148 / SEEDWORLD.COM DECEMBER 2017 CONTACT US TODAY FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 3400 109TH STREET, DES MOINES, IA 50322 | 800-247-6755 | WWW.BRATNEY.COM Cimbria Chromex Optical Sorter NOWHERE TOHIDE Bad seed is bad for business. Inferior sorting systems put your product and brand at risk. Only the Cimbria Chromex Optical Sorter can deliver the perfect sort around the clock. Imperfect won’t be missed. 00076_Bratney_SeedToday_cornad_7.875x4.75_NOV17.indd 1 11/2/17 7:58 AM Columbia River Seed has been submit- ting new varieties to the NTEP trials for 15 years and this year they were very excited to have 13 varieties being evaluated. “The varieties we had in the NTEP trials this year are the result of 12 years of collabo- ration with St. Paul, Oregon based Novel Ag and our marketing partners Columbia Seeds LLC., SiteOne Landscape Supply, ProSeeds Marketing Inc., Landmark Turf and Native Seed and Jonathan Green Inc.,” says Paul Hedgpeth, General Manager of Columbia River Seed. “We chose to partner with Novel Ag to help us improve our breeding methodol- ogy and germplasm lines.” Of the 13 varie- ties developed, two will be commercially released for the 2018 planting season and the rest will be available for 2019. Cornell University scientists and col- leagues from other institutions combined different types of genetic association analyses to identify 14 genes across the genome that were involved in the synthesis of vitamin E. Six genes were newly discovered to encode proteins that contribute to a class of antioxidant compounds called tocochromanols, collectively known as vita- min E. Along with antioxidant properties, tocochromanols have been associated with good heart health in humans and proper functioning in plants. After finding cases of skin irritation, Monsanto is pulling its new seed treatment for 2018 to review the product. Monsanto recently received EPA approval for NemaStrike – a chemical seed treatment that attacks nematodes. “As we prepared for the commercial launch for seed treated with Acceleron NemaStrike ST, there have been limited cases of skin irritation, including rashes, that appear to be associated with the handling and appli- cation of this seed treatment product,” says Brian Naber, U.S. commercial operations lead at Monsanto. The company says the cases it has reviewed so far indicate proper use of personal pro- tective equipment is a key factor in the safe use of the product. Monsanto says it is “out of an abundance of caution” it is stop- ping commercialization of the product while it reviews the situa- tion. However, “Ground Breaker” trials will continue this spring. Syngenta has announced that the California Department of Pesticide Regulation has approved Minecto® Pro insecticide for use in specialty and vegetable crops to control difficult-to- manage pests like thrips, mites, worms, psyllids and whiteflies. Minecto Pro combines cyantraniliprole, a second generation diamide that provides a broader spectrum of control, and abamectin, the global standard for mite control, into one con- venient premix formulation. SW