Seed is grown in isolation from other cultivars to avoid cross-pollination.
The production of seed must adhere to current legislation
and the seeds these farmers plant to grow the crop must be registered with NIAB and included in its control plots at Cambridge. The crops must then be inspected and the seed certified before it can be sold.
Licensed crop inspections
ensure that the variety being grown is true to type and conforms to the description of that variety in terms of greenness, heading date and leaf width, further
guaranteeing that the variety is distinct, uniform and stable. Before and during these licensed crop inspections, seed crops are checked for the presence of weeds. Herbicides may be applied to control such weeds as meadow grasses, blackgrass, docks and other broad-leaved weeds. Following harvesting, a critical operation is ensuring seed is dried to a maximum of fourteen percent moisture content. If seed is too moist, it will heat up in storage, germination will be rapidly reduced and viability of the remaining seed compromised.
Immediately following harvest, the seed is put on to a drying floor and air blown through it to reduce the moisture content and keep the seed cool until its moisture content falls below fourteen percent. The seed is then safe for storage and will
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remain viable for several years. After drying, seed is cleaned and tested in a licensed laboratory to ensure that it meets HVS analysis criteria in terms of
germination, purity and weed seed content. It is then certified by NIAB.
It’s in the bag
After the new seed has been legally certified, it can be collected and stored in one of the company’s warehouses - and this is where the story ends for many seed companies as, legally, seed can be sold at this stage with no requirement for further testing.
However, Barenbrug continue with independent laboratory testing of the seed for germination at regular intervals throughout the year. The seed is also re-tested upon arrival in the warehouse to ensure it meets standards laid down for varieties being suitable for turf production and other high-end use. After harvest, all cleaning
procedures are closely monitored to prevent any contamination. Seed is also mixed in the
UK, providing a fresh, high vigour seed to prescription. High vigour seed means faster establishment - one of the critical requirements for greenkeepers and groundsmen looking for solutions to meet today’s
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