42 / SEEDWORLD.COM JANUARY 2018 IF YOU ARE reading this article, there is a good chance we crossed paths in Chicago at the ASTA CSS 2017 Seed Expo in December. Although the focus has traditionally been on larger commod- ity crops, I now find I am meeting with customers from other segments – even flower seed – that see value in the exhibi- tion. I find this week is always a great pulse check on where things are headed. Optical technologies continue to evolve and spread into additional seed plant applications. Technologies and capacities continue to improve. The most advanced machines true full color RGB machines capable of sorting on a full range of color combinations, plus infra- red sorting. To be state of the art, the machine also needs complete geometric and size sorting recognition. There are also several new formats coming online for fine seed optical sorting. These will run lower capacities but diminish residual losses typical in small and fine seed opti- cal separations. Optical sorting is also spreading into other parts of seed pro- duction. There is a big push to optically sort ear corn before drying. The use of technology early in the process stands to improve downstream issues. Seed treatment systems are develop- ing quickly to meet the growing com- plexity of what and how we apply seed treatments. Most are finding the need to also include some form of drying post seed treatment. A true system will include drying functions to handle future rate increases. The newest advances include a single integral piece of equipment capable of treating, coating or pelletizing and then drying before discharge. We also see the batch treater becoming the standard, as Looking Back, Looking Forward JON MORELAND PETKUS NORTH AMERICA MANAGING DIRECTOR JMoreland@EESCompanies.com • eescompanies.com they apply complex recipes with 8, 10 or even 12 independently delivered compo- nents…plus a powder or two! Any equipment that provides addi- tional efficiencies in your seed production processes is exciting. With markets being relatively tough and margins squeezed, operations are looking internally for more efficient production. I am seeing great inter- est in standard machines that have been improved with engineering: for example a gravity separator that diminishes the need for a middle fraction rerun; or a cleaner with screens that a single operator can safely and quickly remove. Exciting advances in control systems for just about anything mechanical are a great place to search for improved efficiency. A good control system can morph a mechanical piece of equip- ment into something easier to run, set up, start up or install. RUNNING A RACE on New Year’s Day is a popular way to celebrate turning over a new leaf and kick-starting a path to a healthier lifestyle. The story, however, isn’t how many people completed a race that day, but that they spent the months before training. It’s just like preparing for a seed pro- duction season. January marks the begin- ning of a calendar year as well as a crop year. With all the family commitments between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, it can seem daunting to start planning for 2018. But just like training for a race, the earlier you start, the easier it is to perform at your best.   Below are three ways to get ready for your next season. 1. Everything Impacts Performance – Review it All! There is no shortage of information collected during a seed pro- duction season. Instead of only focusing on your running times, details like how your shoes fit or how you carry your arms are critical to having a great race. Similarly, seed yields are important, but factors such as comparing stand counts to ear counts, ear size and kernel rows and a whole host of other agronomic and statistical information will give you the insights necessary to be at your best in 2018. 2. Improve Your Knowledge. You can’t be an expert by running just a few races. The same is true for seed produc- tion. While having 20 years of experience in seed production sounds impres- Seed Production and the New Year JIM SCHWEIGERT GRO ALLIANCE PRESIDENT @jim_schweigert • jim.schweigert@groalliance.com • GroAlliance.com sive that means you’ve only planted 20 crops. Would you consider yourself a run- ning expert after only 20 races? Building a network of experts and professional resources makes all the difference. 3. Do Something New Every Season. I’m always trying out new running gear to shave off a few seconds. We also do this in seed production. We conduct multiple trials every year to test new chemistry, methods and challenge the status quo. The constant testing and evaluation, com- bined with continuing education means we get better every year and constantly beat our “personal best.” The time to get better is now. Put in the work, make the effort and you’ll be rewarded with your best possible performance.