56 | Advancing Seed in Alberta For your convenience we now have scale on site for quick loading. We are ready to meet your needs. Give us a call to discuss what we can do to help you this spring. FCC Financing is available. Performance Pedigreed Seed Farm Box 1363 Redwater, Alberta T0A 2W0 • Chelsea Tomlinson Cell: (780) 777-5885 Oats CS Camden CDC Ruffian Barley CDC Copeland CDC Bow HR Wheat AAC Ellie AC Muchmore CDC Landmark VB (Midge) AAC Viewfield AAC Redberry (Early) CPS Wheat AAC Foray VB (Midge) Faba Beans F-B 94 Yellow Peas CDC Amarillo AAC Lacombe AAC Carver CDC Inca www.trueseeds.ca / [email protected] ALLIANCE S E E D are reminded to take a sample from each truck load. Seed Smart has developed a sampling document to help guide farmers to use proper sampling techniques. The idea is to get a snapshot of seed quality of the whole seed lot, (not just what a farmer can access from a bin door). Seed Smart’s next focus is marketing towards trade shows. Klaas says that they’ve been working on materials that will be 2 5 0 - 7 8 2 - 7 8 2 0 w w w. s p g r a i n . c a i n f o @ s p g r a i n . c a Traditional Values. Modern Approach. Wheat: Thorsby CWRS AAC Brandon Go Early CWRS AAC Redwater CWRS AAC Penhold CPS Viewfield VB AAC Connery Peas: CDC Carver AAC Peace River Barrhead Oats: CDC Haymaker CDC Ruffian CS Camden Barley: CDC Austenson CDC Maverick South Peace Grain Full service seed conditioning facility Multiple bagging options available Licensed grader on-site Certified Seed Products EST. 0703 South Peace Grain Traditional Values. Modern Approach. available at more trade shows, and that they’re amping up more materials to be put in seed processing facilities. In addition to Seed Smart marketing materials, there are now Seed Smart scholarships. Currently, Seed Smart awards two scholarships to encourage the next generation of growers to know the quality of the seed they’re planting. The scholarship targets second to fourth year students enrolled in an agriculture-related field at universities across Canada, with given preference to students at an institution in Alberta. This year, Seed Smart awarded scholarships to Cole Huppertz, a 20-year- old from Westlock, Alberta, studying at Lakeland college, and Kyle Wheeler, a 20-year-old from Strathmore, Alberta, and a student at the University of Alberta. “One of the things we recognize is that if a grower has been farming for 60 years or so and has never tested their seed, chances are that’s not the demographic that wants to send in seed samples,” Klaas says. “We know that we need to start working and encouraging the next generation to be cognizant about seed health and make it their first step.” Currently, Seed Smart is staying focused on Alberta, but Klaas hopes that some of their marketing materials can be amended to other locations. “The message is the same no matter where you farm,” Klaas says. “We talk a lot in agriculture about sustainability and integrated pest management,” Klaas says. “Arguably, having a seed analysis fits into both platforms — you’re trying to predict an outcome. It’s difficult to try and predict something if you don’t know where you’re starting. Seed analysis often gets lost around the other parameters of crop production, but the Seed Smart program believes it should be the starting point.” Alex Martin Visit the Alberta Seed Processors website www.seedprocessors.ca/seed-smart for resources and tools to help you be Seed Smart. “Everything a farmer does on the farm is to unlock the potential of the seed.” —Monica Klaas