b'4 Tips for Finding Quality Seed GrowersTheyre responsible for your most valuable assethow can you minimize risk? Sonja BegemannTHE CARE SEEDcompanies show their seed is unchal- 3. Can logistically get the job donelenged, however, vulnerability in the process lies not in theWe look for several characteristics for a seed grower including conditioning and processing but the growing season itself. Byequipment suitable for planting seed, and ability to harvest and relying on farmer partners to grow the seed used in future sea- store seed properly, says Terry Garner, BASF production man-sons, companies accept risk. agerU.S. soybeans. First, manage what your company can from the get-go. PlanIn addition, Garner says growers also need to be in a desirable ahead for yield drags, weather events and other issues by produc- location to grow seed with field sizes that fit their needs.ing a certain percent more seed than forecasted. This also canEquipment to consider: Late model planters and combines, offset incorrect forecasts. enough grain bins and/or storage to avoid cross-contamination, Also consider spreading risk geographically. While weatherdryers or aeration to keep the grain in good condition and, for or other ailments hit at least one state every season, its notsome, a corn picker that harvests the whole ear.often every state has a major malfunction. This and other con-trollable factors can help minimize some risk. 4. Showcase commitment to qualityHowever, the biggest risk companies take is with the farmersSeed growers should be committed, have a quality mindset who grow the seed crop. So, how do you minimize as much riskand be entrepreneurial in their thinking to drive yield and quality as possible without renting or buying the farm ground on behalfof the seed produced, Garner says. The most effective seed of the company? Look for candidates who: grower is someone who wants to build a partnership to gain better field knowledge that drives yield and seed quality.SW1. Communicate with the companyWe need someone who has strong communication skills, says Michael Planalp, Becks soybean and wheat grower director. They have to keep detailed records of where everything is, let us know whats going on in fields in-season and work with us through planting and harvest.2. Are flexible as plans changeBeing able to have that flexibility to take on something newa new practice, new hybrids or varietiesis key, Planalp says. Especially if youre looking at a new seed grower, one of the things we look for is flexibility. We plan our seed growth by demand, so sometimes there can be changes last minute or just changes to new hybrids or varieties theyre not used to. They have to be up for that.42/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2021'