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The purpose of seed certification is to preserve varietal
purity and identity. It is an official program enabling seed
companies to market varietally pure seed. Certification services
are available for field crops, turf grasses, vegetables, fruits,
vegetatively propagated species, woody plants and forbs.
Once seed has been certified, it qualifies for the official
"blue" certified seed tag and meets state, federal and international
seed law requirements. Certification is a limited generation
system based on four seed classes. They are:
- Breeder seed - seed directly controlled by the
originating or sponsoring plant breeding organization.
- Foundation seed - the progeny of Breeder or Foundation
seed handled to maintain specific varietal purity and identity.
- Registered seed - the progeny of Breeder or Foundation
seed handled to maintain satisfactory varietal purity and
identity.
- Certified seed - the progeny of Breeder, Foundation
or Registered seed handled to maintain satisfactory varietal
purity and identity.
The program provides:
- Coordinated, professional and unbiased field inspections
and laboratory testing. Many agencies may provide approval
of conditioning plants.
- An unbiased record system for use in meeting state, federal
and international seed law requirements.
- Seed buyers with assurance that the designated seed has
met purity standards related to a known description across
seedlots and years of production.
Requirements for producing certified seed include:
- Land requirements - prior crop standards may apply.
- Planting eligible seed stock - seed source proof
is mandatory
- Field inspection - random plant counts throughout
the field and evaluations of varietal purity determine whether
the field is accepted or rejected.
- Seed samples must meet standards based on complete
lab analysis - seed testing is based on detailed analysis
of a representative, cleaned sample from the seed lot.
- Proper seed labeling - specific requirements apply
to analysis and blue certification tags with regard to pure
seed, inert matter, other crop, weed seed and germination.
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For additional information or to contact a representative
of the MCIA, contact:
Missouri Crop Improvement Association
Richard Arnett,
Executive Director
3211 Lemone Industrial Blvd.
Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 449-0586
FAX (573) 874-3193 MOSEED@AOL.com
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