Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 8432 / SEEDWORLD.COM OCTOBER 2016 32 / SEEDWORLD.COM OCTOBER 2016 PRODUCTION SERVICES Location, Location, Location In real estate, location is considered the most No. 1 factor in determining a prop- erty’s value. This is also true for seed pro- duction. When choosing a seed production partner, the ability to place seed produc- tion in the precise area that maximizes yield potential, limits risk and produces the best quality seed should be a main consider- ation. A partner who accesses several pro- duction areas offers the best combination of a consistent relationship and location flexibility, ensuring that each hybrid or vari- ety is produced exactly where it should be. In seed corn production, this is espe- cially true as several key location-based factors influence quality and yield potential. For example, male inbred lines that have limited pollen potential are best suited where temperatures are more moderate, such as the Great Lakes area of southern Michigan and northern Indiana. Here, the cooler waters of Lake Michigan help keep the temperatures more moderate and help to maximize pollen duration and quantity. GRO ALLIANCE PRESIDENT @jim_schweigert GroAlliance.com JIM SCHWEIGERT Seed size can also be impacted by location. Sandier soils limit test weight accumulation and are preferred for female inbred lines that tend to be larger seeded. Conversely, heavier soils with higher fertility are preferred for smaller seeded female inbred lines, as these soils encourage higher test weights. For female inbred lines in the mid- to later-maturity range with high end yield potential, a central Corn Belt location offers the best opportunity to maximize yields and improve the cost of goods. When considering risk factors, early frost potential should be top of mind. In general, the farther west and north a seed production location is, the more at risk it is for an early frost, which can severely impact germination potential. In fact, seed hybrids as early as 70-day maturity can be produced in south- ern Wisconsin or southern Michigan with much less frost risk than those on the northern or western edges of the Corn Belt. Another risk factor to consider is severe weather. Generally, the farther west, the higher the risk of hail, high winds or exces- sive rain. Producing seed in the central or eastern Corn Belt offers some protection from severe weather, while maximizing yield potential and quality. While there isn’t just one factor to consider when placing seed corn production and no location eliminates risk, choosing a partner that can place production in the best location reduces risk and ensures a consistent supply of quality seed. SEED CONDITIONING Data and Separation — Critical to Your Success! The basic technology has been in use since the late 1800s, and the seed industry has identified the benefits going back to the early 1900s — it continues to be an absolutely critical step in the seed processing industry. You will see a gravity separator in every seed processing facility around the world. Yet, it is one of the most misunderstood pieces of equipment in the building. Early attempts at gravity separation utilized water to float particles and iden- tify the differences in density, but in the seed industry, we use air to protect the integrity of the seed. We have created a “weighing mecha- nism” that when combined with vibration allows us to separate particles based on density. We are all aware that low-density seed has considerable relevance to germi- nation and vigor so separating off those seeds that don’t meet our specifications is critical to maintaining quality for your customer. OLIVER MANUFACTURING PRESIDENT/CEO Brian.Burney@ olivermanufacturing.com OliverManufacturing.com BRIAN BURNEY The thing that is often overlooked is that this is not a “set-it and forget-it” piece of equipment. Success requires a trained and committed operator with the right data available to them to make adjustments throughout operation to maintain the correct output. This means measuring bulk density at the beginning, middle and end of the batch. Adjustments to watch include, but are not limited to, feed rate, end raise, side tilt, speed and air which each affect how efficient the technology can operate. Enhancing the information provided to the operator in both input and output data, must be dynamic, as this process can be impacted by a number of environmental situations — baro- metric pressure, temperature and humidity to name a few. With the right data, we make more educated decisions and adjustments to ensure that we deliver the desired product. While the technology of gravity separation will continue to be a mainstay in seed processing, continued improvements in data measurement and capture will allow automation to enhance the process. I look forward to the day when the gravity separator can be as hands off as the seeder in the field but the automation needed is directly tied to the data that it uses. The science of separation is still solid and will be a mainstay of seed processing for years to come, the next evolution will be data driven.