Grainswest - Spring 2025

Spring 2025 Grains West 22 TRUE SEEDS FINDS SUCCESS IN NICHE PRODUCTS A first-generation seed grower, Chelsea Tomlinson operates True Seeds near Redwater in northeast Alberta. She grows peas and faba beans, gluten-free oats, triticale and red and white wheat as well as malting, silage and seed barley. Most of her customers are within a 200-kilometre radius, while she ships some seed to southern Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec. Tomlinson acquired her farming skills by working with a local seed grower. She launched her own operation in 2007 with just 200 acres. She attributes much of her success to advice and feedback from customers and fellow seed growers. It has helped her business evolve, improve and grow and has given True Seeds a reputation for high-quality products and service. Tomlinson now works in partnership with her husband Shane, two full-time employees and seasonal workers. The farm has expanded to more than 5,000 acres with 65 per cent in seed production and the balance seeded to commercial canola. With limited acreage to start, she concentrated on niche varieties to deliver the best return. As the business has grown, she has maintained its niche focus. When gluten-free oats came into high demand five years ago, she seized the opportunity to produce seed. To maintain gluten-free status required additional equipment and land management. A dedicated combine is used for this crop alone. “We struggled to get pure seed stock, but we shied our production to accommodate all the requirements to grow certified gluten-free oats and we haven’t looked back,” she said. Coincidentally, one of the couple’s two young daughters subsequently developed celiac disease. “Growing gluten-free oats has become personal for us, and we know just how worthwhile and important it is to produce the seed stock.” To expand her business, Tomlinson has relied largely on rental acres, so maintaining relationships with her landlords is a top priority. While land availability has been a limitation, so has a scarcity of skilled labour. To address this, Tomlinson has partnered with neighbouring farmers in custom seeding agreements. This creative solution allows them to maximize return from their land and her to expand acreage. In return, they help with her fieldwork and share valuable management and agronomic advice she eagerly applies. To deliver clean, pure seed products demands a lot of work from participation in validations and audits to fully documented equipment cleanings. Tomlinson also maintains a retail yard that offers the value-added seed cleaning service of a mobile seed plant. As well, the business offers the support of outside agronomists to support customers with advice. “I want every farmer I deal with to be successful and to come back and try a new variety because they trust our quality and recommendations,” said Tomlinson. “Seed growers make up a small percentage of Canadian farms, but we make sure every farm and the crops they grow are successful.” Tomlimson built her seed growing business from200 acres to 5,000. The operation produces commercial canola and a wide range of certified seed with an emphasis on gluten-free oats. “I want every farmer I deal with to be successful and to come back and try a new variety because they trust our quality and recommendations.” —Chelsea Tomlinson FEATURE