What is Certified Seed?
Certified Seed comes with a guaranteed germination to ensure the best possible start to any crop and growers can confidently reduce seeding rates, where appropriate, saving time and money. It is pure of variety and free of weed seeds which reduces growing costs and guarantees the grain buyer a consistent quality from a definitive single cultivar. Fully traceable, all steps of seed production, cleaning, storage and distribution are closely monitored by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to ensure that the final consumer can be assured of high quality.
Certified Seed has much less risk of seed borne diseases. Intensive crop inspection results in low disease levels in seed and by using laboratory testing, any low level seed borne disease present can be identified and controlled using the correct chemicals, applied using specialised application equipment. Even when compared to farm saved seed, the cost associated with using Certified Seed is very competitive, e.g. winter wheat seed costs can be as low as 5% of the total costs of production (Teagasc Crops costs and Returns 2010). Skimping on the most important 5% of your production could be very costly in terms of lodging, disease problems and weed infestation.
The use of Certified Seed provides for continued cereal genetic improvement and improved varieties. These contribute to improving farmers’ incomes by constantly increasing yield, grain quality and disease resistance, thus, insuring against crop failure while ensuring reduced weed and disease problems.
All Certified Seed is fully traceable and there is a full after sales backup from seed assemblers as well as expert agronomy advice.
The benefits of using Certified Seed
1. Guaranteed germination
2. Consistent quality
3. Reduced seeding rates
4. Guaranteed varietal purity
5. Fully traceable
6. Independently monitored
7. Reduced risk of seed borne diseases
8. Continued cereal genetic improvement
