Current situations in organic cereal seed offer in the Czech Republic

Summary

Organic farmers are obliged, in compliance with the valid legislation, to use seed originating from the organic production when establishing the crop stands. In a survey we found certified organic cereal seed is used on 6 %, conventional untreated seed on 37 %, and farm seed on 57 % (of the organically farmed area in the Czech Republic). The main reasons for that are as follows: the insufficient surface of land intended for the reproduction of organic seed, the low proportion of accepted seed coming from the accepted reproduction surface. Therefore, low-quality farm seed is used on a large proportion of organically farmed land, which has a negative effect on the yield level of the cereals. These observations were also confirmed by results obtained in a farmer survey. Farmers indicated that they are interested in certified organic seed if it is available. However, the sufficient supply and favourable prices are important for them.