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 60FORAGE SEED STARTED the Canadian seed trade. Companies were founded on it. Regulatory and trading systems were cre- ated to facilitate the sector. Plant breed- ers focused on it and entire careers were spent in it. The sector has changed significantly over the last century. In the 1950s it was the backbone of the seed industry in Canada. As farms became more specialized, competition from cash crops for dairy feed formulation and for land increased. Where forages were used, the demand for specific varieties grew. Governments slowly moved away from forage research and breeding, and the cost of complying with regulations increased. Some companies grew and others disappeared. Some say the heydays of Canadian forage and turf seed are gone. “I say with sadness that the forage seed sector in Canada may have passed its peak,” says Martin Pick, former vice- chairman of Pickseed. “The old days of carload after carload of B-mixtures going to Temiskaming are over.” Others are confident that the best is yet to come. What are the opportunities for the future of the forage and turf seed sector? What are the challenges? We asked some forage and turf seed sector leaders. The Challenges Competition for Land — There is a growing trend away from forage crops in Canada. Pick says he sees it wherever he goes. “Livestock production has changed. Producers are feeding more cereal grains and corn silage,” he says. “That and the higher value of cash crops mean that fields that used to produce hay are now planted with corn or soybeans.” Lloyd Dyck, chairman of BrettYoung Seeds, agrees. “Hay crops are only grown where there is customer demand and recently the true cost of producing hay is not realized in its price. It is not a preferred crop when compared to cash crops like corn,” he says. Pick also wonders about turf. “Growing urban areas with denser populations mean smaller or no lawns at all, and the need for land for housing means fewer golf courses,” he says. “These have been the major markets for turf seed. I can’t see much growth for turf seed in the future.” Government Policy — Terry Ewacha, executive vice-president at DLF Pickseed, says uncertainty around the biggest domestic market for forages — Canada’s dairy industry — is a major challenge. He is concerned about the future of supply management in Canada. “There are so many things that are out of our control, but the supply management system offsets some of the risk and provides stability for dairy producers and those of us who serve them,” he says. “If dairy farmers lose that security, I am afraid that the sector will consolidate even further.” He cites the experience of some countries in Europe after the EU abolished the dairy quota system in 2015. An analysis done in late 2016 in Denmark states that since the end of supply management in Europe, producer prices on average have dropped by about 25 per cent in that country. Therefore, many European dairy farmers are operating below the cost of production. “Dairies are going out of business in Denmark,” says Ewacha. “I think the Government of Canada needs to review the European experience before making any deci- sions on supply management here. If the dairies are gone, the demand for forages and the seed to plant them will decline.” Access to Improved Varieties — Access to new genetics is another challenge for the forage seed sector. Dyck says that in order to compete domestically and A Focus on Forage, Turf Part 3 of 3 This article is the third in a three-part series where you’ll explore the forage and turf seed sectors from its earnest beginnings to present day competition to future innovations and expectations. NewDiscoveries thefuture: While some say the heydays of Canadian forage and turf seed are gone, others say the best is yet to come. Patty Townsend Mike Peterson, global traits lead for Forage Genetics International. Ron Cornish, general manager of Alforex Seeds. 40 GERMINATION.CA MARCH 2017