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A great crop begins with certified seedKansas Of all the management decisions wheat producers must make, perhaps none is important as what wheat variety to plant in the fall. And with this largely successful 2008 wheat harvest in the books, now is the time to study which wheat varieties are best-suited for a given producer. The "2008 Kansas Seed Wheat Book," available at Extension offices throughout the state, offers complete results from Kansas State University's Kansas Crop Performance Tests. The book also contains contact information for certified seed dealers in Kansas and surrounding states. Certified seed is a wise investment for the 2008-09 wheat season, especially considering seed quality a year ago was subpar in many cases. A widespread freeze in April, 2007 throughout Central Kansas devastated many wheat fields, tightening certified seed supplies and forcing the Kansas Crop Improvement Association--which administers certified seed standards in the state--to a short-term lowering of the test weight standard for certified seed from 56 pounds to 52 pounds per bushel. The lack of many popular certified seed varieties also prompted many farmers to buy and plant "bin-run" wheat seed of unknown origin from local grain elevators prior to last fall's planting season. In 2008, however, certified seed growers fared much better, giving them a chance to replenish supplies of high-quality, proven seed. "Last year, a lot of farmers didn't get their first choice of seed varieties and they had to settle for their second, third or fourth choice. This year, there should be good supplies of the most popular varieties," said Daryl Strouts, executive director of the Kansas Crop Improvement Association. "Farmers should not save and replant seed of an unknown variety." Furthermore, some Kansas fields were affected by head scab in 2008. Seed from these fields, for the most part, should not be saved for seed. "If there is just 5 percent scab, most of the infected kernels were discharged from the combine," Strouts said. "But if there was 40 to 60 percent scab, don't think about saving that seed. There will be test weight issues, infection potential and a lot of clean-out that will have to be destroyed." Shopping for certified wheat seed gives farmers a chance to adapt to recent growing conditions. "A farmer who saves his own seed made his variety selection decision for 2008-09 a year ago. On the other hand, a farmer who buys certified seed this year gets to choose from 60 or more different varieties. This gives him flexibility to match agronomic and disease needs with varieties," Strouts said. Certified seed offers test weight, origin and purity assurances, Strouts added. That translates to increased yield, based on historical research by Kansas State University, which shows a one- to three-bushel-per-acre yield advantage over non-certified seed. This is due to increased vigor and density. Other studies show that wheat yields decrease about one-half bushel per acre for every two-years removed from certification. "Seed tagged with the Kansas Certified Seed label is like the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. It meets minimum standards," he said. "Today, wheat is becoming a high-risk crop. With the cost of fuel and fertilizer, you don't want to take chances planting lesser-quality seed." 8/4/08 Date: 7/25/08 Advertisement
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