CalculatingSeedingRates Cropuniformityisthemainthemetoallowacropto battleFHB.Toachieveuniformity,growersneedtoturn uptheirseedingrateandthenseedearly. Tocalculateoptimumseedingrates,use1,000kernel weightofeachseedlot.Byusingthe1,000Kweight,you canaccountforseedsizevariationswhencalculating seedingrates,calibratingseeddrillsandestimating shatteringandcombinelosses. AlbertaAgricultureandForestryprovidesonline seedingratecalculatorstohelpyoudecidehowmuch seedyouneedtoplanttoobtainthedesiredplant populationandcalibrateyourseeder. http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/app19/loadSeedRateCalc Brian Beres 11 Advancing Seed in Alberta | spring.2018 “Two beneficial things happen with a higher seeding rate,” says Beres. “First, you achieve uniform growth stages throughout the field; and second, you have increased main stem production and fewer tillers, both which makes foliar fungicide timing easier and improves fungicide efficacy greatly.” The ideal winter wheat seeding rate of 450 seeds/sq. metre has been established through previous research Beres and his team conducted. Combined with timely planting further enables winter wheat the opportunity to “escape” FHB infection as it can complete flowering ahead of the onset of spore inoculation. For spring wheat, research was also conducted to gauge what response growers get from a high seeding rate. “Traditionally, spring cereal growers have seeded around 200 to 250 seeds per square metre. However, we’ve observed spring wheat such as durum and high-yielding CWRS varieties respond to rates as high as 450 seeds per square metre,” says Beres. “While the yield response may stop at 300 to 350 seeds per square metre in some environments and with some varieties, the Fusarium risk may be lower because you have a much more uniform crop that also happens to be much more competitive with weeds.” Once the resistance package is established and the decision is made to seed at a higher rate, growers should consider lodging risk. A crop seeded at a high rate is at greater risk for lodging later in the season if lodging resistance is overlooked when choosing a variety. However, taller wheat can also be a benefit when battling FHB in low to moderate disease severity with low spore dispersal, as the disease spores that splash up from the ground during wet periods may not reach the (head) vulnerable areas of the spike. Before the seed is even placed in the ground, cereal growers should consider a seed treatment. “Seed treatments won’t directly tackle FHB, which happens later in the season,” says Harding. “But it will battle seed- and soil-borne pathogens as well as abiotic factors which could weaken your crop and its stand establishment. You don’t know what’s in the soil. Treated seed is exposed to less stress early in the season so it has a better chance for success after emergence.” Our genes only come in blue. When you purchase SeCan certified seed you’re getting the promise and performance of SeCan genetics. And with certified seed, you’re investing in the future of plant breeding and new varieties that contribute to your bottom line. Make the comfortable choice. Choose SeCan certified seed. For genes that fit your farm, visit www.secan.com Ad Number: SEC_CERT17 Campaign: Certified Seed Date Produced: October 2017 Publication: Alberta Seed Guide Size: 7.125” x 3.25” SEC_CERT17_ABSG_SEC_CERT17_ABSG.qxd 2017-10-15 5:49 PM Page 1