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2004 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, doing business as the Divisionof Cooperative Extension of the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

AGRONOMY DEPARTMENT 1575 Linden Drive University of Wisconsin-Madison 53706 608-262-1391/2Field Crops 47.4 & 47.5 January 1986

Soybean Seed Quality and Certified SeedPrepared by Edward S. Oplinger Extension Agronomist, University of Wisconsin-Madison and EugeneAmberson Manager, Wisconsin Crop Improvement Association

Introduction

Seed represents a small portion of soybean production costs, but good seed is essential for a successfulcrop. High quality seed Is pure In variety, high In germination, free of seedborne disease organisms, free ofcracks and other mechanical damage, and free of other crop and weed seeds. State law requires that all seedsold be correctly labeled. Labels must show germination percentage, percent of weed seeds, percentage of othercrop seeds, and total purity. Certified seed assures varietal purity. Wisconsin Certified Seed must meet thehighest quality and purity standards In the Industry to carry the "Blue Tag" label.

Frequently, soybean producers are faced with the decision to buy Certified seed or to use soybeans fromthe bin for planting purposes. Some growers take extra precautions In planting, maintaining, harvesting, andprocessing their grain In order to have good quality seed for planting purposes. However, the majority are moreconcerned and are better at grain production rather than seed production. Production of good quality seed 1s thebusiness of seed producers!

Wisconsin Soybean Seed Box Survey Results

The Wisconsin Crop Improvement Association conducted a Soybean Seed Box Survey in 1985. Theycollected 102 seed samples from 14 counties in the state. Samples were taken from planting equipment seedboxes or from the original seed containers by WCIA seed Inspectors. Seed samples were then classified aseither:

1. Certified

2. Uncertified (Seed was cleaned, packages, labeled, and retail marketed but not Certified

3. Bin Run (Seed either cleaned or uncleaned but not labeled. This seed is normally grown and stored onfarm locations.)

As noted in Table1, there is considerable difference in the percentage of samples in each group meetingminimum seed standards.

Table 1. Samples Meeting Minimum Seed Standards in the 1985 Wisconsin Soybean Seed Box Survey

Classification # of Total Samples # Meeting Minimum Standards*

Certified 24 23 (96%)

Uncertified 34 23 (68%)

Bin Run 44 13 (30%)

* Germination 85% or greater

Varietal Mixtures 0.5 or less

Weed Seed 1 seed or less/lb

Other Crops 1 seed or less/lb

Inert Matter 2% or less

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Soybean and Small Grains Page 2

2004 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, doing business as the Divisionof Cooperative Extension of the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

The seed quality problems found in these seed samples are described in Table 2, and illustrates thesuperior standards of Certified seed.

Table 2. Seed Quality Problems found in 1985 Wisconsin Seed Box Survey# Samples Not Meeting Min. StandardsClassification #Samples Var. Pur. Inert Weeds* Crops** Germ.

# Samples Labeled as Variety NotStated or Variety Unknown

Certified 24 0 0 0 0 1 0Uncertified 34 10 0 0 0 1 2Bin Run 44 23 7 3 8 6 9* Giant ragweed, smartweed, lambsquarter, wild buckwheat, common ragweed** Barley, oat, wheat

The extreme variation of soybean seed sometimes planted in illustrated in Table 3.

Table 3. Variation in Soybean Seed Quality Found in Samples Collected in the 1985 Wisconsin Soybean BoxSurvey

Quality Factor Best Sample Poorest SamplePurity 99.99% 9.28%Inert Matter .01% 17.53%Weed Seeds/lb. 0 470Other Kinds/lb. 0 31Other Varieties 0% 85.6%Germination 98% 37%

Wisconsin Soybean Yield Contest Results

Results of twelve years (1974-85) results from the Wisconsin Soybean Yield Contest serve to documentthat top soybean growers use Certified seed for producing high yields as Indicated In Table 4. With a total of 506

entries the yield of those using Certified seed was 52.3 vs. uncertified seed 50.1 for a 2.2 bu/acre advantage.

Table 4. Performance of Soybeans Planted with Certified vs. Non-certified Seed in the Wisconsin Soybean YieldContest 1974-85.

Seed Source

Certified Non-certified

Number of entrants 243 263

Average Yield (bu/a) 52.3 50.1

No. of winning entried 8 4

Other Comparisons of Certified vs. Non-certified seed

Several other states and private seed companies have compared not only quality but also theperformance of soybeans planted using Certified vs. non-certified. Table 5 summarizes these data.

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Soybean and Small Grains Page 3

2004 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, doing business as the Divisionof Cooperative Extension of the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Table 5. Summary of Soybean Performance Using Certified vs. Non-certified or Bin-run Seed

State or Company Years Yield Advantage (bu/a) Certified vs.Non-certified

Wisconsin 12 2.2Illinois 17 2.8

Ohio 6 1.9

Georgia 1 5.9

Northrup King 2 2.6

Asgrwo 6 2.4

Average 3.0 bu/a

Economics of Quality Seed

With the pressure to keep production Input costs down, growers are often tempted to plant bin-run seedrather than spend the money on top quality Certified seed. Admittedly the cash flow advantage in the spring mayfavor planting bin-run seed. However, growers need to consider all the costs and the final yield advantages asIllustrated in Table 6.

Table 6. Economics of Planting Certified vs. Non-Certified or Bin Run Seed

Bin-run Certified

Cost/bu.

Seed $5.00 $10.00

Cleaning .75 ---

Cleanout loss .50 ---

Transportation .25 ---

Interest .90* .90**

Labor .50 ---

Germination testing .10 ---

Total $8.00 $10.90

Seed Costs/a (90#/a) $12.00 $16.35

Difference +$4.35

Returns/a --- +3 bu.

Yield difference --- +$15.00/a

Difference --- +10.65/a

*1 %/mo. X 12 mo.

**1 %/mo. X 6 mo.

Growers are encouraged to use the figures in Table 6 as guidelines in figuring their actual costs. ThisInformation is presented to inform soybean growers of the advantages of planting high-quality Certified seed. Theinformation should also be of value to ag lenders in comparing the Initial costs of buying Certified seed with theend of the season profit potential.