Planting Bin-run Wheat for Grain and Cover Crops

By Nicole Santangelo Carutis and Alyssa Collins

Economics of agriculture have us looking for alternatives at every corner, however, at what cost? When harvested wheat quality is less than ideal, many look for an alternative destination for their grain and a way to reduce production costs next year. Can we save some of this seed that didn’t meet quality standards? Here are some considerations:

1. Germination - Will it make a good stand?
2. Purity - How much of the material is seed and what weeds might be present?
3. Quality- A handful of disease-causing pathogens can infect the seed and next year’s crop. Do we have the resources to properly process and store the seed to maintain viability?
4. Traits - If we plant bin-run seed can we get the best disease resistance and standability traits?
5. Seed treatment - is our investment protected, particularly in areas with above average moisture?
6. Legal considerations - Is the seed from a reputable dealer or are the genetics protected?

Germination and purity testing and labeling are crucial to achieving a good stand. A lot of money and time are invested at planting. Be sure you are planting good quality seed and at minimum conduct a germination test, purity, and weed seed analysis. What else is in with your wheat? Some cheat or chess, maybe worse, Palmer amaranth or waterhemp. The PDA Seed Lab does Germination and Purity Testing and has a lot of information on the requirements one must take to sell seed in PA.

Seed quality is an important consideration in saved wheat seed. Seed is a living organism that must be carefully handled. This begins at harvest by selecting high-quality stands and adjusting the combine to maximize the removal of lightweight kernels and foreign material while simultaneously minimizing damage to the grains. Cracked kernels are easily infested by insects and microbes in storage, resulting in diminished seed quality.  Drying temperatures should not exceed 90 degrees and seed should be stored dry at 12% moisture. Handling and storage practices by the farmer have a considerable impact on the success of stored seed. Reports are mixed, but several studies show significant yield losses in both grain and forage crops as a result of poor handling. A recent economic analysis of saved wheat seed in Alberta, Canada showed that only a 1.5 bushel decrease in wheat yield as a result of poor seed quality would be enough to eliminate the cost savings gained from cleaning and treating bin-run seed over purchasing certified seed. New certified seed varieties ensure higher genetic potential, especially for higher disease resistance and drought tolerance. Bin-run seed may not have the latest and greatest traits, but more importantly, it also may contain seedborne pathogens that cause diseases like as Fusarium, take-all, smut, and others.

Can we effectively treat and store our own seed? Poorer or unknown seed is going to require more protection using seed treatment to get it off to a good start. Do we have the time, money, and equipment to handle seed cleaning and seed treatment? Lastly, legally, can we save and use the seed on our own farm? What about trading or selling  ? Many varieties can be saved on farm, but most cannot be sold. Additionally, Pennsylvania law requires additional paperwork and testing for selling seed even if the variety is not protected.

Certainly, there is a lot at risk in saving small grain seed. Will your extra effort to save seed pay off or lead to more expenses in weed control, a poorer stand, and disease management?