Farmers should be able to find new hybrid fall rye varieties, and winter wheat seed is said to be plentiful
Many farmers have already started seeding fall rye and winter wheat, while other growers are on the phone trying to find seed.
Red Merryweather of FP Genetics says producers looking for Bono or Brasetto seed, the new hybrid fall ryes from FPGenetics, should be able to acquire them easily this month.
Harvest in his seed production area near Lethbridge was 50 percent complete as of Aug. 10 but was shut down because of rain.
“However, production looks good and we expect to be able to have close to double last year acres in Western Canada or 30,000 acres,” he said.
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“This is less than 10 percent of total area seeded to rye, according to Stats Canada. Most of this seed has been contracted by our grain partners and we expect to be out of seed soon.”
Seed grower Bob Mastin in Sundre, Alta., reported that he has plenty of Pintail winter wheat seed available, and conditions for seed production of fall cereals have been reasonably good overall, despite frequent rain.
Seed grower Greg Stamp in Enchant, Alta., has good supplies of Gateway and Moats winter wheat and Guttino hybrid rye.
He said Guttino yields 30 to 40 percent higher than conventional rye varieties, especially in stress conditions.
Falling numbers are in the range of 300 plus, and he said it offers producers solid marketability.
Demand for the rye varieties and some winter wheat have been strong for growers who have been able to pencil in harvest and seeding this year.
Dennis Benci of Carmangay, Alta., said his supply of Guttino hybrid rye is dwindling rapidly, but supplies of Moats winter wheat are still good.
Dale Hicks of Outlook, Sask., has sold a lot of open pollinated rye, so stock of that seed is low. He said there has not been much interest in winter wheat yet, and he has plenty of seed available.
There’s a big carryover of winter wheat seed from last year, so there should be no shortage prairie-wide.
