Sowing ergot

[Laggard]

Sowed some spring barley with ergot in it but thankfully no ergot in the harvested crop. Sowed some winter wheat with no ergot in it, but unfortunately lots of ergot in the harvested grain. With home saved seed how important is it to not sow ergot? Will i need to colour sort my home saved seed? How much ergot is allowed in bought in seed?

 

[Wombat]

Sowed some spring barley with ergot in it but thankfully no ergot in the harvested crop. Sowed some winter wheat with no ergot in it, but unfortunately lots of ergot in the harvested grain. With home saved seed how important is it to not sow ergot? Will i need to colour sort my home saved seed? How much ergot is allowed in bought in seed?

considering what the allowed standards are on bought in seed as long as its sensible i wouldn't worry. I believe C2 seed is allowed 2 pieces per kg.

 

[Wombat]

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a81f48eed915d74e6235027/seed-certification-technical-annex.pdf

 

[Woldgrain Storage]

This suggests ergot can't over-year in the soil, so a 2 year break from wheat, barley or grain rye should break the cycle.

Ergot Explained | Agrii

Ergot is a fungus that grows on rye, triticale, wheat and barley, and to a lesser extent, oats. It also affects a wide range of grasses, particularly blackgrass.

www.agrii.co.uk

 

[teslacoils]

considering what the allowed standards are on bought in seed as long as its sensible i wouldn't worry. I believe C2 seed is allowed 2 pieces per kg.

Specify in your seed order a nil ergot requirement.

 

[Wombat]

This suggests ergot can't over-year in the soil, so a 2 year break from wheat, barley or grain rye should break the cycle.

Ergot Explained | Agrii

Ergot is a fungus that grows on rye, triticale, wheat and barley, and to a lesser extent, oats. It also affects a wide range of grasses, particularly blackgrass.

www.agrii.co.uk

but when you can get more back in a tonne of certified seed than in the feed wheat you are combining a 2 year break would mean nothing as you are replanting it

 

[teslacoils]

Specify in your seed order a nil ergot requirement.

I'm not joking. Last time I checked seed growers were RT assured incase their seed didn't make spec and had to go to a normal end user. Don't see why I should take ergot in my seed at all.

 

[carbonfibre farmer]

I'm not joking. Last time I checked seed growers were RT assured incase their seed didn't make spec and had to go to a normal end user. Don't see why I should take ergot in my seed at all.

Yes. It used to be that we didn't have to be RT assured but that "loophole" got closed
I'd be mortified if I sent out a seed crop full of extras

 

[jd6420s]

I bought some wheat 3 years ago that had ergot in it. Wasn't too impressed but they said it would be fine. I haven't seen any ergot in the harvested grain and nothing in the continuous wheat either.
If farm saving the seed I think a good seed dressing would be vital if it has ergot.

 

[farenheit]

I think there is a far, far larger amount of ergot shed on to the soil from the previous crop than the stuff in the bag would contribute.

 

[Salopian_Will]

put some wheat in the drill just to get it ready yesterday and easily found plenty of sclerotia. Probably below the 3 pieces per 500g threshold but there should be nil - I would have thought the big seed processors would have colour sorters etc?

 

[Wombat]

put some wheat in the drill just to get it ready yesterday and easily found plenty of sclerotia. Probably below the 3 pieces per 500g threshold but there should be nil - I would have thought the big seed processors would have colour sorters etc?

Colour sorting it would cost them money , get the standards created so they can ship any old shite is cheaper

 

[richard hammond]

I think there is a far, far larger amount of ergot shed on to the soil from the previous crop than the stuff in the bag would contribute.

I absolutely agree, it is all to do with the season and very little else!! open glume varieties, grass weeds all contribute to the RISK but not the end result in the wrong season!!

 

[Flat 10]

Colour sorting it would cost them money , get the standards created so they can ship any old shite is cheaper

And yet the people who buy our wheat blame the farmers while selling us seed with ergot in. Thanks guys….

 

[David.]

Forked from both ends, such is our lot.

 

[Flat 10]

Forked from both ends, such is our lot.

And when you point it out the trade refuse to recognise the problem…..

 

[Jsmith2211]

And when you point it out the trade refuse to recognise the problem…..

and what will you do about it? Therein lies the problem... they know we can't do f all!

 

[L P]

Don't forget that all important TGW on the label, then allow for 85% lab germ test which can equate to 60% real term germ on establishment. Your 400 grains per m2 soon becomes 240 that are viable

 

[Lincsman]

Ergot drilled at normal depths does not survive.

 

[Wordsworth22]

FYI
If you are interested given the issues with ergot and waits for mobile cleaners I'm reading about
At the Buhler factory just at the end of the M11 near London City airport we have a number of optical sorter options entry level and high end either new or a couple of smaller ex demo from 5 -15tph or up to 50tph on the larger new machines