The Rural Voice, 1978-04, Page 27Make sure you know
your seed
Farmers have a legal right to information
about the quality of the seed they buy.
"But many buyers may be unaware of
their right to details on the weed seed
content of purchased seed," says Fred
Thomson. head of seed inspection and
enforcement for Agriculture Canada in
Ottawa. "On request, a seller has to
provide a purchaser with details on the
weed seed content 'of the seed he is
buying."
The plant products division provides
consumer protection to farmers by
monitoring the quality of seed sold in the
marketplace. Its inspectors grade, tag and
seal pedigreed seed sold in Canada. and its
five laboratories (in Montreal, Toronto,
Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Edmonton)
provide a seed testing service. In addition,
plant products division authorizes qualified
seed firms to grade. tag and seal Certified
seed. Plant products staff in each province
ensures that the Seeds Act is followed and
its regulations enforced.
"Many farmers don't know what
constitutes good seed," Mr. Thomson
says. "When seed in drill boxes was
sampled on western farms. 33 per cent of
the samples drawn in Alberta and 48 per
cent in Manitoba did not meet the
minimum standards for Canada grade
seed."
To meet the minimum standards for the
lowest grade, common and durum wheat
seed may not have more than eight noxious
weed seeds in a 500 -gram sample. Only
two of these eight may be primary noxious
seeds. No more than 50 other weed seeds
and 50 seeds of other crops are allowed in
each 500 grams of seed. The seed sample
must have a 70 per cent germination rate
and no more than eight ergot bodies in one
kilogram.
"Seed is the least costly of all the
production expenses," Mr. Thomson says.
"A farmer's herbicide costs would, no
doubt, diminish in time if he planted
quality seed and brought fewer weed seeds
into his fields each year. He would also get
more effective use from his fertilizer, as
•more would be available to feed the crop
instead of the weeds."
Pedigreed seed, grown under special
conditions to ensure genetic purity, is
certified by the Canadian Seed Growers'
Association. Breeder, Select, Foundation
and Registered seed are pedigreed classes
used mainly for multiplication classes, is
the seed recommended for general farm
use. Only pedigreed seed carries the
assurance of varietal purity.
"For the protection of farmers, the law
requires that all agricultural seed
advertised for sale must have labels
indicating the kind of seed. grade, lot
number and name and address of the
seller," Mr. Thomson says.
"Quality seed pays off in better crops
and eventual lower production costs."
Farmatic introduces
the only Canadian
Made Dryer.
The Vertec Continuous Flow
Grain Dryer
Efficient features include:
•adjustable cooling
•slllall batch operation
• continuous flow - no screens
• portable
•and REDUCED ENERGY
CONSUMPTION - a big factor these days
1 hey 're Canadian made. Therefore, there's no waiting for
parts. Servicemen can be at your farm in no time. So save
time and money. CaII us...and ask for Bruce McDonald.
Quantities are limited for this year, so inquire early-.
Farmatic Automatic
Feeding Ltd.
Gorrie, Ontario
(519) 335-3542
rCLAY -
Silo Unloaders
Feeders
Cleaners
Stabling
Leg Elevators
Liquid Manure Equipment
Hog Equipment
BUTLER -
Silo Unloaders
Feeders
Conveyors
FARMATIC -
Mills
%ugers, etc.
ACORN -
Cleaners
Heated Waterers
WESTEEL-ROSCO -
Granaries
B & L -
Hog Panelling
1
LOWRY
FARM SYSTEMS
at Amberley
[R.R.#1, Kincardine]
L Phone 395-5286
McGAVI N'S
FARM
EQUIPMENT
Sales and Service
Walton, Ont.
NOK 1ZO
527-0245
Seaforth
Established 1936
887-6365
Brussels
We specialize in a complete line of
farm equipment.
THE RURAL VOICE/APRIL 1978. PG. 27.