b'Evolving for the FutureWith over 100 years of histories, crop improvement associations across the U.S. are looking at new ways to grow for the future.Joe Funk jfunk@issuesink.comIN 1887,the U.S. Congress funded agricultural experimentimprovement associations are growing for the future, and what stations to support various types of agricultural researchchallenges theyll see. under the direction of land-grant universities. By the early 1900s, universities were supplying a steady stream of new plantWashington State Crop Improvement Associationvarieties with significantly higher yields compared to traditionalWashington State Crop Improvement Association (WSCIA) varieties. Seed supplies of these new varieties were increasedoperates under a Memorandum of Agreement to certify small by foundation seed programs at each university and released tograins, peas, chickpeas, lentils, forest reproductive materials and the public for sale to farmers. Each program had its own seedsorghum for the Washington State Department of Agriculture quality standards. (WSDA), Yakima. In 1919, representatives from 13 states and Canada met inFrom 2007, when WSCIA field-inspected 59 varieties of Chicago to develop uniform seed certification standards to supportwheat for certification, to 2018, when the association inspected the expanding domestic and international seed trade. They organ- 113 varieties, inspected acres has remained relatively constant ized the International Crop Improvement Association to administerbetween 60,000 and 65,000 acres. uniform seed standards. The associations name was later changedWeve seen a shift of fewer registered class acres for inspec-to the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA). tion and an increase in certified acres, says Manager LaurenThe authority to certify seed in each state is vested inPort. There has been a lot of consolidation in the companies one entity designated by that states general assembly, sayswe work with, which has also allowed for consolidation of seed Allen Ernest, director, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)production. Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Seed Regulatory andHybrid rye is a new crop for WSCIA certification. The asso-Testing Division. About one-half of the states have given thatciation has also added an option for experimental foundation authority to crop improvement associations. The remainingproduction for varieties that are not yet released or are in some states have given certification authority to a department in theirway not eligible for inclusion in a certification program. Over the land grant universities or a unit of state government, typicallycourse of the next few years, WSCIA will be working to build a that states department of agriculture.better understanding of what the certified label means among the Seed improvement associations and other AOSCA vestedfarmers that are purchasing certified seed. member agencies provide certification services for field crops,Washington has a high usage rate of certified seed for wheat turf grasses, vegetables, fruits, vegetatively propagated spe- and barley production, explains Port. Educating the new gen-cies, woody plants and forbs. Seed certification is the process byeration of farmers about the benefit of certified seed is impor-which a seed certifying agency gives official recognition to seedstant for maintaining that usage rate and Washington States produced of a cultivar or named variety under a limited genera- high-quality wheat seed. tion system which ensures genetic purity, identity and a given minimum level of quality. Once seed has been certified, it quali- California Crop Improvement Associationfies for the official blue-colored certified seed tag and meetsTraditional seed certification services comprise most of the state, federal and international seed law requirements.California Crop Improvement Association (CCIA) business activi-If a seed certifying agency is found to be out of complianceties. Certified seed acreage in California over the past 11 years with the Federal Seed Act, AOSCA works closely with USDAhas fluctuated between 130,000 and 160,000 acres. These AMS to bring the agency back into compliance, Ernest says.fluctuations follow normal business cycles of inventory build-up Forty-four states have seed certifying agencies, including 23and sell-off. The four crops that keep the lights on at the CCIA vested crop improvement and seed grower associations. Seedare sunflower, alfalfa, rice and small grains.World decided to take a look at some of the ways these cropExport seed is critical to our survival, as demand for certi-74/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2019'