Seed selection goes beyond yield and disease resistance
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EmailNew resources from MSU Extension can help you choose the right seed for your farm.
My grandfather used to say that there are two things about crop farming you have to get right: planting and harvesting. He’d say you can rescue just about anything in between. But you have to plant right to maximize yield potential and harvest right to maximize profits. There are a lot of things that go into both planting and harvesting. Planting right starts with choosing the right seed options for your farm.
Selecting the right seed for your farm starts and stops with profitability. You want to select two or three varieties that are adaptable and will maximize yields on your farm. When selecting varieties, the top two criteria should be yield potential, followed by disease resistance. You also need to consider the economic returns related to seed and harvest costs. Those costs include seed purchases, test weight, falling number, moisture shrink loss and drying charges.
New resources from Michigan State University Extension can help evaluate the costs of seed selection. A series of fact sheets titled “Seed Selection: Beyond Yield and Disease Resistance” provides a framework for measuring seed and harvest costs.
There are three versions of the fact sheet available for download:
These fact sheets are companion resources on seed selection through MSU’s DEMaND Series that focus on “How to Read a Seed Guide,” also available in corn, soybean and wheat editions.
Compare options with a seed selection decision tool
The Seed Selection Cost Comparison Decision Tool helps to identify which seed varieties maximize production and profitability. The key to profitability is considering more than just yields. The economic returns related to seed and harvest costs are equally important. Those costs include seed purchases, low test weight, moisture shrink loss, and drying charges. Tool comparisons provide a ranking for each seed variety based on yield and economic returns. These rankings illustrate top production and profitability options to consider in making seed purchases.
Looking beyond yield and disease resistance can help weigh how seed choices impact profitability, a driver of long-term sustainability on your operation. Start your reviews today by considering what the right seed options are for your farm by looking beyond yield and disease resistance.
