News
Staff Member
With the increased focus by regulators on seed treatments, it is essential that seed treaters and growers continue to ensure that seed stewardship is high on their agendas at drilling.
Following the wet winter, many seedbeds are poorer than normal and with time pressures many growers will be keen to get their maize sown. However, seed stewardship should be the high priority. Excellent quality treated seed is produced in the UK by treaters who follow the EFTA (European Seed Treatment Association) and SureStart (from Bayer CropScience) codes when processing and storing seed. Growers should always ensure their seed is treated to this high standard, but they also have their part to play in seed stewardship.
“Seed sown following good stewardship practice will not only protect wildlife but will also help to maximise profits from the crop,” says Paul Goddard, Application and Stewardship Manager for Bayer CropScience. “On farm the main risks come from accidental seed spills, seed not covered by soil during drilling and dust abraded from seed.”
Paul’s advice is for growers to:-
ALWAYS clear up seed spills; small spills can be buried in the field, larger amounts should be retrieved and disposed of through normal channels.
Ensure the drill is set up, operating correctly and all seed is covered. Avoid drilling round tight bends as this increases risk of uncovered seed.
Minimise dust by handling seed with care from unloading the delivery to filling the drill and sowing. Ensure the drill does not vent dust into the air (conventional pneumatic vacuum drills must be designed or adapted to avoid this).
Full seed stewardship advice is available in the SureStart drilling guide for maize available from http://www.bayercropscience.co.uk/seasonal-updates-and-guidance/autumn/seed-treatment-stewardship/or telephone the Bayer Helpline 0845 6092266 or 01223 226644.
Following the wet winter, many seedbeds are poorer than normal and with time pressures many growers will be keen to get their maize sown. However, seed stewardship should be the high priority. Excellent quality treated seed is produced in the UK by treaters who follow the EFTA (European Seed Treatment Association) and SureStart (from Bayer CropScience) codes when processing and storing seed. Growers should always ensure their seed is treated to this high standard, but they also have their part to play in seed stewardship.
“Seed sown following good stewardship practice will not only protect wildlife but will also help to maximise profits from the crop,” says Paul Goddard, Application and Stewardship Manager for Bayer CropScience. “On farm the main risks come from accidental seed spills, seed not covered by soil during drilling and dust abraded from seed.”
Paul’s advice is for growers to:-
ALWAYS clear up seed spills; small spills can be buried in the field, larger amounts should be retrieved and disposed of through normal channels.
Ensure the drill is set up, operating correctly and all seed is covered. Avoid drilling round tight bends as this increases risk of uncovered seed.
Minimise dust by handling seed with care from unloading the delivery to filling the drill and sowing. Ensure the drill does not vent dust into the air (conventional pneumatic vacuum drills must be designed or adapted to avoid this).
Full seed stewardship advice is available in the SureStart drilling guide for maize available from http://www.bayercropscience.co.uk/seasonal-updates-and-guidance/autumn/seed-treatment-stewardship/or telephone the Bayer Helpline 0845 6092266 or 01223 226644.