How to utilize
selecting see
For many growers, it’s important to get accurate, current
and regional information on new seed varieties to stay
competitive.
There are a lot of places growers can find data to help
inform their seed-buying decisions, as government
agencies, universities, industry groups, seed breeders
and their local retail agronomists are all good sources
of variety information.
With so many options to consider, how do growers know
what’s the best way to get the seed information they need?
Consider the big picture first
Looking at data from third-party sources, such as the
Canola Performance Trials and regional variety trials
for cereal and pulse crops, is a good place to start. The
Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba Seed Guides do an
excellent job of packaging this information, and many
growers consider it their go-to source for finding out what
seed varieties offer in terms of yield, agronomic and pest/
disease resistance attributes. The challenge with this
data is if a variety is in the trial only one year, it acts as a
snapshot and is not a good indicator of how the variety
performs over multiple types of growing seasons.
Seed companies and their breeding organizations also
provide a lot of data. In fact, they are closest to the
decisions that went into selecting the variety and have
the best understanding of what can be expected from the
variety. They will also have a longer experience curve with
the variety, making them the authority on the specific traits
and characteristics of the variety.
Other resources such as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
and university Ag programs can be very useful as well
when seeking out variety information.
Once you’ve completed your variety research, the next
step is to apply this data to your own situation. No two
farms are alike, so it’s important that any varieties you
select mesh with your operation.
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