Seed, Germination & Hidden Forage Risks with Ken Cunliffe

About this episode

Steve Page interviews Ken Cunliffe about the critical role of seed in farming and managing hidden forage risks.

In Season 3, Episode 1 of Hay Matters , Steve Page chats with Ken Cunliffe from AgEtal about why seed is one of the most critical inputs on farm. Ken explains: Germination vs vigour – how seed performs under stress Farm-saved vs purchased seed – what to check before planting Seed storage & handling – why heat, moisture, and treatment matter Prussic acid & nitrate testing – managing hidden forage risks He also shares insights into Feed Central’s in-field test kits , helping growers make faster, safer decisions for both crops and livestock. Listen now for practical tips to protect yield and reduce risk from planting through grazing.

People in this episode

Host: Steve Page

Guest: Ken Cunliffe

Topics covered

• seed performance
• germination vs vigour
• farm-saved vs purchased seed
• seed storage and handling
• forage risks
• in-field test kits

Keywords

• seed
• germination
• vigour
• forage risks
• prussic acid
• nitrate testing
• crop management
• livestock
• in-field test kits

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: AgEtal, Feed Central

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• The Legacy Tour: Inspiring the Next Generation of Hay · April 15, 2026 · 43 min
• Season 3 Episode 5 - Freight, Fuel & Forward Contract with David Clothier · April 1, 2026 · 20 min
• Life, Legacy and Farming the Future with Ella Lanyon · March 18, 2026 · 18 min
• Hay in the Rotation: Agronomy in the Mallee with Georgia Boddington · March 3, 2026 · 24 min
• Preventing Hay Fires & Spontaneous Combustion · February 17, 2026 · 41 min