SD Crop
Improvement
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March 2008 SDSU Seed News
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South Dakota
Crop Improvement Association
How we are governed
The SDCIA mission
What we believe.
What we do
What is Certified Seed?
Variety Development and Release
Seed Certification Service
Foundation Seed Service
The benefits of membership
The SDCIA Organization
South Dakota Crop Improvement Association (SDCIA) was formed in 1925 through consolidation of the SD Corn Growers and Breeders Association, founded in 1906, the SD Grain Growers Association, organized in 1910, and the SD Experiment Association, established in 1912. The Association has headquarters in Brookings, where it is housed within the Plant Science Department in the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences at SD State University (SDSU).
HOW WE ARE GOVERNED:
SDCIA has a 12 member board. Two representatives
are elected
from each of the three geographic regions and four are elected to serve at large.
Also, the Dean of the College of Agriculture & Biological Sciences at
SDSU or his/her designee holds a non-voting position on the Board. The
executive director serves ex officio as secretary-treasurer and is also a
non-voting position. The board elects
officers each year and has several standing committees.
County Crop Improvement Associations are organized within the
counties and elect their own directors and officers.
THE SDCIA MISSION:
SDCIA was formed and is directed by its members as an effective
voice of action in all aspects of producing and marketing agricultural crops, including
the promotion of agricultural research and education of members.
The delivery of research through the release of public crop
varieties has been, and remains, a major focus. Seed is a product of research and
the delivery vehicle for new and improved genetics. While seed is basic to life and
good seed is basic to sound agricultural growth and prosperity, it is not the only reason
for the Association's existence. Only a portion of the members actively
produce varieties for sale as certified seed. While the organization has evolved
through many changes over the years, including changes in its name, its motive has
remained the same: To foster a more stable agriculture for the state of South
Dakota.
WHAT WE BELIEVE.
The stability of the Association has been fostered by keen
interest in research and education from within. As members learned from personal
experience how they and their neighbors could benefit from research and education, they
expanded these programs for the betterment of agriculture. The Association's
strength depends not on a huge, but in a stable membership.
WHAT WE DO
While SDCIA supports all aspects of crop production, its primary
focus is in these areas:
- Support of basic and applied research at South Dakota State University.
- Support and participation in disseminating new technologies resulting from research applicable to members, including support of the Cooperative Extension Service.
- Education of members and the general public regarding the Association's goals and mission.
- Promoting production and use of quality seed of improved varieties and hybrids.
- Promoting use of Certified seed in crop production.
Article II of the SDCIA Constitution states that the organization shall be operated to promote the interests of South Dakota agriculture by increasing the efficiency of farm crop production and the income derived from it through improved varieties, high-quality seed, plant disease control and sound agricultural practices. The Constitution specifies these functions:
- To collect and disseminate information concerning the growing, harvesting, conditioning, storing and handling of superior field crop seeds and other information of value.
- To cooperate with South Dakota State University in the introduction and distribution of seed stocks and propagation of materials of improved crop varieties.
- To support agricultural research that furthers the purposes of this corporation.
- To cooperate with the South Dakota Foundation Seed Stock Division and other such organizations in surrounding states in the increase and distribution of Breeder and Foundation Seed stocks.
- To encourage the authorized propagation of seed of superior varieties, the general use of improved varieties and better production practices.
- To foster, promote and otherwise aid auxiliary crop improvement associations throughout the state.
- To cooperate with other agencies in supporting and sponsoring educational activities related to improved seed and production practices.
- To develop, establish and adopt rules, regulations and standards for the growing, conditioning and certification and other related value added seed and grain programs.
- To develop, establish and adopt a uniform nomenclature for all classes of certified and Quality Assurance (QA) seed, and Identity Preserved (IP) grain to require the use of uniform and distinct tags, emblems, marks or certificates for seed officially certified and grain labeled under standards and guidelines established by the Association.
- To verify eligibility of planting stocks, to carry out such field and seed inspection services as required in seed certification, QA, IP and other such value added programs developed to designate lots of seed/grain with appropriate identification as to class, and to issue tags, certificates and other documentary evidence.
- To participate in interagency certification and inspection protocol of seeds and value added grain in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
- To publicize, advertise and otherwise promote the merits and use of high quality seed produced according to the standards and guidelines of the respective programs.
WHAT IS CERTIFIED SEED?
Certified seed provides correct variety identity and assures
varietal purity. The variety (cultivar) for which certified seed is to be produced
must first be accepted for certification. Acceptance is based on data and
information that must show the variety to be distinct or novel in one or more
respects. Varieties for certification may be developed by public or private plant
breeders.
VARIETY DEVELOPMENT AND RELEASE
The first seed of anew variety is grown under supervision of the
plant breeder and is called Breeder's seed. Breeder's seed is turned over to the
Association's Foundation Seed Stocks Division at SDSU and is planted to produce the
Foundation seed class. Early generations of increase are limited in amount, and seed
is normally available only to SDCIA Group 1 growers to produce the Registered class.
Certified seed, which is the seed of commerce, is then produced from either Foundation or
Registered seed.
All classes to be certified must be produced in accordance with
South Dakota Seed Certification Standards. These Standards comply with those of
AOSCA, of which SDCIA is a member. Growers wishing to produce Certified Seed apply
to SDCIA, which provides certification services. The crop is inspected while it is
growing in the field. Harvesting and conditioning must be done in a manner to
prevent contamination and mixtures.
Seed samples are laboratory inspected at SDSU. After all
requirements are met, certification labels are issued for attachment to the seed
containers, or bulk transfer certificates are issued for bulk seed lots. Anyone
buying Certified seed is assured that it is the variety stated on the label and has a high
degree of purity.
SEED CERTIFICATION SERVICE
SDCIA is the official certification agency for seed and
propagating materials of all crops (except potatoes) in the state.* It has close
working relationship among seed growers, agricultural research, extension and regulatory
agencies. Its headquarters are on the South Dakota State University campus in
Brookings. The secretary-manager, a member of the University staff, has a research
appointment from the SD Agricultural
Experiment Station through the College of
Agricultural and Biological Sciences Plant Science Department.
*Certification of potatoes in South Dakota is officially delegated to the SD Potato Growers Association.
Operating policies of the SDCIA are the direct
responsibility of its elected board of directors, while daily operations are carried out
by three University staff members- directed by the manager. Part-time field
inspectors are hired during inspection season. Extension agents in each county are
the local contacts for certification and Crop Improvement Association activities.
Seed certification in South Dakota is based on both genetic and
mechanical standards. SDCIA's Certification Committee forwards recommendations to
the State Certification Board, which sets standards for the state. The certification
program is funded by fees paid by participants.
FOUNDATION SEED SERVICE
The South Dakota Foundation Seed Stocks Division, Inc. (FSSD) was
organized in 1944 and incorporated in 1945 as a non-profit corporation. Its purpose
is to increase and distribute agronomically superior varieties of seed and propagating
materials released by the South Dakota
Agricultural Experiment Station, USDA/ARS
and
other state agricultural experiment stations for the benefit of South Dakota
agriculture. Also, storage is provided for a reserve of pure seed stock
materials. The entire operation is financed through the sale of foundation seed.
An 11 member board directs the organization. Six directors
serve by virtue of their administrative positions at the University; five farmers are
appointed by the SDCIA board of directors. The manager, a staff member of the
Plant Science Department, serves
ex officio as secretary-treasurer. The FSSD operates under a memorandum of
understanding with the SD Agricultural
Experiment Station, SD Crop Improvement Association and the SD Seed Trade Association.
Breeder seed developed and supplied to the FSSD is increased,
inspected by the SDCIA, and distributed as Foundation seed to SDCIA members and Seed Trade
Association members on an established priority basis. Approximately 800 acres of
Foundation seed of small grains, flax, millet, corn, soybeans, grasses and alfalfa are
grown by FSSD, with additional 300 acres under contract with private farmers. A
close working relationship is maintained between FSSD and public research programs; FSSD
provides grants to the University for varietal research and development.
The office, conditioning plant and warehouse are located on the
SDSU campus and all Foundation seed production is conditioned at the FSSD Seed Plant in
Brookings.
- SDCIA provides a strong, respected and effective voice in support of crop agriculture.
- SDCIA opens a line of communication regarding research, production trends, regulations and other aspects.
For full appreciation of the many benefits enjoyed by SDCIA members, visit with any state or county director, any member or any grower of certified seed, fax, write, or e-mail:
neal.foster@sdstate.edu or daniel.olson@sdstate.edu
South Dakota Crop Improvement Association
2207A SDSU, Brookings, SD 57007-1096
Phone: (605) 688-4604 Fax: (605) 688-6752
COUNTY CROP IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS
County Directors
County Executive Committees
SOUTH DAKOTA CROP IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
6 Regional Directors from Three Regions (2 each) |
||
| North | South | West |
| 4 Directors at large | 1 Class C Director |
| 1 Executive Director | |
The Board of Directors elects a president, vice president and secretary/treasurer and appoints 2 standing committees.
