Of all the buzzwords I have heard lately, one that sticks with me is: “the new normal.” What we’re experiencing today...
Sarah Foster
Sarah Foster
President and Senior Seed Analyst, 20/20 Seed Labs - Sarah Foster is a registered seed technologist, senior seed analyst and president of 20/20 Seed Labs — a company she started in 1989 which provides testing services for all crop kinds, including extensive quality and seed health analysis, molecular testing and accredited crop inspection. Involved in the seed industry since the late 1970s, Foster studied and qualified as an accredited seed analyst at the National Institute of Agricultural Botany in Cambridge, England. Her work experience includes seven years with Sharps Seed International (Advanta) in the United Kingdom, and five years with the United Grain Growers in Edmonton after immigrating to Canada in 1984.
DNA Testing — A Powerful Tool for Growers Straight From the Lab
Over the past few years, bacterial leaf streak has become a growing concern across the Prairies. Until recently, there...
We’re About to Enter a New Era in Seed Testing
After 33 years in the seed testing business, the biggest change I’ve seen is how our clients have come to realize how...
Why Farmers and Industry Stand to Gain from Modernizing our Regulatory System
Canada has a robust seed scheme. On the world stage it has reputation for developing new varieties, delivering...
How a Schooling Experiment Helped us Think of New Ways to Engage Youth
At the end of the month, our students will be finished their time at the school we set up in our Nisku, Alta.,...
Seed Testing is the Best Tool we Have for Painting an Accurate Picture of Fusarium
Photo: 20/20 Seed Labs It’s been nearly a year since Alberta changed its regulations regarding Fusarium...
9 New Strains of Clubroot? Why it’s Important to be on Guard
Photo: 20/20 Seed Labs It’s definitely not good news that nine new strains of clubroot — a disease that can kill...
Make Sure Ascochyta is on Your Radar
In previous columns we covered the threats posed by fusarium, sclerotinia and aphanomyces. Ascochyta is the next one...
New Technology Makes All the Difference Against Sclerotinia
A fungus called Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is becoming more prominent in canola fields in Western Canada, and it’s...
Turns Out, Fusarium isn’t the Devil After All
In the fight against Fusarium, information is your best weapon. Recognizing that a zero-tolerance policy was not a...
It’s Time to Start Testing for These 5 Diseases
Seed analysis is a fundamental service for both agronomists and seed growers, yet it seems like it creeps up on us...