Wanting to start a garden but no greenhouse? Look no further – all you need is seeds, water, paper towel, zip lock bag, and an instant pot! The video is a few minutes long and gives step by step instructions how to germinate your seeds using an instant pot. Props to the woman who thought… Continue reading
The graphs below show the percent of corn and soybean acres that have been planted in Michigan, as of May 3rd. A good amount of winter wheat is in overall better condition than last year. We hope that everyone has had a safe and successful #Plant21 thus far! Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service Great… Continue reading
Fresh air and exercise are an important component for healthy living. Seed inspectors have a unique opportunity to walk fields (exercise) in the fresh air. For some this may sound like a foreign concept, but inspection principles are easily learned. Individuals attend training sessions, are taught one on one, and have immediate access to questions… Continue reading
It is that time of year again. The sun is shining, the air is slowly warming, grass is becoming greener; spring is upon us. Dust has been flying from field to field these past weeks in preparation of the upcoming planting season. Farmers have the ‘itch’ to get rolling, putting seed in the ground. If… Continue reading
Did you know we do grass seed testing? We will do a purity and germination on most of the Michigan Department of Transportation roadside grass mixes, but we will also test your home/farm grass mixes for you, too! We separate each component, then plant 400 seeds in clear covered boxes and this is what it… Continue reading
Seed Biology 101 Each of us that sows a field with seed relies on the notion that a plant will emerge. Somehow the seed turns into a plant. Often, we do not see the germination process because we are busy doing the many “to do’s” of spring planting. Many of you may not familiar with… Continue reading
Bioassays are used routinely in the seed testing industry to evaluate the presence/efficacy of traits in seed. A bioassay is in simple terms: the evaluation of the effect of a substance (chemical) on living tissue (germination seedlings). There are numerous types of bioassays including the evaluation of seed production in fields after Roundup, Liberty, Enlist,… Continue reading