May 17, 2012

Under the Microscope – Seed Lab Grading and Testing As Effective Marketing Tools

Grain Grading

Establishing a seed grade can be a frustrating process at times, especially at point of sale. If a seed lot is on the edge, there is a lot riding on what grade it ends up making. If the crop is graded on site, there can be a lot of areas where doubt can arise as [...]

Under the Microscope – Putting Germination Tests In Perspective

underthemicslide

Germination tests are standard when it comes to any seed lot. A lot of seed for sale has to tested for germination so that the farmer or seed company can decide whether the seed lot will be suitable for sale.  Farmers that are saving seed also need to make sure that their saved seed will [...]

Under the Microscope: Dealing with Triffid Flax Two Years Later

Flax

When CDC Triffid flax was discovered in export shipments to Europe in 2009, the result was devastating to Canadian producers and shippers.  Canada’s flax industry exports to the EU were suspended and even after strict testing policies came into place, are still not at pre 2009 levels.  At the time the news broke, the industry [...]

Under the Microscope: Ergot on the Rise in Harvest Samples Across the West

Ergot

This years harvest samples show an alarming rise in ergot infection in wheat crops. The information comes from a Canadian Grain Commission report that shows upwards of 20 percent of western Canadian wheat crops have some degree of ergot infection. Ergot tolerances are very tight due to the toxic qualities of the ergot body that [...]

Under the Microscope: Two Things Farmers Need To Look Out For

storage_bins_westeel

For farmers in the West finished harvest, there is a tendency to sit back and breathe a big sigh of relief and rightly so. However, as any farmer who’s had a bin full of grain go bad can tell you, it’s not a time to sit back and forget about that crop. Monitoring and conditioning [...]

Under the Microscope – Harvest Samples Show a Few Surprises in 2011

underthemicslide

RealAgriculture.com is happy to present a new feature segment we call “Under the Microscope”. We have partnered with BioVision Seed Labs to educate and inform producers with respect to what goes on inside the seed lab and hopefully take some of the mystery out of the process. In the first episode we talk to Holly [...]