Extension of Seed Wheat Certification

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 73, Issue 6, 16 December 1946, Page 507

Extension of Seed Wheat Certification

By

J. H. CLARIDGE,

Agronomist, Wellington.

\V7ITH the gradual return to normal conditions, YY the Department of Agriculture has considered the extension of the seed wheat certification scheme beyond the. limited scope applying during the war. Under the pre-war scheme any area which had been sown with Certified seed was eligible for re-entry, and many crops sown .with? seed approaching the borderline were entered for certification, whereas quantities of seed of much higher quality were lost sight of. As a result the percentage of rejections was always high.

T'VURING the war a restricted scheme of certification ■ LZ was in operation, and entries were in general’confined to areas sown with seed produced by the Agronomy Division of the Plant Research Bureau or by Lincoln ■College. The seed sown by these institutions was hot watertreated seed obtained from recent reselection, so that full use was made of the. highest-quality seed available for further seed production. By this procedure rejections have fallen, to a negligible number, and as . a result the Department has . decided to continue with' , this wartime scheme but to extend its operation by a further generation.

Designation of Grades

The various generations of seed will be designated in a similar way to that applying for grass and clover seeds, thus:— . ,i.

1. Certified Pedigree Seed: This will be the highest grade of seed sold, and will be produced by the Agronomy Division itself, or by Lincoln College from stocks supplied by the Agronomy Division. In either case the seed sown for the production of Certified Pedigree seed will be hot water treated. 2. Certified Mother Seed: Areas sown with Certified Pedigree seed will be eligible to produce Certified Mother seed, and this seed in ■ turn may be used to establish areas for further certification. ' y ’ ' 3. Certified Standard Seed: This will be the lowest" grade of Certified seed, produced from areas sown with Certified’ Mother - seed. .Areas sown with Certified Standard seed will not oe eligible for entry into certification, this class of seed being intended for use in sowing areas for commercial grain production. ' . ' By regulating the amount of seed of each variety being certified in the Pedigree class, it will be possible • to .have

some control over the production of all classes of Certified seed, thus assisting to maintain adequate supplies for ordinary sowing purposes without serious over-production. The ? quantities -of Certified Pedigree seed required for this purpose are estimated to vary from only a . few bushels of, several varieties to several hundred bushels of Cross 7.

Distribution of Seed

In general the total quantity of any one variety required is very limited, and the Department has therefore arranged for the s distribution of Certified Pedigree seed to receive special consideration. The problems involved' have been discussed with grain, seed, and. produce merchants’ associations, which have agreed to co-operate in the distribution of this seed along the following lines:—

. 1. The total quantity of Certified Pedigree seed of each variety to be distributed will be'allotted among the wheat■growing districts interested in the growing of that variety. 2? The allocation of Certified Pedigree seed for a particular district will be supplied to a merchant nominated by the local grain, seed, and produce merchants’- association, who will undertake to have it sown out under suitable conditions by local farmers. 3. The resultant crops will ’be entered for certification and, if complying with the required standards, the produce will be certified in the Mother'class? ■ 4. The Certified Mother seed so produced will not be at the disposal of the merchant arranging for, its production, but will be distributed among the members of the particular association, and perhaps in specific cases of a neighbouring association' also, in accordance with the requirements of the clients of each merchant.

Thus each merchant will have for disposal a supply of Certified Mother seed which will be sown out to produce in the following season the requirements of Certified Standard seed for the district. <\

Reducing Rejections

It is fully expected that these proposals-will keep the proportion of crop rejections to an absolute minimum, and at the same time provide seed wheat of a generally. higher standard than before the war. At the same time it will enable all districts interested to receive a distribution of the best seed available so that further multiplication of Certified seed can be undertaken within the district.

' Finally, it is hoped that some regulation of the total quantity being certified may be made so that the total production of Certified seed wheat will be in line ' with requirements.