At HGi we have an extensive investment programme which maintains our reputation for quality and innovation. Many of our most discerning seed customers, producing ware for the most demanding market places, understand the role that high quality seed can play in helping meet their customers’ requirements.

We have launched our Higgins Hi-Q seed brand to offer the highest quality of seed coupled with the highest quality of service and back up to all of our customers.

The improved specification below highlights the confidence we have in our production, procurement and disease testing systems.

HI-Q Seed versus normal SEERAD standards
Disease/Tuber Attribute	SEERAD	Higgins HI-Q
Blight	0.5% found by weight	0.5% found by weight
Blackleg	0.5% found by weight	0.5% found by weight
Soft Rots	0.5% found by weight	0.5% found by weight
Dry Rots	0.5% found by weight	0.5% found by weight
Gangrene	0.5% found by weight	0.5% found by weight
Frost	0.5% found by weight	0.5% found by weight
Total Rots	0.5% found by weight	0.5% found by weight
Skin Spot	2% by weight >1/8 surface area	1% by weight >1/8 surface area
Black Scurf	3% by weight >1/4 surface area	1% by weight >1/8 surface area
Common Scab	4% by weight >1/4 surface area	4% by weight >1/8 surface area
Powdery Scab - rejection tolerance	3% by weight >1/8 surface area	0.5% by weight >1/8 surface area
Powdery Scab  - potential stock infection permitted	97% by weight <1/8 surface area	5% by weight <1/8 surface area
Total Surface Diseases	4%	4%
Damage & Misshapes	2% > peeler damage	1% > peeler damage
Dirt	1% by weight	Trace. Stocks will be largely free from dirt
Sizing	2% over or undersize	1% over or undersize
Sprouting	No tolerance	5% with not more than 2mm sprouts
Sample	Unwashed	Washed
Additional Features of HI-Q Seed not covered by Statutory Seed Tolerances
Disease/Tuber Attribute	SEERAD	Higgins HI-Q
Blackleg Loading	Unknown	Low – a
Physiological Age	Unknown	Known
Tuber Counts	N/A	Guaranteed +/- 5%
Traceability	Nil	Full details of crop history will be supplied
Logistics Guarantee	Nil	Seed will be delivered on the day it is required – b
Planting Recommendations	None	Supplied as standard -c
- Low means less than 200 live Erwinia cells per mm. Our experience is that this under most circumstances this level of loading is unlikely to lead to expression of blackleg in the field. - Initially we shall ask customers for a preferred delivery week. Not less than 28 days prior to the delivery week we shall agree a delivery date. - agronomy department will supply full planting recommendations, taking into account the end market and all other relevant factors.