Seed Production

DSV traditionally ranks not just breeding but also seed growing very highly. The key areas of seed production comprise growing of grasses and winter oilseed rape. Clover species, catch crops and oil seed crops such as summer oilseed rape or linseed are also propagated.

For winter oilseed rape, hybrid production especially takes place chiefly in Germany, though also abroad, with high demands made of quality and cultivar purity.

Grass production chiefly comprises propagation of the company’s own varieties from the Euro Grass breeding programme. In addition to yield and quality, “seed yield in seed production” is a significant feature in the breeding programme. Extensive seed yield tests carried out in accordance with the latest production-specific findings secure and promote breeding progress in grass seed production.

DSV is currently working with more than 1000 qualified and experienced seed growers. Fifteen cropping consultants maintain contact with the growers for local production and specific advisory services.
The advisory services target agronomically and commercially sophisticated production techniques aiming to produce healthy and high quality seed of pure species and variety.
Cultivation techniques in grass seed propagation are constantly developed further through DSV’s own tests and active collaboration in the “Grasses, Clover and Catch Crops” Committee of the DLG (German Agricultural Society) and through sharing experience within the Euro Grass group.

Seed production of grasses has established a firm footing in crop rotation on the farms. Alongside the commercial output, the positive humus balance helps to improve the soil fertility and thus raises the profitability of the entire crop rotation.

Like production, further processing of the seed is consistently quality driven. DSV has modern treatment facilities at its base in Lippstadt and at five other sites. Three seasonal drying facilities are also available. The facilities allow swift and smooth intake of untreated seed, gentle drying, cleaning and grading, precise dressing doses depending on the species, flexible storage guaranteeing safe separation of varieties, and automatic packaging and customer-friendly palletising of the seed material. Regular quality controls are conducted by DSV’s own laboratory at all stages of processing and marketing.