b'PARTNER CONTENTSEED QUALITY ISSUES MAKE TESTING VERY IMPORTANTTHIS YEAR HASbeen one for the record books, in many ways.So much so that seed quality is definitely a concern going into 2022, and now is the time to think about testing.There are a number of ways seed quality will be impacted going into the 2022 season.Seed size. Im seeing fields of wheat that Morgan Webb,are fully headed out at about a foot tall and Senior Seedeven shorter. Seeds are definitely going to Analyst,be smaller; we recently got our first big Seed Checkbatch of peas, lentils and cereals in and not Technologies only did they arrive earlier than normal, theyre quite tiny.Vigour/TKW. Sometimes, small seed has higher vigour than large seed. Theres a myth out there that large seeds have higher vigour. Thats not necessarily true. Time will tell as we start to test seed from 2021, but its important to know seed size is no indicator of whether that seed will have good vigour or not. With the challenging conditions weve seen this year, vigour testing is crucial, as is testing for thousand kernel weight (TKW). For planning pur-poses, TKW is so important when you have smaller seed to deal with, because its the best way to determine your plant popula-tion for next year.Weeds. Its no secret that weeds will sur- Toadflax can out-compete native plants. vive where crops cant. With the dry, hot conditions, many weeds are thriving andby windborne seeds and by way of its taking over the soils that ordinarily wouldextensive, creeping root system. be home to valuable commodity crops.Toadflax: can out-compete native plants, Weed seeds are going to be different thanwhich negatively affects plant crops, and were used to. Heat-loving weeds might bereduces grass growing in pastures and of a different size and look a little different.rangelands.We are dealing with living things, and theyIf theres a silver lining to 2021, its that evolve quickly. disease pressure will be lower in many areas. Weeds are great at waiting until the perfectPathogens dont like hot weather with no mois-year arrives. They can lay dormant in soil forture. But this is a small consolation for growers years, even decades, and emerge when the timesuffering seed quality issues.is right, like: Seed testing is one of your best weapons toCanada Thistle: adapted to a wide rangeensure you and your customers start 2022 offof soil conditions, and spreads vigorouslyright. SEPTEMBER 2021 GERMINATION.CA 37'