Program Overview

North Dakota County Crop Improvement Association Seed Increase Program

The North Dakota County Crop Improvement Association seed increase program provides a rapid increase of newly released crop varieties through a process that ensures adequate supply of high-quality seed. The seed increase program for new varieties of field crops requires the cooperative efforts of the NDSU Agriculture Experiment Station, NDSU Extension, North Dakota State Seed Department, state and County Crop Improvement Associations, and qualified seed increase growers.

Objectives of the Program

The objectives of the program are to:

• Provide for a rapid introduction and significant market penetration of improved varieties for North Dakota producers.
• Utilize the seed certification process to ensure varietal identity, genetic purity, and physical quality of seed throughout the increase program.
• Provide good stewardship in the equitable distribution of Foundation-class seed to promote access to improved genetics for commercial growers.

Introduction of New Varieties

The North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station develops new varieties through breeding programs or introduces seed of new varieties from other states, the USDA Agricultural Research Service, or from other countries. The performance of experimental lines from NDSU breeding programs or introduced varieties are evaluated for a number of years at several locations in North Dakota.

North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station Variety Release Committee

The variety release committee is crop-specific and is composed of representatives of organizations with crop responsibility, including:

• Breeder of the variety
• Other scientists who contributed to the development of the variety
• Foundation seedstocks director
• NDSU Agronomy Seed Farm director
• NDSU Extension agronomist
• NDSU Research Extension Centers
• Grower organization(s) for the crop
• North Dakota Association of Extension Agents
• North Dakota Crop Improvement & Seed Association
• North Dakota Agriculture Association
• North Dakota State Seed Department
• State Board of Agriculture Research and Education

Seed Certification System

The seed certification system is an internationally recognized program designed to maintain varietal identity and genetic purity of seed stocks. There are four recognized seed classes in the certification system: Breeder, Foundation, Registered, and Certified.

North Dakota CCIA Seed Increase Program

The North Dakota County Crop Improvement Association seed increase program process begins after the decision to release and name a new variety and if there is sufficient seed available to allocate to the counties. Allocation of a definite quantity of seed to each county is made by the North Dakota Crop Improvement and Seed Association (NDCISA) Allocation Committee.

Responsibilities of the Seedstocks Program

The responsibilities of the Seedstocks Program include:

1. Determining the target volumes of new varieties to be produced for distribution to the county seed increase program.
2. Increasing Foundation class seed of new varieties for allocation to counties.
3. Setting the price for new releases.
4. Making Foundation seed available to the NDCISA for distribution.

Responsibilities of the County Crop Improvement Association

County crop improvement associations/county crop committees with the support of the county extension agent and the NDCISA, act as county administrators of the seed increase program and have important functions in the increase of new varieties. The responsibilities include:

1. Selecting qualified seed producers.
2. Determining the quantity of Foundation seed desired for their county.
3. Notifying the NDCISA office of the desired quantity.
4. Arranging a meeting to discuss the characteristics of the variety, quantity offered, price, and contract obligations.
5. Making arrangements for securing seed.
6. Applying for field inspection with the State Seed Department.
7. Ensuring the field has been inspected by the Seed Department before harvest.
8. Conditioning and testing the seed.
9. Marketing Registered Seed.

Function of the North Dakota Crop Improvement and Seed Association

The North Dakota Crop Improvement and Seed Association is comprised of 12 directors selected from the membership of county crop improvement associations/committees. The responsibilities of the NDCISA regarding the new variety seed increase program include:

1. Distributing, promoting, and collecting royalties for licensed material.
2. Advising local CCIA's regarding new releases.
3. Serving in an advisory capacity to the NDAES and NDSU Extension.
4. Relaying recommendations and resolutions affecting the seed increase programs.
5. Promoting the sale and distribution of increased seed.

Function of Extension

NDSU Extension cooperates with the NDAES, county associations, NDSSD, Foundation Seed Program, local growers, and local seed dealers in the county seed increase program. The county extension agent represents the NDAES at the county level and assists the county crop improvement association or crops committee in managing the increase program.

Function of State Seed Department

The North Dakota State Seed Department is the official seed-certifying agency in the state. The Seed Department enforces state and federal seed laws, inspects and analyzes seed offered for sale, and provides a public laboratory service for examining and analyzing seed and commercially produced crops.

County Increase Program Contract Grower Requirements

Contract growers must:

1. Sign and fulfill the contract requirements.
2. Pay for the seed and apply for and pay all fees related to field inspection, conditioning, final certification, any seed levy, research fees, and the North Dakota seed labeling fee.
3. Clean the drill, combine, trucks, bins, etc., thoroughly between varieties and crops.
4. Provide for proper conditioning and ensure a representative seed sample is submitted by the conditioner to the Seed Lab for testing.
5. Ensure seed is labeled before distribution to seed producers as directed.

Field Requirements

Fields selected for seed increases must:

1. Meet certification eligibility requirements.
2. Have a high production potential.
3. Not have been planted in the previous year to the same kind or any other inseparable crops.
4. Be free of prohibited noxious weeds.
5. Be relatively free of other weeds.
6. Have commercial fertilizer applied as needed.
7. Be planted in a timely manner according to good agronomic practice.
8. Have isolation from other varieties of the same crop or other inseparable crops.

Planting, Harvesting, Conditioning, and Storage

1. Planting, harvesting, and handling equipment and storage facilities must be cleaned thoroughly.
2. The crop should be harvested in a timely manner to produce the highest quality seed.
3. The grower should make arrangements for conditioning with an approved certified seed conditioning facility or approved mobile conditioner.
4. Seed should be conditioned to the highest practical class of certification.
5. The grower must provide storage until seed is distributed or the contract release date.
6. Certification must be complete and labels available prior to any distribution.