MARCH 2019 GERMINATION.CA 27 LAST YEAR, many areas across the Prairies experienced less-than-ideal harvesting conditions. It became apparent that seed dormancy was going to hide unexpected detri- mental effects on germination and vigour results. It’s been a seed analyst’s worst nightmare. For exam- ple, a good germination of 90 per cent and a poor vigour of 60 per cent is not uncommon. Our early assessments on all cereal grains, particularly wheat and barley, are indicating that dormant seed collected in the fall is not going to perform well, despite the fact that we’ve used every tool in the lab’s toolbox to break dormancy and get the best result. Seed dormancy is defined as a state in which seeds are prevented from germinating even under environmen- tal conditions normally favourable for germination. Yes, all seeds are naturally in a “dormant” state, mean- ing they require very little of the resources necessary to stay alive until they are in the appropriate conditions to grow. But seeds with true “dormancy” issues have only the ability to grow under perfect germination conditions. When planted under cold or cool spring conditions how- SEED HEALTH & TESTING A SIMPLE SEED TEST CAN BE YOUR SECRET WEAPON Sarah Foster, President and Senior Seed Analyst, 20/20 Seed Labs sarah@2020seedlabs.ca • 2020seedlabs.ca ever, they will just rot. This presents growers with a major dilemma. Do they get rid of their dormant seed and buy new seed, or take a chance and plant it with a higher seeding rate? Thankfully there’s a third option. Read my lips: cereal stress profile. Low vigour can be managed with this test, which is exclusive to our seed lab. Compensating with a higher seeding rate is benefi- cial but starting with an optimum soil temperature is recommended. A cereal stress profile can show you a seed’s ability to germinate under the best conditions by providing the optimum temperature for field emergence. A cereal stress profile will give you the correct tempera- ture for your seed emergence with a comparison to your germination result. It helps you find the “sweet spot” for germination and helps you manage your questionable lots. Every person will have a different profile, so we work with clients on an individual basis to interpret it. A cereal stress profile can be your secret weapon to battling dormancy issues in 2019! Contact me for more info on this test and how it works. LINKEDIN IS DIFFERENT from other social media platforms because it’s business-focused and mainly used by professionals looking to make meaningful connections. There’s three main reasons why it can be so useful for this purpose. • Your target audience is there. According to Fortune, LinkedIn has over 500 million members. Users are focused on networking and connecting with poten- tial customers; here, their attention won’t get diverted easily as with other social media platforms. Have you met someone at a conference recently? Don’t forget to add them to your network. Fostering new relationships is important — they could be your future advocates on social media. • It helps you build your reputation and brand, highlighting your achievements and accomplish- ments. Have you recently been recognized or received an award? It’s a good place to share your success story; connect the success story to your brand and your good reputation will be reinforced. It’s vital for you to build your brand online. LinkedIn is a great place to share your expertise in your field. Most of your connections CONTENT MARKETING WHY YOU NEED TO BE ON LINKEDIN Zana Relke, Client Services Manager, CREATE by Issues Ink zrelke@issuesink.com • issuesink.com will be related to your specific business; they want to read content directly related to your business and field. Post interesting and relevant information and this will distinguish you amongst your competitors. • LinkedIn can be a magnet for leads. According to HubSpot, LinkedIn is 277 per cent more likely than Facebook and Twitter to convert contacts into leads. Make sure to optimize your account profile and com- pany page with relevant information. This is also a great avenue for you to interact with your clients by respond- ing to client questions and addressing their concerns. A common misconception is that LinkedIn is solely used by job hunters and recruiters, and as a result, busi- nesses are missing out on the broader benefits of the platform. LinkedIn is designed to connect people and companies with similar interests, so your chances of get- ting new business are increased. Keep your profile and business page up-to-date to maintain a strong brand presence, generate a buzz about your products and services, connect with your network, and reap the benefits of this handy social media plat- form.