When it comes to making decisions about seed on the farm, Henk Kamper, a seasoned grower in southern Alberta, knows what works best for his operation. As a firm believer in using certified seed, the Lethbridge-based co-founder of the Kamper Group (which he operates along with his dad and two older brothers) has built his approach around reliability and quality, drawing from his farming experiences both in Canada and the Netherlands.
“We’ve always used certified seed, no question about it,” says Kamper. “Our farm started in 2009 when we immigrated from the Netherlands, and from what I remember, using farm-saved seed just wasn’t done over there. It’s just something we’ve always done — it’s not something we ever really questioned.”
For Kamper, the decision to stick with certified seed boils down to value and peace of mind. While he acknowledges that there are many good farmers in southern Alberta who use bin-run seed, he’s confident in the path his farm has chosen.
Kamper’s operation, which includes growing seed potatoes, seed canola, and other specialty crops, focuses heavily on the importance of good starting material. In his view, the risks associated with farm-saved seed simply aren’t worth the small savings.
“We understand the value of starting with high-quality material, especially since we’re seed growers ourselves,” he explains. “The cost savings we’d see if we used bin-seed just aren’t big enough to take the risk. We feel like we’re getting good value from our seed growers, and we know we’re starting with top-notch quality.”
One of the key advantages of certified seed, Kamper says, is access to newer varieties that offer better performance. This helps ensure his farm stays ahead in terms of both productivity and efficiency. A percentage of the money he spends on certified seed goes back to the variety developer, helping fund further variety development.
“When you start with a higher generation of certified seed, you get access to newer varieties,” he says. “As long as the seed suppliers keep providing us with well-performing varieties, I don’t see us changing our approach anytime soon.”
While Kamper believes in his own system, he’s quick to emphasize that every farm is different. What works for one operation may not work for another, and at the end of the day, each farmer must make decisions based on their specific needs.
“Everyone knows their own operation best,” Kamper says. “I’m not the person to tell someone else what to do. For us, the focus is on ensuring we have high-quality seed in the ground so we can concentrate on what really matters — running our farm.”
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