The weather was with Gerald Girodat last year, but the pedigreed seed grower from Shaunavon, Sask., admits he was the exception and says his industry has some challenges for 2003.
Girodat told his fellow members of the Saskatchewan Seed Growers Association Jan. 8 that they will have to consider their industry as a whole when making decisions this season.
“We need to price our product accordingly,” he said. “And remember who your customers are.”
Girodat said a tight supply of good seed isn’t the only thing that will drive producers to use common seed.
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“If we price everything as high as we possibly can and-or go looking for new buyers with more money to spend than our local folks, we are going to (alienate) them,” the seed growers director said.”We have to remember that there is next year to think about, too.”
He said this is especially true if their germination rates are down.
“If your germination is at 80 (percent), don’t go asking or expecting 90 percent money. Those are customer acres out there and if forced to they will find alternatives.”
Girodat said seed growers will need to repeatedly test questionable seed while it is in storage, as late as the spring.
“That seed that goes in the ground needs to do the job we are selling it to do. If it doesn’t, this is the kind of year when it will come back to haunt us.”
Manitoba Seed Growers Association president Lorne Hulme said seed was even in short supply for certified seed growers, making it difficult for them to grow adequate supplies.
He said his growers had a good year in general, but disease is a big problem.
“We see a big desire for varieties like North Dakota’s Alsen, which is fusarium head blight resistant,” he said.
“Disease continues to keep pressure on our industry. It’s playing a role in poor germination in our own seed crops like (AC) Metcalfe (barley).”
Alberta Seed Growers Association president Mark Kaun said drought did a lot of damage in his province.
“In the northeast they rolled up the seed crops into cattle feed. Shortages of really good seed will be with us this year. Most of the best stuff is already spoken for and everything coming in is being tested for fusarium.”
