24 / SEEDWORLD.COM JUNE 2017 IN MY PREVIOUS column, I hit a nerve about optical sorters versus gravity sepa- rators. The idea was not to pit one against the other, but to discuss the functionality of each. We learned the optical sorter and gravity separator can have a productive spot in any seed conditioning facility. Assuming you now see the value each piece of equipment delivers to the task at hand, from an engineering standpoint, I ask: “Where should each piece fit in a flow line?” There are two primary schools of thought, the practical approach and the outside-the-box approach. The practical approach places the optical sorter after the gravity separator. It’s practical because the optical sorter addresses issues that no other upstream piece of equipment can, including size, shape and density. However, it does this at a relatively high-cost-per-capacity com- pared to other means. Again, it’s practical because you’re addressing every issue pos- sible by a more cost-effective mechanical means. Then, the remaining issues are to be addressed by the optical sorter. This should minimize the issues of capacity and costs. For example, a 500-bushel-per-hour color sorter will run at least two times as much as any other 500-bushel-per-hour piece of upstream equipment. This is the most technologically advanced piece of equipment in your line, and it’s also the most expensive. Use it late in the process to address issues that only optics can. Use it as the last line of defense for quality, or simply use it like your insurance policy. Now, a growing number of facilities are employing an outside-the-box strategy by placing the color sorter prior to the gravity separator. The idea is that if grav- ity is the only component in the line that sorts by density, then employ all available courses of action upstream to allow the gravity separator to do just that, and then focus on differences in density. Should the Optical Sorter or Gravity Separator Go First? JON MORELAND EES COMPANIES SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES JMoreland@EESCompanies.com • eescompanies.com Now hold on, because this gets more complicated. We are assuming what goes to the gravity separator has been accepted by the color sorter … the best product. I’ve seen instances where the accepts bypass the gravity (assuming quality is met with no density grade nec- essary), and the rejects go to the gravity for added clarification. Could there be a third school of thought? Now you’re making the gravity work harder, with the worst product and essentially in salvage mode. It can get complex. If you visit enough seed conditioning facilities, you’ll find that everything is conditional (by seed type, lot, size or contaminant type, or harvest conditions or any other mitigating factor). Here’s an idea: What if you engineered your conditioning facility to run any of the above mentioned flows? Then you would have the flexibility to address any issue, including the ones you didn’t foresee. FOR MUCH OF the U.S. Corn Belt, this spring was cool and wet. Farmers and seed companies were anxious about seed corn planted in tough conditions. If you were con- cerned about how your seed would perform, I don’t blame you. While a standard germina- tion test indicates how seed will perform in ideal conditions, there is little transparency about how that same seed will handle stress. This is when vigor, the measurement of how seed will perform in tough condi- tions, really matters. Vigor is impacted by a number of production practices, many of which can be divided into two buckets (access to information and equipment, people and processes). Access to production information that impacts seed vigor is vital. Proper harvest moisture, drying temperatures and shelling moisture are key. If this information isn’t readily shared, or available upon request, there’s a chance the producer might cut corners during harvest, drying and shelling. Properly handling seed at the right mois- ture during all post-harvest stages is impor- tant. Not doing so can lead to poor stands and a shorter shelf life, even if the initial germination scores are within tolerances. Poor seed handling equipment, includ- ing standard grain legs, far drops and outdated cleaning and sizing equipment increase the likelihood of mechanical damage, which reduce vigor. Moreover, every kernel should be color sorted to eliminate seed with visible defects, and ran across a gravity table to remove seed with internal defects, such as low density. Proper seed treatment application is also crucial. Today’s advanced batch treat- ers allow incredible treatment rate accuracy Vigor: How to Win in a Tough Spring JIM SCHWEIGERT GRO ALLIANCE PRESIDENT @jim_schweigert • jim.schweigert@groalliance.com • GroAlliance.com on a per seed basis. A good practice is to periodically send seed to a reputable lab for a loading test to ensure coverage is accurate. This is especially important with higher rate chemicals. Finally, equipment operators need to be quality experts and receive continual training on the newest techniques and processes to maximize vigor. Having a standardized approach to continuous improvement, such as ISO:9001 or the equivalent, is crucial. This ensures seed quality is evaluated at multiple stages during the production process and the equipment is adjusted to ensure a high- quality product. In short, knowing exactly how your seed is handled should be a high priority. Seed vigor can be the difference between your company and the competition in a challeng- ing spring, so don’t leave it to chance!