Cl4—Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, August 30,1990
BYDONWERTMAN
With the good wheat &
barley harvest season, some
area fanners may be eyeing
their storage bins as a
source of planting stock this
fall.
This old practice still
attracts cost conscious
growers, but more
progressive farmers have
long discovered the merits of
certified seed and go to all
lengths to procure qualify
seed. Here are some of the
advantages of Certified
Sped'
KNOWN PEDIGREE -
Today’s tug machinery is a
major source of con
tamination. Unless special
care is given, seed lots are
easily contaminated with
other varieties or other
crops such as Rye.
Certified Seed on the other
hand must be virtually free
of all contaminants of this
nature. We also recognize
that planting stock which is
genetically pure will per
form as the variety is
described, while successive
generations which are not
maintained will loose the
true performance potential
of the variety.
PURE SEED - Seed
which is free of weed, seeds
such as garlic, quackgrass,
thistle, cockel and mustard.
Any beginning seedsmen can
verify how many acres are
Get fall grains off to a good start
lost in certification due to
these weeds.
Certified Seed is field
inspected lo determine the
presence of weeds before the
crop is harvested. If certain
noxious weeds are present
the field is rejected. If other
weeds are present the field
may pass conditionally but
the crop is not certified until
the laboratory reports that
the cleaned sample is free of
noxious weeds.
Heme grown seed offers
none of these guarantees.
Some years ago, we saw
some lots of “recleaned”
home grown seed contain
over 100 quackgrass seed per
pound. With the cost of
herbicides it would be better
to plant weed free seed than
to try to get rid of the weeds
the following year.
PROPER SEED
TREATMENT This is one
of the most important
aspects of good seed.
Although seed doesn’t have
to be treated to be certified,
most companies offer
treated seed.
It has become apparent
that since the en
vironmentalists have suc
ceeded in banning Mercury
seed treatments, the in
cidence of disease in small
grain has increased. We are
now forced to use an ex
pensive product called “Vita
Vax” to control loose smut in
barley. Any grower who does
not want smut in barley
should insist on Vita Vax
treatment. This treatment
needs to be applied properly.
Again certified seed, Vita
Vax treated, is the best in
surance in controling smut,
bunt and several other
problems. Seed treatment of
wheat is also important.
Vita Vax, Terra Coat and
Protector 3L are also good
protectant fungicides. Seed
treatment is only as good as
the way its applied. Proper
dosage and uniform
distribution are important.
Seedsmen selling Certified
seed are equipped and
knowledgable in this im
portant area. Thus, buying
certified seed helps
guarantee proper seed
treatment.
DISEASE CONTROL -
Certified seed is inspected
for disease especially loose
smut. Since the organism is
seed borne it can be spread if
present in the seed field. If
found in excess of certified
standards the field are
rejected.
Scab can also be a
problem. Planting clean
seed provides extra in
surance.
GUARANTEED GER
MINATION All Penna.
Certified wheat and barley
seed must germinate SO
percent in 1980. We say m
1960 because the standard
may be lowered, in an ad
verse year if permitted by
the Department of
Agriculture.
All seed is tested before
sale and the analysis tag is
your guarantee of qualify.
Much home grown seed is
never tested and although
the seed looks good there
could be a germination
problem.
These are but a few of the
pluses for Certified Seed.
Farmers should realize that
Seedsmen and the Depart
ment of Agriculture spend
many dollars in funding our
Certification program. It is a
benefit to growers only when
they take advantage of it
through the purchase of
Certified Seed.
VARIETIES TO PLANT?
Plant several varieties if
this is practical. Penn State
recommends Hart, Abe and
for Pennsylvania.
This season most varieties
did well, however Hart
appears to have the best
record across the state.
Many new varieties have
been grown with varying
degrees of success. Several
are Logan, Ruler, Potomac,
and Titan. Each has per
formed well in 1980. Titan,
an Ohio release, appears
promising but has soihe
susceptibility to scab ac
cording to Elwood Hatley of
Penn State. He also says
Potomac does not always
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3433 Old Phila. Pike, Ronks, PA
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stand as well as it should but
displays outstanding mildew
resistance.
Potomac will be recom
mended in 1981 for
Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Winter hardiness is a con
cern in other parts of the
state.
A new Illinois variety,
Roland, shows promise and
will be tried as soon as seed
is available.
Certified Pennoll is still
available from most seed
companies. The variety is
the tallest on the market and
is still regarded as having
the plumpest grain. Stan
dability can be a problem
with this variety although
modern . combines have
overcome this obstacle.
Planting two varieties of
different maturities can be
beneficial. Abe and Hart will
mature early while Redcoat
is later Pennoll is the latest
Located on Rt. 340 Intercourse, PA
maturing with other new
varieties falling in between
Hart and Redcoat.
What’s down the road in
cereal grain production?
Pennsylvania Seedsman
are excited about the future
for grain production in our
state. A Cereals Research
project has been instituted at
Penn State to research all
aspects of production in
cluding varietal testing and
development, pest
management, cultural
practices and energy ef
ficient establishment. This is
a tremendous undertaking
and will require the support
of many individuals and
agencies.
Planting certified seed in
1980 of a proven variety that
fits your program will put
you on your way toward
harvesting a profitable crop
next summer.