Tips for best quality farm-saved seed

Growers are being advised to optimise the use of farm-saved seed this autumn – with tight supplies of some certified varieties.

Farmers looking to secure certified seed for autumn drilling should let their supplier know as soon as possible – if they haven’t already done so, says Stephanie Spiers, of the British Society of Plant Breeders (BSPB).

“For farmers intending to use farm-saved seed, some fabulous processors are out there,” she adds. “They can quickly turn out the quality farmers need and will collect the royalty at the point of processing.”

Growers choosing the farm-saved route can take some simple steps to manage the area of cropping that will be used to produce their seed to the highest standard possible, says Tom Wheelhouse, technical specialist for UPL.

Field choice

Selecting the best part of a field for farm-saved seed production gives the best chance of success, says Mr Wheelhouse. Ideally, it should be a promising crop in a traditionally high-yielding part of the farm, he adds.

The crop should be clean of pests and weeds and not following a rotational crop such as maize that can increase disease threats. Preferably, it will have been sown using certified seed, providing confidence in its purity from the start.

“These areas should be regularly inspected. Where diseases such as bunt, ergot, leaf stripe and loose smut are present, do not use it for seed production.

“Effective weed control ensures a clean seed sample is produced, and weeds are not spread to other fields. Rogueing of black grass, brome, wild oats, off-types, and visibly infected tillers will help to ensure the seed sample is clean,” explains Mr Wheelhouse.

Clean combine

Machinery should ultra-clean to remove weed seeds or other varieties before harvesting crops destined for farm-saved seed. Harvesting at 15% moisture will avoid the need for grain drying, which in turn can reduce seed germination.

“Harvest in optimum conditions,” says Mr Wheelhouse. “If drying is required, ensure the temperature is not too high and moisture does not drop below 15%. Farm-saved seed should also be stored separately from any other grain.”

Every sample of farm-saved seed should be tested after harvest to assess the quality of the samples. Testing will show the percentage germination and detect seed-borne diseases.

Seed dressings

“Fungicide single purpose dressings (SPDs) should be used where testing has established a presence of disease on the seeds or if the seed is untested.”

Seed treatments like Rancona-i-Mix (ipconazole + imazalil) will help ensure rapid and uniform crop establishment.  They have a low cost per hectare and control seed-borne diseases that cannot be controlled with foliar fungicides.

“Further seed treatments on top of the SPD may be required in specific circumstances,” says Mr Wheelhouse. Biostimulant seed treatments like Sunagreen and nutrition like manganese also help improve establishment and early crop growth.

Signal 300ES (cypermethrin) will reduce the damage caused by wireworm, wheat bulb fly, and frit fly. Products containing silthiofam will help control take-all if the crop in question is a second or third wheat.

A complete list of royalty rates payable on farm-saved seed is available from the BSPB website. Alternatively, farmers can contact their local farm support team.

Shake-up expected for UK seed treatment market

UPL plans to bring to market a new option based on azoles plus an additional mode of action – with several active substances used as cereal fungicidal seed treatments facing uncertain futures.

Products containing fludioxonil, tebuconazole and ipconazole are all at risk under the EU regulatory process, says UPL’s Tom Wheelhouse. Any decisions on non-approval likely to follow in the UK market, he adds.

“The upshot is the seed treatment market is likely to change quite radically in the next three to five years,” says Mr Wheelhouse.

That could make loose smut control in barley, in particular, more of a challenge, with prothioconazole effectiveness threatened by reduced sensitivity.  “It’s a disease that could become more widespread if those actives go.”

UPL has been testing alternative modes of action as possible options to partner with azole chemistry at its Shray Hill research and development centre, one of which is showing promise with broader spectrum control of the main five seed-borne diseases, loose smut, leaf stripe, bunt, fusarium and Microdochium nivale.

“We’re hopeful we will have a product to help growers control these important seed-borne diseases,” says Mr Wheelhouse.