Isolation, Crop History For Seed Production

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31316, 11 March 1967, Page 9

Isolation, Crop History For Seed Production

Some confusion has arisen about the new Isolation and cropping history requirements in connexion with the production of Government certified seed of the ’‘Grasslands” varieties. For the benefit of seed growers and merchants the position has been summarised as follows:

As far as Basic Seed is concerned: (1) no crop will be certified as Basic Seed which is not correctly isolated; (2) no crop will be certified as Basic Seed where the previous cropping history of the area is unsatisfactory; and (3) the same isolation and cropping history will apply to areas being re-entered from previous years as for newly sown areas.

Details of Isolation requirements for basic seed are:—A ryegrass seed crop must be isolated by at least 100 yards from any other seed crop of a different variety of ryegrass, e.g. “Grasslands Ariki” ryegrass must be isolated from seed crops of perennial ryegrass, Italian ryegrass, short rotation ryegrass, any permanent pasture of uncertified seed crop.

All the “Grasslands” ryegrass varieties must be similarly isolated. A red clover crop of “Grassland Turoa” Montgomery red clover must be isolated by 100 yards from any broad red clover seed crop or uncertified red clover seed crop. Similarly “Grasslands Hamua” must be isolated from any Montgomery red clover seed crop or uncertified red clover seed crop.

A seed crop of “Grasslands Apanui" cocksfoot must be isolated from any seed crop of cocksfoot of any other variety. The grower must provide the cropping history of all areas entered for certification. The new entry forms make provision for this. An area producing basic seed must have been free of seed crops of cross fertilising varieties for two years in the case of grasses and three years in the case of clovers.

The cross fertilising varieties are those mentioned earlier—i.e., varieties which must be isolated from each other may not be harvested without a time interval between seed crops.

For the 1967-68 harvest season it will be possible to harvest Ist and 2nd generation seed in two categories:

(1) New Zealand Certified seed. There are no changes in the requirements for production except that previous cropping history must be shown on the grower’s application for certification.

(2) New Zealand Certified seed which is eligible for certification under the O.E.C.D. scheme. Such lines will be identified in both the field-

dressed and machine-dressed stages by the addition of the letter “O” as the first letter of the Registered Number. It is emphasised that it is likely that the first category may be eliminated in the near future, possibly after the 1967-68 harvest. Farmers should bear this fact in mind when planning seed production for future seasons. To produce seed eligible for O.E.C.D. label a farmer must—(l) Sow seed harvested in the 1967-68 season or earlier which has “O” as the first letter of the registered number; or (2) sow seed harvested prior to the 1967-68 harvest; (3) comply with isolation and cropping history requirements. As far as isolation requirements for first and second generation seed are concerned, these are not quite so comprehensive as for production of basic seed. They are:

“Grasslands Ariki” ryegrass must be isolated by 100 yards from “Grasslands Ruanui” perennial ryegrass seed crops and vice versa. Both must be isolated from permanent pasture or uncertified ryegrass seed crops. “Grasslands Manawa" ryegrass must be isolated by 100 yards from “Grasslands Paroa” Italian ryegrass seed crops and vice versa. Both must be isolated from uncertified ryegrass seed crops. "Grasslands Turoa” Montgomery red clover must be isolated from broad red clover or uncertified red clover seed crops. “Grasslands Hamua" broad red clover must be isolated from Mongomery red clover or uncertified red clover seed crops. “Grasslands Apanui” cocksfoot must be isolated by 100 yards from any seed crop of other varieties of cocksfoot Cropping history requirements for first and second generation seed are the same as for basic time Interval of two years for grasses and three for clovers between seed crops of cross fertile varieties.