Rye Seed - buy now or wait for fresh seed

[Wind Gypsy]

I'm placing an order for this year's fall seed soon. The vendor i'm buying everything else from has rye available now that was harvested last year. I typically buy when the co-op has fresh seed in august. Price is basically a wash but it's one less trip to the store in August for me if I had it delivered with the other seed.

Anyone think there would be a notable difference in performance? This stuff is all getting surface broadcasted on top of existing pea/oat/brassica/clover blend plots around labor day so wont have great soil contact and zero soil coverage.

 

[SD51555]

I picked mine up a month ago already.


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[PatinPA]

I have two bags of oats I bought on sale in December from last year. I've never had a problem with leftover seed.

 

[Tree Spud]

I like to wait for fresh seed, always better odds. WR will be coming off the fields soon.

 

[Foggy47]

I've bought last years seeds for the past two seasons. Just hard to get what I want when I want it otherwise. I do not think there is a problem with germination....especially on rye. my 2 cents.

 

[Mortenson]

I haven't done germ tests that I recall anyhow but last year my pioneer dealer offered me yr old rye seed for a discount to the fresh seed while acknowledging the fresh stuff would germ higher. I took the current stuff. I've used 3 yr old stuff from my basement and it still grows but again I didn't do germ % checks.

 

[T-Max]

I’ve seen seed at the farm supply store that has a new label stuck on top of last year’s. The germ rate was lower by a marginal amount. I’m assuming the supplier did a germ test and provided them the labels.


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[Wind Gypsy]

I’ve seen seed at the farm supply store that has a new label stuck on top of last year’s. The germ rate was lower by a marginal amount. I’m assuming the supplier did a germ test and provided them the labels.

The seed sales guy knows the topic is on my mind and stated "tested(Germ is 96%), and certified for 2023 season so really there is no difference if you buy now or wait until later". Not sure if that means it was re-tested for germ rate for 2023 or if that's what it was last summer and was certified through 2023 at that time? Already have 150# plus leftover from last year as it is.

 

[Diesel5610]

I would have no issue with last years rye seed. Soybean is one of the only seeds I have seen enough reduced germination to even notice in year old seed.