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Don't gamble on seed qualityKansas 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 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 KCIA by phone at 785-532-6118 or by e-mail at kscrop@kansas.net. 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. A 8 8/6/07 Date: 7/23/07
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