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Consider seed source for next years wheat crop, says Texas Cooperative Extension specialist
Amarillo, Texas
June 15, 2006

The low wheat grain yields throughout much of Texas and Oklahoma will likely result in a shortage of quality wheat seed this August and September, a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist said.

Often farmers choose to save some of their harvested wheat grain each year to use for planting their next wheat crop, said Dr. Brent Bean, Extension agronomist.

"Since many farmers did not harvest any wheat due to drought, disease and greenbugs, more farmers than usual will be looking to purchase seed this fall," Bean said.

"It is important for farmers to remember that a good wheat crop starts with quality seed," he said. "This is just as important, if not more so, for fall and winter forage production as it is for optimizing grain yield."

Test weight is generally considered a good measurement of seed quality, Bean said, adding only wheat seed with a test weight of 58 pounds per bushel or higher should be considered for planting.

Also, do not forget to check the purity of the seed, he cautioned.

Surveys show non-certified seed is more likely to be contaminated with weed seed, making it even more important for producers to know where the seed was produced.

All of the new higher-producing wheat varieties can only be sold as certified, registered or foundation seed, Bean said. An emergency wheat recertification program was put into place this year to help alleviate the potential problem of not having enough seed for planting this fall.

This program temporarily relaxed the qualifications for certifying wheat seed, he said. But it did not modify the Plant Variety Protection Law that prevents farmers or other individuals from selling protected varieties.

"Most new varieties fall under this law and can only be sold by authorized dealers," Bean said.

"Seedsmen are very serious about protecting their investment in new varieties," he said. "In recent years, fines as high as $30,000 have been levied against a number of individuals or companies that have violated the Plant Variety Protection Act."

In buying wheat seed for the next crop, Bean suggested booking wheat seed early from authorized dealers. Producers can check with Extension offices for the latest recommendations on wheat varieties.

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