OCTOBER 2017 SEEDWORLD.COM / 77 CELEBRATING 20 YEARS of the Right people in the Right place at the Right time. “To our many clients, thank you for the trust and confidence you have placed in Direct Contact over the last 20 years. Call us at 800-558-6803 to get started on your next initiative.” - Terry Bowen, President/Founder DirectContact.com 002942 – 2017 20th Anniversary Ad – Seed World (Oct-Dec 2017) – 7.875 x 4.75 In addition to traditional field crops, seed certifying agencies in several states apply AOSCA standards to native species that are in high demand for their use in revegetating fragile lands ravaged by wildfires. Once the range and forest fires are controlled, the immediate concern is to hold the soil in place with species that grow rapidly. They need to be chosen with an eye for both soil protection and minimal competition with more perma- nent native perennials. The certified seed industry specializes in native and con- servation species, and it offers a toolbox of seed choices to meet local needs. Certified seed ensures varietal purity and that the seed is suitable for unique geo- graphic areas, soil types and climates. Idaho contains several thousand acres of fire-damaged land and the state’s seed certifying agency is the Idaho Crop Improvement Association. Doug Boze is the executive vice president of Idaho Crop, and he serves as AOSCA’s president. “Our office is coordinating with other agencies in our region to identify sources of pure seed, and we often work with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to help it find the seed needed for reclamation projects,” says Boze. “Our goal across the western region is to make sure that seed purchasers of any type know they can con- tact seed certifying agencies for guidance.” The AOSCA website contains a full list of seed certifying agencies with contact information. Anyone who has additional questions should contact 309-736-0120. “Recovering from this season’s widespread fires will not be easy, but using high quality, pure seed that is well- adapted to each location will give land owners and managers the best opportu- nity for successfully restoring their land,” Boruff says. SW