Farmers who were sold the wrong variety of durum seed say the industry
must make changes to prevent more serious mixups from happening in the
future.
More than 300 southwestern Saskatchewan farmers were sold AC Morse
instead of AC Avonlea in 2000 because of a labelling error by an
Alberta seed grower.
Ray Peterson of Tompkins, Sask., was one of those farmers.
He went to the field in May 2000 with 120 bushels of what he believed
was AC Avonlea, which was designed to perform at its best in arid
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conditions.
Instead, he and his neighbours planted AC Morse, a shorter, slightly
lower yielding, higher-gluten product that is slightly more susceptible
to leaf spot.
Farmers said it may also have a rougher appearance that may cause a
lower grade than AC Avonlea.
“I don’t think this sort of thing should happen,” Peterson said. “Not
with registered seed. Not (plant breeders’ rights) protected seed.”
Peterson said the error shows there are faults in the system.
“I am more concerned about what could happen if (genetically modified)
wheat is released and the seed industry accidentally sold me some of
that in the future, and I somehow end up polluting a local organic
farmer or mill,” he said.
“The industry needs to take a hard look at this and decide some things.
Who is liable for mistakes? Who and how do they pay for effect of their
errors downstream?”
Will Karwandy of Pennant, Sask., also received AC Morse instead of AC
Avonlea and feels the industry must find ways to eliminate errors.
John Allen, executive director of Quality Assured Seeds, which is the
licensed distributor of AC Avonlea, said the seed growers involved in
the durum mixup are investigating how their insurance will cover costs
of correcting the situation.
“It’s so rare we don’t have any answers handy.”
Bruce Thompson of SeCan, which distributes AC Morse, said that while it
isn’t common, mixups do take place.
“(A large seed company) in Eastern Canada had a problem with soybeans
not that long ago. They tracked them down and replaced them. So it does
happen.”
Allen said seed growers are trying to satisfy their customers.
“Right now most of the producers that got the wrong seed are asking for
their AC Avonlea. We’re all trying to find enough to meet those
farmers’ spring planting needs.”
The problem began in 1999 when a select seed grower from Alberta
misidentified foundation AC Morse seed as AC Avonlea. It was shipped to
two Saskatchewan seed growers.
They in turn increased the seed and sold it as AC Avonlea in 2000 to
various commercial producers. They also sold it to other seed growers
who in turn increased it and sold it in 2001 to even more commercial
and registered seed growers.
John Clarke, the Agriculture Canada seed breeder who developed AC
Avonlea, said it’s fortunate the two varieties are so similar.
“The (Canadian Wheat Board) hasn’t yet been segregating the two grains
so it won’t have hurt the market any,” he said.
