Home saved seed

[snarling bee]

He obviously got out of the bed the wrong side (as my Mum would say).



My Reply:

I wish to reply to David Buttle in last week’s edition.

As a cereal grower I home-save and also buy-in seed. Almost without exception the home saved is better quality, mainly due to fact that it has been over a gravity table so that I only sow the boldest 70% of the original sample. It is usually chemically treated which gives a vivid colour which contrasts with the purchased seed which often you have to wonder if it has been dressed at all. In certified seed I have frequently found ergot, split grains, small seeds, different species cereal, weed seeds, and even small nuts, bolts and other metal pieces.

I do not farm save seed to save money, nor to save the important royalty (which I always pay), it is about getting better quality seed from a chosen crop that I have been observing all year.

It is important to have choices. The choice to buy non chemically treated seed is usually denied by merchants. The choice to guarantee timely supply is important. The choice to save a few pennies is equally valid, and the choice to save carbon by not moving every tonne of seed twice, to and from the seed plant, is compelling.

I have in the past tried to get seemingly undressed bought in seed tested for chemical loading, without success. There appears to be massive resistance from both the chemical suppliers and seed processors for such a request. Are they trying to hide something?

David Buttle, being a retired seed manager, has obviously some axe to grind with the mobile seed plants, or has he got too much time on his hands? I do invite him onto my farm this autumn to see for himself the quality of the seed I shall be sowing.

The highest yielding crop I have ever grown was 5th generation home saved. Rather than the ‘con’ being mobile seed plants as David suggested, I suggest the ‘con’ is bought in seed, unless of course you are buying new genetics.



Kind regards

 

[Hampton]

Have you sent that?

I would say neither is a “con”, it’s horses for courses.
I notice he has said nothing about home saved rapeseed compared to bought rapeseed. I think the saving in that case is approximately £1m per acre on 2kg of seed! Now that really is a con

 

[Cropper]

Neighbour bought supposed milling wheat seed that wasn’t. Don’t know what final compensation was from seed supplier.

Farm saved might not be a lot cheaper but it does save a bit of cash flow.

 

[melted welly]

What’s the germination standard on the “proper” seed?

85% rings a bell.

never sown any home saved below 95%.

 

[Hard Graft]

Is it not 80%

 

[melted welly]

Not easy getting them to tell you the germ of what you’re buying either.

 

[snarling bee]

Have you sent that?

I would say neither is a “con”, it’s horses for courses.
I notice he has said nothing about home saved rapeseed compared to bought rapeseed. I think the saving in that case is approximately £1m per acre on 2kg of seed! Now that really is a con

His word not mine

 

[ajd132]

I laughed when I read that ridiculous letter this morning in the magazine aisle at the supermarket

 

[David.]

I read the letter in FW too.
Outrageous.
As an aside, AM is to be congratulated for having turned the magazine around, and back into something informative and readable.

 

[ajd132]

I read the letter in FW too.
Outrageous.
As an aside, AM is to be congratulated for having turned the magazine around, and back into something informative and readable.

Yes he’s done a great job, I was only reading it in the supermarket because I hvnt been to the office since Thursday!

 

[Chae1]

Just sow ours straight out the heap.

So don't pay any mobile seed cleaning operations.

 

[ajd132]

I buy in from walnes sometimes, who are a great company in Suffolk and will do it undressed if you ask.
farm save a lot aswell and premier seeds clean it very well and give a great service too.

 

[An Gof]

View attachment 1101805

He obviously got out of the bed the wrong side (as my Mum would say).



My Reply:

I wish to reply to David Buttle in last week’s edition.

As a cereal grower I home-save and also buy-in seed. Almost without exception the home saved is better quality, mainly due to fact that it has been over a gravity table so that I only sow the boldest 70% of the original sample. It is usually chemically treated which gives a vivid colour which contrasts with the purchased seed which often you have to wonder if it has been dressed at all. In certified seed I have frequently found ergot, split grains, small seeds, different species cereal, weed seeds, and even small nuts, bolts and other metal pieces.

I do not farm save seed to save money, nor to save the important royalty (which I always pay), it is about getting better quality seed from a chosen crop that I have been observing all year.

It is important to have choices. The choice to buy non chemically treated seed is usually denied by merchants. The choice to guarantee timely supply is important. The choice to save a few pennies is equally valid, and the choice to save carbon by not moving every tonne of seed twice, to and from the seed plant, is compelling.

I have in the past tried to get seemingly undressed bought in seed tested for chemical loading, without success. There appears to be massive resistance from both the chemical suppliers and seed processors for such a request. Are they trying to hide something?

David Buttle, being a retired seed manager, has obviously some axe to grind with the mobile seed plants, or has he got too much time on his hands? I do invite him onto my farm this autumn to see for himself the quality of the seed I shall be sowing.

The highest yielding crop I have ever grown was 5th generation home saved. Rather than the ‘con’ being mobile seed plants as David suggested, I suggest the ‘con’ is bought in seed, unless of course you are buying new genetics.



Kind regards

Excellent reply I hope it is punished in full.
i will be waiting for the letter to customwrs that will arrive from SW Seeds; I'm sure Richard Jones will be mentioning that letter

 

[Grass And Grain]

View attachment 1101805

He obviously got out of the bed the wrong side (as my Mum would say).



My Reply:

I wish to reply to David Buttle in last week’s edition.

As a cereal grower I home-save and also buy-in seed. Almost without exception the home saved is better quality, mainly due to fact that it has been over a gravity table so that I only sow the boldest 70% of the original sample. It is usually chemically treated which gives a vivid colour which contrasts with the purchased seed which often you have to wonder if it has been dressed at all. In certified seed I have frequently found ergot, split grains, small seeds, different species cereal, weed seeds, and even small nuts, bolts and other metal pieces.

I do not farm save seed to save money, nor to save the important royalty (which I always pay), it is about getting better quality seed from a chosen crop that I have been observing all year.

It is important to have choices. The choice to buy non chemically treated seed is usually denied by merchants. The choice to guarantee timely supply is important. The choice to save a few pennies is equally valid, and the choice to save carbon by not moving every tonne of seed twice, to and from the seed plant, is compelling.

I have in the past tried to get seemingly undressed bought in seed tested for chemical loading, without success. There appears to be massive resistance from both the chemical suppliers and seed processors for such a request. Are they trying to hide something?

David Buttle, being a retired seed manager, has obviously some axe to grind with the mobile seed plants, or has he got too much time on his hands? I do invite him onto my farm this autumn to see for himself the quality of the seed I shall be sowing.

The highest yielding crop I have ever grown was 5th generation home saved. Rather than the ‘con’ being mobile seed plants as David suggested, I suggest the ‘con’ is bought in seed, unless of course you are buying new genetics.



Kind regards

I prefer to save my own.

We've had all sorts of grass weeds come in "new" seed. "Ah, but we're allowed 2% tolerance" or "no, no must have been on your field, no broke in our seed". Funny how the brome all came in the drill seams.

I'd much rather inspect my crops and know for myself I'm getting weed-free seeds.

 

[Chae1]

Bought C1 last year to keep seed fresh. No difference to older FSS.

 

[sjt01]

View attachment 1101805

He obviously got out of the bed the wrong side (as my Mum would say).



My Reply:

I wish to reply to David Buttle in last week’s edition.

As a cereal grower I home-save and also buy-in seed. Almost without exception the home saved is better quality, mainly due to fact that it has been over a gravity table so that I only sow the boldest 70% of the original sample. It is usually chemically treated which gives a vivid colour which contrasts with the purchased seed which often you have to wonder if it has been dressed at all. In certified seed I have frequently found ergot, split grains, small seeds, different species cereal, weed seeds, and even small nuts, bolts and other metal pieces.

I do not farm save seed to save money, nor to save the important royalty (which I always pay), it is about getting better quality seed from a chosen crop that I have been observing all year.

It is important to have choices. The choice to buy non chemically treated seed is usually denied by merchants. The choice to guarantee timely supply is important. The choice to save a few pennies is equally valid, and the choice to save carbon by not moving every tonne of seed twice, to and from the seed plant, is compelling.

I have in the past tried to get seemingly undressed bought in seed tested for chemical loading, without success. There appears to be massive resistance from both the chemical suppliers and seed processors for such a request. Are they trying to hide something?

David Buttle, being a retired seed manager, has obviously some axe to grind with the mobile seed plants, or has he got too much time on his hands? I do invite him onto my farm this autumn to see for himself the quality of the seed I shall be sowing.

The highest yielding crop I have ever grown was 5th generation home saved. Rather than the ‘con’ being mobile seed plants as David suggested, I suggest the ‘con’ is bought in seed, unless of course you are buying new genetics.



Kind regards

Twice we have had C1 barley contaminated by wheat (we have no wheat on the farm). We were on contract to a seed merchant, and about 20 years ago they sent out a team to rogue it. Last year they rejected the majority of it and left us in the lurch. That is the last time I am dealing with them. We are now growing 3 mixed varieties of winter barley for feed, trying to evolve a blend that will suit our farm by natural selection.

 

[SilliamWhale]

I don't think bought in seed is overly dear by the time you take away the royalty, the seed, the cleaning, the marketing fee etc etc but its still a saving.

But farm saving your own good quality seed you can often do better. Sometimes not but often its the best thing to do

 

[quattro]

Anyone saving hybrid barley for seed

 

[An Gof]

Anyone saving hybrid barley for seed

 

[Brisel]

I save a couple of hundred quid per tonne on cereals, more when the disease test comes back clear of bunt and fusarium and I don’t have to treat the seed.

Osr is the biggest saving of all, with a far higher mark up when buying in. Hybrids look great on paper, but I haven’t had a higher gross margin on hybrid osr than home saved conventional varieties for years.

All royalties are paid - I’m not denying the breeders their fees as we need the R&D.