Seed: Quality Standards and Storage Tips

Nov 07, 2014

The Canada Seeds Act requires all certified seed meet minimum standards for germination on the day it’s sold. Whether seed is grown this year, last year or the year before that, certified No.1 canola must have 90% germination or better at the time of sale. Certified No.2 must have 80-89% germination. The seller is responsible to make sure seed complies with the grade on the tag.

Blending: Canada Seeds Act standards also apply to blending, which can be an important tool in balancing seed size and performance from bag to bag. Seed companies can blend different lots of the same variety, and this will show up as “Blend” on the seed tag. Blends must meet the minimum standards for the stated grade.

For more on this, see the article

“Carryover seed keeps in shape,”

on page 18 of the November 2010 issue of Canola Digest.

Seed storage tips: Keep new and carryover seed cool and dry. A cold machine shed is better than a heated shop. AAFC research has found that No.1 certified canola seed stored at 2°C or cooler and at less than 8% moisture will maintain its minimum 90% germination for at least 20 months.

Source: Alberta Canola Producers Commission

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.