Manhattan, Kansas
March 4, 2008
With current wheat prices a good
incentive for maximizing the value of one’s crop, more wheat
producers are realizing the importance of using good management
practices with minimized risk. Seed quality is a fundamental
part of overall management, and certified seed has gained a
reputation as a low-risk, high-value, convenient input.
In addition to personal economic value, increased certified seed
production leads to more stock for the 2008 planting season,
making more seed available through a reliable network of
dealers. The Farmers Yield Initiative (FYI), a coalition of
wheat organizations, has funded educational efforts promoting
wheat variety development and plant variety protection – and
also established an anonymous tip line for reporting illegal
seed marketing, or the practice of “brown bagging” seed.
Seed producers meeting all certification requirements are
eligible to sell seed to others or to keep it for their own
planting purposes. Wheat producers who currently have foundation
or registered seed growing on clean ground may call the
The Kansas Crop Improvement Association office at
785-532-6118 to obtain a preliminary application for field
certification. These applications are due March 15.
What does it take to have a crop certified for seed? Eligible
fields are first inspected for varietal purity, other crops, and
weeds. After inspection the fields must be harvested with
uncontaminated equipment to avoid compromising the purity of the
seed. In order for seed to attain a blue “certified” label, a
sample from each lot must be submitted to the KCIA seed lab to
meet established standards of germination, test weight, and
purity.
Throughout the certification process, appropriate forms must be
completed and submitted in order for the KCIA office to maintain
accurate records of the source and disposition of all
certifiable seed.
For more information about seed certification and standards,
contact the KCIA office at 785-532-6118, visit
www.kscrop.org, or send an
e-mail to kscrop@kansas.net. |
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