Lessons to be learned with untested seed
Lessons to be learned with untested seed
SOWING untreated farm-saved seed without getting it disease tested first can have dire consequences, as one Cambs farmer discovered this harvest.
Tim Scott used farm-saved Consort that had not been tested or treated to finish re-drilling 8ha (20 acres) of wheat which was ruined by slugs.
The rest of the field at Manor Farm, Comberton was sown with seed from the same batch of farm-saved Consort, but was treated with Beret Gold (fludioxonil).
The treated crop yielded an estimated 6.2t/ha (2.5t/acre). "Thats pretty good considering everything. But there was hardly anything where we didnt treat. The crop was very thin and the hares had a real set-to on it."
Mr Scott blames undetected disease for the poor area. "It was probably riddled with fusarium."
This year, for logistical reasons, he is reverting to bought-in seed, all treated with Beret Gold. "If I went back to farm-saving, and was feeling the pinch even more, I might consider testing for disease. But you can pay for the tests and still end up having to treat." *
UNTESTED SEED
• Virtually nil output.
• Germination test only.
• Fusarium hit crop hard.
• Better yield where treated.