40 GERMINATION.CA SEPTEMBER 2017 IT’S SEPTEMBER, and the season of seed testing is begin- ning. It can be hard to know whom to turn to for answers to questions you might have. To truly succeed, a seed testing company has to be trusted by putting out reliable results customers can depend on, and providing good answers to their questions. The only way to put out reliable results and be able to answer questions definitively is by having good seed analysts, of course. They’re the ones you turn to for answers to those important questions about seed quality and health. The seed analyst might be the most overlooked person in the agriculture industry. They perform a hugely impor- tant job, yet often spend a lot of time behind a desk, where they perform the quiet and low-key task of analyz- ing seed. That’s the part of the job that most people see. What they don’t see is what happens in the off-season, and what those analysts have often done to get where they are and be a valuable resource for customers. As a seed analyst myself, I spend a lot of time with SEED HEALTH & TESTING WHY THE SEED ANALYST IS AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE Sarah Foster 20/20 Seed Labs President and Senior Seed Analyst @Sarah2020labs • sarah@2020seedlabs.ca • 2020seedlabs.ca customers and a lot of time in the field. I have combined, seeded and worked in seed cleaning plants. I understand the process from start to finish, and so do many other seed analysts. A truly experienced analyst knows what a seed looks like not just by examining it in the lab, but also by seeing it grow in the field. It’s invaluable knowledge that helps them do their jobs to the utmost of their ability. An experienced analyst will know a seed from the beginning of its life to the end, what health problems it can face and in what situations — something growers don’t often notice themselves as they go about their busy days. Experienced seed analysts take time in the off-season to go into the field and see the day-to-day operations in seed processing facilities. This coming season, look upon your local analyst as an important resource who can offer you valuable insight into issues around seed health. You simply can’t get that kind of insight anywhere else. THERE'S A GROWING trend among seed growers as more and more shift away from augers and move toward conveyors. We’re seeing this all across North America, but one of the hottest areas has been in regions where soybeans are taking hold. For instance, as you move into the Prairies, we’re seeing more maturity options available for this climate and farmers have rapidly been adding them to their rota- tion. In fact, Canada’s farmers planted a record number of soybeans this year at 7.3 million acres, up 33.2 percent from 2016. But handling soybean seed is a whole different matter. Seed growers need equipment that’s not as harsh as an auger, which can leave the seed damaged with splits. That’s where the conveyor comes in. Conveyors provide gentler handling, helping seed growers to deliver a higher quality product. After all, seed is one of the most valuable inputs a farmer can buy today. Each and every seed is expected to perform. While a conveyor looks similar to an auger, it operates entirely different. Because our conveyors are made with rubber belts, which move the seed, there’s less wear and STORAGE & HANDLING GROWERS SHIFT AWAY FROM AUGERS, TOWARD CONVEYORS Roman Friesen Meridian Manufacturing Regional Sales Manager for Convey-All Conveyors rfriesen@convey-all.com • meridianmfg.com tear on the entire system; whereas, with an auger, you essentially have metal on metal. We’ve found that a conveyor will outlast the traditional auger two to three times before a belt has to be replaced or any type of maintenance is required. Granted, convey- ors do have a higher upfront cost, but when you consider the maintenance required on an auger within a 10-year- period, we’re finding most people see the benefit. Not only is there a seed handling and maintenance benefit, but also a safety benefit. The conveyors run much quieter than an auger. When you’re working on a farm or at a seed site, being able to hear what’s going on around you is critical. Our conveyors range in size and capacity from a 6-inch tube conveyor with an 8-inch belt with a capacity of 450 bushels per hour, to a 14-inch tube conveyor with a 22-inch belt with a capacity of 13,000 bushels per hour. One of the things we take great pride in is providing high quality equipment that’s built for heavy duty use. And we can custom build conveyors to meet the needs of seed growers to fit their existing setup. We expect this trend to continue and look to meet market needs.