Use your agronomist, agricultural merchant or agrochemical fieldsman for cultural husbandry, fertilizer, disease, weed and pest control.

Chemical manufacturers product application rates and timing should be strictly followed to avoid crop damage or distortion effects.

Regularly inspect seed crops up to harvesting for weed, disease and pest levels, particularly after ear emergence when the seed borne diseases loose smut, leaf stripe and bunt, which can dramatically cut yields, show.

These diseases are controlled by broad spectrum seed treatments.

Never take shortcuts with seed treatments to try and save money as this can be a false economy.

If hand roguing is necessary, this should be done when the problem weed (i.e. Wild Oats) or other species appear above the crop. All rogued plants should be totally removed from the field.

It is recommended to employ the services of a qualified crop inspector to assess varietal purity and if true to type in the field.

 

HARVESTING, HANDLING AND STORAGE

Before harvesting a seed crop thoroughly clean combine, trailers, drier and storage areas to avoid admixture contamination.

To ensure high seed viability harvest the crop only when fully mature.

Avoid splitting and hairline cracking of seed by correct combine adjustment. Some combine models are designed for the specialist seed grower producing extra clean samples.

Do not use seed from the first cut around the headland of a field to avoid weed contamination from the hedgerow.

Preferably pre-clean seed before storing, monitor and keep cool and dry to avoid deterioration.

If there is a need to dry, use the lowest temperature possible and do not exceed 49°C (120°F) to avoid seed germination damage.

Calculate your seed sowing requirement and store enough tonnes allowing for up to 20% to be screened out.

Take particular care to keep all seed lots separate and label with variety name from harvest to drilling.

Do not store seed where CIPC potato sprout suppressants have been used. Any vapour or residues can adversely effect seed viability.