be complex in working out arrangements for land use, but can be cost-effective in the end. It can shave down the entire process to nine or 10 years instead of it taking 13 or 14.” The other costly requirements that go into the development of pedigreed seed are not likely to change. “The cost involves the innovation with the genetics and then the actual production of the seed, the land use requirements, cleaning, all that and a little bit of margin for doing that,” Whiting notes. Adds Lafontaine: “To an outsider, seed production may seem like growing any other crop, but seed growers must ensure that their seed crop meets high standards for varietal and mechanical purity. This involves continuous monitoring and quality management in the field as well as rigorous cleaning and grading post-harvest. It also involves significant regulatory oversight, including third-party inspection, establishment audits and post- harvest testing before the official blue certified seed tag can be applied.” She says seed growers work tirelessly to ensure their seed crops are as pure and true to its varietal identity as it can be, which can mean rogueing the crop to remove other crop kinds, impurities or weeds, sanitizing seeding and harvesting equipment between varieties to remove possible contamination from other crop “Information flow is so much better, with real-world feedback coming in from farmer or end-use customers faster than ever.” —Trent Whiting kinds, or segregating different varieties and classes of pedigreed seed in separate storage bins. The entire process must also be well documented for traceability purposes. “While market demand and supply ultimately determine the price of all seed, the generally higher cost of pedigreed seed reflects, among other factors, the significant investment of seed growers in quality control and in meeting regulatory requirements,” says Lafontaine. “This, in turn, buys the farmer a guaranteed level of quality assurance, backed up by the blue tag, and provides one of the best risk management tools available.” Prefontaine echoes the sentiments. “When you buy pedigreed seed, you are investing with that purchase in technology, quality and traceability,” she says. “You are contributing to the entire investment required in bringing new innovations forward, and playing an important role in ensuring a strong future for Canadian crop production for years to come.” Treena Hein 31 Advancing Seed in Alberta | fall.2017 ALLIANCE S E E D 9 Centre Street, Box 3030,Enchant,AB, T0K 0V0 Greg Stamp CCA : 403-634-1586 • [email protected] High Speed Seed Treating Facility www.stampseeds.com • Twitter: @stampseeds Select Status Plot Production • Pulse Crop Cleaning Facility WHEAT HRSW: • AAC Elie • AAC Brandon • CDC Go • AAC Redberry – NEW! CNHR: Faller – NEW! CPS: • Penhold • AC Rowyn– NEW! GP Wheat: Pasteur Soft Wheat: • AAC Chiffon • AAC Sadash Durum: • AAC Spitfire • CDC Precision – NEW! FABA BEAN: • FB 9-4 • Snowbird BARLEY: • AC Metcalfe • CDC Austenson • CDC Bow – NEW! YELLOW PEA: • AAC Lacombe – NEW! FLAX: • Prairie Sapphire • CDC Glas • CDC Plava – NEW! LENTIL: CDC Proclaim CL HYBRID FALL RYE: • Guttino WINTER WHEAT: • AAC Gateway • Moats • AAC Elevate – NEW! • AAC Wildfire– NEW! ALSO OFFERING BrettYoung Forages: Alfalfa, clovers, grasses, forage blends Corn: Thunder Seed & Brett Young – Grain, silage & grazing Canola: Canterra & BrettYoung Cover Crops & Grazing Blends: • Bullseye Radish • Hairy Vetch • Crimson Clover • Ryegrass • Vivant Brassica • Millet • Sorghum • AAC Viewfield –NEW! • Fabelle– NEW! • Vertigo– NEW! • CDC Frasier – NEW! • AAC Prairie Sunshine – NEW! • Dan ello– i NEW! Soybean: Thunder Seed & Brett Young HWSW: • AAC Iceberg MAPLE PEA: • AAC Liscard – NEW! FALL RYE: • Prima OFFICE: 403-739-2233 9 Centre Street, Box 3030, Enchant, AB, T0K 0V0 Greg Stamp CCA : 403-634-1586 • [email protected] High Speed Seed Treating Facility www.stampseeds.com • Twitter: @stampseeds Select Status Plot Production • Pulse Crop Cleaning Facility Inoculants