The Rural Voice, 2003-02, Page 24ADVENTURES IN PLAN
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When Richard Ross planted
50 wheat seeds last fall he
had no illusion of
becoming a big player in the seed
industry. Still, the Wellington County
resident believes there's something to
be gained if more farmers become
involved with on-farm plant
breeding.
"I'm not doing this because I'm
after the seed industry. I think there's
a valued place for the professional
seed developers and I will never be
able to replace that. But I think there
is a place for amateur -developed
varieties."
Ross, who farms on the north edge
of Fergus, feels on-farm breeding
projects may lead to crop varieties
better suited to a specific region. The
larger seed companies, in contrast,
concentrate on varieties that do well
over a wider geographic area and
under a broader range of conditions,
he explains.
In addition, there are economic
considerations. Seed wheat costs
about three times the price of
commercial wheat, Ross says.
There's even a greater price
differential with other crops. If the
proper steps are taken, the quality of
farm -produced seed can be just as
high as seed purchased from the
industry, he believes.
Ross is working on his own. He
20 THE RURAL VOICE
says it will probably take another five
years to determine whether or not
he's developed something that may
have some value. It's a hobby, he
says, but a hobby that may turn into
something greater.
For Victor Kucyk, who farms near
Dublin in Huron County, on-farm
breeding is already far more than a
hobby. Over the past five years, he's
been developing different open -
pollinated corn lines and has built a
client base of about 50 farmers —
many of them milk producers.
"I've got customers now for four
years running who buy upwards of
30 to 40 bags of seed," Kucyk says.
Kucyk is working to improve the
yield of his lines but says that yield is
not the only consideration. The high
quality of open -pollinated corn,
whether used as silage or.grain, is
just as important — especially for a
farmer with livestock.
The available protein in open -
pollinated corn is higher, Kucyk
explains. So are the mineral and
sugar levels and bushel weights, he
adds. That's of value to farmers with
livestock but so far premiums are not
being offered when it's sold as grain.
There's around 11 to 12 per cent
protein in his open -pollinated lines
most of which is "bio -available" to
the animal, Kucyk says. That
compares to eight or nine per cent in
hybrid corn with perhaps only 5.5 to
six per cent being available.
Looking at it another way, Kucyk
says 130 -bushel hybrid corn with
eight per cent protein translates into
about 419 pounds of bio -available
protein per acre. In comparison, 80 -
bushel open -pollinated corn with 12
per cent protein translates into 576
pounds of available protein per acre
and 100 -bushel open -pollinated corn
translates into 720 pounds.
"Even if you harvest 80 to 100
bushels an acre with open -pollinated
corn you're still way ahead on the
protein."
Kucyk also says that the time it
takes for open -pollinated corn to
ferment when used as silage is
shorter than with hybrid corn. That's
due to the higher sugar content. Its
shorter fermentation time reduces the
likelihood of toxins developing in the
feed, he adds.
Looking strictly at yield, Kucyk
says farmers growing his lines should
expect upwards of 100 bushels per
acre in a decent year.
"We have had people tell us this
last year they harvested 130 or 135
dry bushels but that's still not good
enough .... Our goal is to get up to a
140'or 150 bushel potential."
Kucyk keeps his own performance
records and he hears back from the
farmers who plant his seed. He's also