NOVEMBER 12, 2014
Dividend VL named 2014 Seed of the Year
(TORONTO, Ont.) – Dividend VL, an orchard grass variety, was named the 2014 Seed of the Year at the
Tribute to Agricultural Excellence Luncheon at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
This variety is the latest maturing orchard grass ever introduced which has made it a key component in
alfalfa forage mixtures. Dividend VL delivers a superior forage crop compared to traditional orchard grass
varieties as a result of its very slow maturity progression that allows for a better match with alfalfa maturity
at harvest. An alfalfa plus Divivend VL orchard grass mixture delivers more even maturity between species,
a higher quality crop and greater flexibility with harvest timing in pasture and stored feed systems.
Developed by plant breeders, Dr. Stephen Bowley and Donna Hancock at the University of Guelph, with the
parental cross made 1994, Dividend VL became commercially available in 2008 after rigorous testing
through the Ontario Forage Crops Committee cultivar performance trials, and additional trials at the
University of Guelph, Elora, ON.
Dividend VL breeder seed is maintained by the University of Guelph and multiplication and distribution of
the predigreed seed is conducted by Quality Seeds Ltd. This variety is marketed broadly for forage
production with end uses including pasture, dry hay and haylage.
Three other finalists for the east division of Seed of the Year were also recognized. These included DH
410SCN a soybean variety developed by Dr. Gary Ablett, Maple Glen soybean developed by Dr. Harvey
Voldeng and Dr. Elroy Cober, and OAC Wallace soybean developed by Dr. Istvan Rajcan.
The Seed of the Year competition, a 10 year tradition encourages public breeders to highlight their research
accomplishments in developing a new field crop, forage, fruit, vegetable or herb variety. Any publicly
developed Canadian variety is eligible to compete.
The competition was designed by University of Guelph and SeCan, with support from the Ontario Ministry
of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Additional sponsorship was
provided by Canadian Seed Growers Association, Quality Seeds Ltd, Ontario Asparagus Growers, Ontario
White Bean Producers, Canadian Seed Trade Association, Snobelen Farms, Grain Farmers of Ontario, Fruit
and Vegetable Growers Association, and the Ontario Potato Board.
For more information, contact Martin Harry, SeCan (519) 423-6435; or Andrea Smith, Seed of the Year
Student Coordinator seed@uoguelph.ca.
Room 437E University Centre, University of Guelph, Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1
(519) 824-4120, Ext. 53511
www.seedoftheyear.ca