Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
PrELIMInAry ConSIdErATIonS
In general, management has to pay attention to the customer needs at the location of the laboratory and
respond to such needs and maintain high quality service, as well as maintaining a balance between the
expenses and the income of the laboratory. There are many preliminary factors that inluence decisions
about the laboratory and how it is managed. These include the kinds of seed tested, the nature of the labora-
tory (i.e., regulatory, service, or research oriented) and method of inancial support.
kinds of Seed Tested
The kind of seed a laboratory will be required to test, the volume of samples, and the time frame during
which the samples are received are all important considerations. For example, special attention to grass
seed testing has to be paid in Oregon, where more than 10% of the U.S. grass seed production is located;
and to corn in Iowa, where corn is the main crop. If a limited number of species is tested, the equipment
needed may be less. For example, grasses generally require germinators with alternating temperatures and
light, while large seeded legumes generally need only constant temperature and usually do not require
light. Many species need to be pre-chilled to break dormancy, while others do not. The kind of seed tested
will also inluence decisions made in regard to purity testing, including the need for magniication and/or
automated or mechanically assisted separation. These are all considerations that will inluence management
decisions based on the kinds of seed to be tested and service rendered.
Laboratories should also have enough equipment, space, and experienced analysts to absorb the
number of seed samples that a laboratory may receive during its busy season.
Seasonal Workload
Most seed laboratories experience a cyclical work year. Their busiest season for service testing gener-
ally occurs in late fall and early winter after seed crops have been harvested, and extends throughout the
cleaning, testing and sales periods. Such tests are highly seasonal in occurrence and thus affect the labor
and management needs of the laboratory. In Oregon, the busy season is during summer after grass seed is
harvested. However, most oficial laboratories also test regulatory samples that are collected throughout
the sales season. Many laboratories also conduct research and inventory testing which are usually quite
predictable in occurrence.
The seasonal nature of workloads creates unique problems for seed laboratory management. Some
laboratories try to spread the workload evenly throughout the year, although this can cause delays to the
customer during the busiest testing periods. Others have established seasonal positions (temporary) and hire
extra help during peak workload periods in order to avoid backlogs and customer delays in receiving test
results. It may be dificult to recruit employees into laboratories in which new analysts work on a part-time
basis. Furthermore, it may be dificult to maintain a pool of experienced analysts who are willing to return
on a seasonal basis. This is a critical factor for performing tests that need minimum levels of expertise such
as purity testing for grass species, which represents a special challenge because of the morphological simi-
larity among species. Some laboratories successfully employ students during the busy periods to perform
support jobs such as planting, washing lab ware, iling reports and storing samples. Others train students to
perform routine functions. Providing a space for the extra temporary staff during the busy season is another
factor to be considered by management. Ergonomic work stations for both permanent and temporary ana-
lysts are important contributing factors to a healthy environment for workers and less sick leave during the
busy season.
During the low season some laboratories arrange workshops, participate in referees and proiciency
studies, conduct research, and participate in seed-related meetings. In addition, they conduct internal
