GrainsWest Spring 2020

Spring 2020 grainswest.com 33 On average, Canadian pedigreed seed production carries a total direct and indirect annual economic impact on the Canadian economy of more than $6 billion. More than 3,000 Canadian seed growers produced 1.33 million acres of pedigreed seed in 2018, according to the most recent Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada statistics. Alberta is home to nearly 700 seed growers, and more than 350,000 acres of pedigreed seed were inspected at the behest of provincial seed associations in 2019. A HARD ROW TO HOE The relative prestige seed growers enjoy comes with numerous obligations and sustained hard work. As with all farmers, weather and market volatility can severely impact seed growing operations. In addition to these perennial challenges, seed growers must adhere to the constraints of the Canadian seed certification system. Its strict regulations ensure the quality and desirability of Canadian seed is maintained. The program’s rules cover how seed is grown, harvested and inspected, demanding a very high level of commitment and care from certified seed growers. This commitment can scare off potential new seed growers, said Trent Whiting, SeCan marketing representative and parent seed co-ordinator. “If I have 10 producers come to me interested in growing certified seed, once I tell them about all the requirements and commitments, probably nine of 10 will realize it’s easier to just buy seed,” he said. These commitments include the deep cleaning of combines and other equipment prior to field work. Obligations also include keeping extensive land-use records, recording crop inputs and maintaining paperwork for certified seed acres to ensure purity protocols are met. Seed growing also involves a termed commitment to a crop type and variety. Sowing a pedigreed crop requires committing a portion of land to that variety for three to four years. This can be a risk, as predicted demand for the variety may not prove as accurate as hoped. Selecting varieties is another challenge. Whiting recommends seed growers consult variety trial information, especially for those carried out in their geographic area. Assessing demand is a component of this process. Brent Derkatch, director of the Canterra Seeds pedigreed seed business unit, said the company supports growers with development and marketing of new varieties. “If a farmer doesn’t see an appropriate value proposition for a variety, they’ll choose one that does,” he said. New varieties can take 10 to 12 years to reach the market, and face rigorous testing before they’re available to growers and farmers, but their uptake is not ensured. “When you’re picking a brand-new variety, you’re the risk taker,” said Whiting. “Sometimes, a variety looks great on paper but turns out to be a dud, and sometimes one turns out to be a diamond in the rough.”