest in growing hemp crops

Interest in hemp is on the rise. Some see it as a money making alternate crop

By Lisa Guenther November 27, 2014

In 2013, over 66,000 acres were licensed to cultivate hemp, a nearly 10-fold increase from 2003, according to the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance. “It’s a crop that there’s growing interest in it. Especially as canola’s starting to slump so bad,” says Harry Brook, crop specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. But farmers can’t throw […] Read more

Cereals, Crops, Spring Wheat

FP Genetics promises profits with certified CWRS seed

FP Genetics is offering you a  guaranteed profit if you’ll put your  bin run CWRS seed back in the bin

By Leeann Minogue November 27, 2014

It’s folly that somebody uses bin run seed,” said Rod Merryweather, CEO of FP Genetics. “They’re just not using the newest technology.” Through FP Genetics’ new guarantee program, Merryweather hopes to persuade farmers to buy more certified seed. There may be room to increase the market for certified seed. Currently, 80 per cent of Western […] Read more

Columns, Crops

You can’t have one without the other

Farmers need plant breeders to keep developing new varieties and breeders need farmers to buy their seed

By Sarah Weigum November 7, 2014

Have you been reading articles about UPOV ’91, Plant Breeder’s Rights or Bill C-18 over the last several months? Does all the jargon leave you confused? Angry? Ambivalent? Considering the number of my fellow farmers who tell me that they bought some new variety of seed from their neighbour, I suspect that a lot of […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn rebounds from contract lows on short covering, bargain buying

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures come down from highs

Entomologist tests trap crops and marigolds to repel flea beetles at an Ag in Motion

GFM Network News