Proprietary vs common seed varieties: an in-depth look

When it comes to comparing proprietary versus common seed varieties, proprietary seeds may give you a long-term advantage.

"The most expensive crop you will ever plant is the one you have to plant twice," says Pete McKnight, Agronomy Technical Specialist for PGG Wrightson. 

Seed is always going to be a major investment, no matter the size of your farm, but in the great debate of spending a little more for proprietary varieties, it is important to remember that you get what you pay for. There are three excellent reasons why it is recommended to choose proprietary seeds. 

When you buy proprietary seed, you are also buying the genetic gains New Zealand plant breeders have spent time in accumulating into our modern varieties. Plant breeders will spend some 10 to 15 years developing a seed variety before launching it on the market. 

Nui, a common perennial ryegrass, is a good example of this genetic gain. Nui, once the gold standard, is now the standard measurement to which all new ryegrass seeds are compared. 

"New grass variety genetics have allowed us to alter the flowering dates of grasses. This is critically important for feed supply. Grasses do the bulk of their production before they flower; feed quality drops after flowering. By manipulating the flowering date, we can change pasture production to meet the feed requirements of the farm. So, when a new ryegrass states it flowers at Day 36, that is 36 days after Nui would have flowered—a dramatic change," explains Pete. 

New proprietary seeds are not only bred for greater yield, but also for changes in timing of production, persistence in the pasture sward, feed quality, and a greater resilience to changing weather conditions. 

"It's like buying a car. An old model will get you to your destination, but when things go wrong, where do you want to be? In an older car or one with all the new safety features?" asks Pete. 

The inclusion of novel endophytes is a significant benefit found in many proprietary grass plants. Endophytes are a symbiotic fungus living inside the grass plant helping protect it from insect damage. Proprietary seeds have greater targeted protection from specific pests. Commons tend to not have the latest and greatest endophytes but rather may only have standard endophytes. These may have some challenges associated with them. 

"The standard endophytes you find in older ryegrass do not differentiate between predators. That includes your stock. It targets anything eating the grass, and your stock may suffer ill effects from their presence," explains Pete. 

"We stand by what is in the bag with proprietary seeds," says Sean. 

You get the full support of everyone in the seed industry—from the plant breeders to Technical Field Representatives. You will have support and advice on all aspects of agronomy from a team of trustworth, trained staff," he continues. 

With four decades of industry experience, Pete sums it up perfectly.

"You have the back-up and support should anything go wrong. If it is about trying to save money, seed is not the place to do it. It is simple: you get what you pay for."

Learn more about what seeds are right for your farming system by contacting your local PGG Wrightson Technical Field Representative.