Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 6034 INTHESEED industry, reputation is everything. Deals are still made on a handshake and when you say that you will deliver 500 units of wheat seed, the expectation is that you will deliver 500 units of wheat seed. However, if that seed does not meet expectations, you likely won’t get a second chance. One area that you can improve, if you haven’t already, is making sure your seed is clean, and free of contam- ination from other seeds. Delivering clean seed on time is one of the big- gest impressions you can make. We know you are dealing with dif- ferent seed crops, and that seed must be moved from bin to bin or from bin to a seed treater. There are many moving parts and the process can be quite complex, or quite simple if you have the right standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place. Some view SOPs as unnecessary paperwork or scrupulous manage- ment, but SOPs are actually a form of risk management and can be used to improve efficiencies. SOPs are best suited for repetitive tasks and can minimize differences in end product when working across multiple locations. While every SOP is different, there are a few tips that can help you get started in developing an SOP for delivering clean, quality seed. 1. First, watch another person perform the task at hand and then document the steps involved. After you have a draft, ask another employee who per- forms that same task to review it for inaccuracies. 2. Review legislation and regulatory require- ments that might impact how the task is performed. 3. Research peers who have implemented best management practices in this area. 4. Implement SOPs, get documentation in place. 5. Ask an auditor or an expert to do a “test drive.” The auditor should be looking for: a) evi- dence that the written SOPs minimize incidence of contamination; b) visual evidence that the SOPs are being followed; and c) evidence that SOPs have been taking place in the past. 6. Once you have your SOPs documented, refined and audited, they need to be stored in a place where staff can access them. While SOPs might seem cumbersome, making sure you have the right systems in place can elimi- nate the chance of contamination. Farmers expect their seed to be uniform and of high quality. Make sure you’re meeting expectations and building a solid reputation with each delivery — your business depends on it. Chad Thiessen, Meridian Manufacturing Product Manager, Conveyors and Augers @MeridianConvey cthiessen@meridianmfg. com www.meridianmfg.com STORAGE & HANDLING BUILD CUSTOMER CONFIDENCE WITH SOPS ITWOULDBE an understatement to say that agricul- tural practices have changed significantly in the past century. In 1910, one farmer could feed 2.5 people. Today, one farmer can feed more than 130 people. These production increases are a direct result of the convergence of new technology as well as the ingenuity of farmers. But these advancements aren’t just happening at the farm level; innovation is encouraged and adopted throughout the value chain from the seed industry to food packaging. Plant breeders have increased yields by selecting for traits that help the plant survive stressful condi- tions or better fend off pests. Meanwhile, the food industry has created new ways of packaging that give it a longer shelf life, resulting in less waste. As a seed lab, we, too, continually look for new methods to increase efficiency and accuracy. We test seed to make sure no unwanted pests or patho- gens make it into fields at the expense of yield. We also conduct germination tests to make sure farmers know exactly what they are planting. For instance, if I buy seed with a lower germination rate, I need to increase my plant population. However, if I buy seed with a high germ rate, I can reduce my plant popula- tion and trust that every seed will produce a plant. Throughout the industry, research is highly regarded and intensive. For example, the crop protection segment invests 12 per cent of its revenue into research and development efforts. As an industry, we are keenly aware that as the world’s population grows, the demand for high quality, nutritious food will double by 2050. This places added pressure on all within agricul- ture to do their part in continuing to adopt innovative practices to: Increase production, boost the nutritional pro- file, preserve the food/crops we have, and all while using fewer resources. Water to feed the world could exceed what is available by 17 per cent. Grain producing land will shrink by one-third by 2050. Placing empha- sis on sustainability is not a request but a demand. Billion of lives depend it — depend on food that is abundant, depend on food that is affordable, and depend on food that is safe. What are you doing to help? Sarah Foster 20/20 Seed Labs President and Senior Seed Analyst @Sarah2020labs Sarah@2020seedlabs.ca 2020seedlabs.ca SEED HEALTH & TESTING FOCUS ON KNOWLEDGE SHARING, NOT SALES