Improving Your Process, Enhancing Your Products, Increasing Your Profits
If you haven’t submitted your seed samples to the MCIA Seed Laboratory for testing, do so now!
Verifying that seed standards are met is one of the last steps in the certification process.
Germination tests take at least seven days, and HPLC for wheat and oat variety ID testing can sometimes take longer. Rush service can be requested.
If Fusarium (scab) is of concern, adding a sand test may be beneficial.
Be sure the information on your Sampling Report is complete and accurate.
Each year, there are some growers from whom we do not initially receive all the information necessary to complete field inspection. In those cases, we need to do follow-up work. So, as the planting season begins, we remind field inspection clients to keep accurate records and:
Questions? Contact your MCIA field supervisor or the MCIA Office staff for answers. Our contact information is listed on the Staff page of the MCIA website: https://www.mncia.org/staff/.
Please note these dates to avoid late fees:
Information packets for Field Inspection Applications will be mailed in May. Application documents may also be downloaded from the Client Resources page of the MCIA website: https://www.mncia.org/resources.
If you have any questions, please contact your field supervisor. (Field supervisor contact information is listed on the Staff page of the MCIA website: https://www.mncia.org/staff/.
Licenses are for industrial hemp only
Those wanting to grow and process hemp in Minnesota in 2025 must apply for a license with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) by April 30. Each license is valid only through December 31 of the year it is issued. Licensees must reapply annually to remain in the program. A license from the MDA is required for individuals and businesses.
As of April 2, 2025, about 50 people have applied for a 2025 MDA license. In 2024, there were 183 applicants.
These licenses are for growing and processing industrial hemp only. The hemp grower or processor application is not for the growth or sale of adult-use or medical cannabis. The application is also not intended for the sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Adult-use and medical cannabis information can be found on the Office of Cannabis Management website: https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/cannabis/index.html.
The industrial hemp application can be found on the MDA website: https://mn.gov/ocm/. Along with the online form, first-time applicants and authorized representatives need to submit fingerprints and pass a criminal background check.
Growers and processors need to be aware of the following for 2025:
Questions about the MDA’s Industrial Hemp Program should be sent to hemp.mda@state.mn.us or 651-201-6600.
Background
Industrial hemp, hemp, cannabis, adult-use cannabis and marijuana are all types of the same plant, Cannabis sativa. Industrial hemp differs by the concentration level of the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) within the plant containing 0.3% total THC or less, and levels above that are considered adult-use cannabis or marijuana. MDA does not license or oversee the manufacture or sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid extracts and products. They are regulated by the Office of Cannabis Management.
Time to Test Your Seed
The Seed Laboratory is busy, and it will take at least 7 days to get test results before issuing final reports, bulk certificates, and tags. So, have your seed tested now. You don’t want to be waiting for a test when it is planting time.
A few other items to keep in mind:
Repackaging Certified Seed Procedures
When repackaging certified seed and retesting is required, follow the procedures described in the Seed Certification Handbook, pages 18 through 19.
When repackaging certified seed and retesting is not required, a Lot Number Change Request Form must be submitted in order for certification to be valid on the repackaged lot.
For seed certified by another state, be sure to include the original certification label and analysis results showing a MN Noxious Weed Exam or All-States Noxious Weed Exam was completed. A MN Noxious Weed Exam is required on Minnesota certified seed.
The MCIA staff is available to answer any questions you have. Please contact the MCIA Office or your field supervisor.
Submitting Samples to the Seed Lab
To ensure that your samples arrive in good condition use a good quality, leak-proof bag and quality packaging. For fragile seeds (like soybeans) use a sturdy box and use packing material to keep them from getting bounced around during shipping. You may want to write ‘Fragile’ on the package.
By Chase Mowry, Seed Laboratory Manager
The Seed Laboratory has recently received two new Hoffman SG30SS germinators. Last spring, one of two Norlake germinators that MCIA purchased in 1988 went down. Replacement parts are no longer available for the unit. At that time, a Hoffman SG50SS double-door unit was purchased as a replacement; it is currently being used as a pre-chill chamber for small grains.
The two new single-door units recently received were proactively purchased as replacements for the remaining Norlake unit. The new units are programmable with day/night temperature control and light settings—both functions are an upgrade from the predecessor units.
As outlined in the AOSA Rules for Testing Seeds, temperatures for germination tests must be maintained within 1 °C of prescribed testing parameters. In addition, as part of accreditation, germinator temperatures are monitored with the use of data loggers, providing the ability to retrieve temperature information for any given time period, if needed.
The purchase of the two single-door units, as opposed to one larger, double-door unit, provides an additional advantage: greater flexibility regarding testing options.
Regarding germination testing, we are continuing to pre-chill wheat due to Fusarium infection still being present in some samples. Although pre-chilling adds additional time to testing, it should help yield better results.
By Field Services Staff
The seasonal Field Notes column often follows a similar theme from one year to the next, including this one.
Germination results for some seed lots are lower than expected. There have been instances in the past few months where the germination is lower after conditioning. We encourage all our members to check germination on all seed lots as soon as possible. The presence of Fusarium and pre-harvest sprouting in small grains grown in 2024 is significantly higher than the past few years.
Other spring planting reminders:
By Organic Certification Team Leads
We have mailed out 2025 organic producer renewal packets to our clients. If you have not received yours, please contact the office as soon as possible. You will notice some changes to this year’s renewal application. Most notable is the Farm Plan, which includes a short form Organic System Plan (OSP), and the Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) addendum for livestock operations. We will update certificates as needed at initial review, so please use these forms to let us know of any changes to your operation in 2025. Your renewal application is due April 1, 2025.
MCIA is reviewing its policies, based on guidance from the National Organic Program, to apply a risk-based approach to certification. Our inspections and reviews this year will focus on areas of high risk and organic control points; for example, increased oversight of conventional sales records, buffer management, audit trail traceability, and non-retail container labeling. Conversely, you may receive a CDL note about areas of relaxed oversight, where risk is low. Please read your CDL carefully and respond to all conditions and reminders as appropriate. We are still working on how to translate this risk-based approach into our on-the-ground practices.
You may be aware of recent actions by the federal government that have potential impacts on the organic industry, including that funding of the Organic Certification Cost Share Program was not included in the Farm Bill extension that the U.S. Congress passed December 14, 2024. Contact your FSA office for further clarification.
We appreciate your flexibility through the changes happening at MCIA and elsewhere. MCIA’s Organic Services staff is working diligently to complete your 2024 certificates. To help us keep the certification process moving forward, please respond to requests for additional information in a timely manner. If you have received a notice of noncompliance, please be sure to respond as soon as possible to avoid further adverse actions.
By Brad Barth, Board of Directors Chairman
Hello everyone. In my last Chairman’s View, I mistakenly stated that it would be my last column for you. I was wrong in that statement, and I ask you to please bear with me as I try not to bore you to tears one last time.
During the Annual Meeting in St. Cloud this past January I gave my Chairman’s Report on the status of MCIA. I spoke for the Board of Directors, assuring the members that MCIA is forward thinking and is in a good financial position for the future of this organization. The future of MCIA is positive.
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Have you ever taken the time to look back on your life at all the jobs you had and picked out your favorite? Your reflection may reveal fun stories from the past to share with and entertain family or friends. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love farming and conditioning seed and can’t imagine doing anything else now. But here are my top three picks before farming.
First: The summer of my fifth grade I rode my bicycle into town, and I worked daily at my dad’s friend’s gas station. I pumped gas and washed windows and even put cars up on the hoist, changed the oil and greased the driveline. Many times, I was left to attend the place by myself for a few hours. Fifty-some years later, I still meet former customers who remember that little kid pumping gas.
Second: In college, I was the beer delivery guy at the local off-sale. I was paid an hourly wage, per delivery fee, and great tips. Everyone loved the beer delivery guy.
Third, was being the chairman of the board at MCIA. This job came with the satisfaction of helping guide a very old institution through the current times. During this period, I met and worked with some super intelligent and talented individuals.
We may all be a little old for my first two picks, but if you ever get the chance to work on a board of directors, do so, as it is very rewarding, and you meet some great professionals.
Your new chairman of the board, Brent Benike, is a fantastic individual. Brent is well educated, hardworking, very knowledgeable, and well grounded. Brent will be an excellent leader for MCIA. When you get the opportunity to visit with him, you will understand what I am saying.
2025 will be a challenging year for all of us as margins are slim and expenses seem to increase steadily, but take joy in what you do and someday (maybe today) you will call your current job, your favorite job.
At every annual meeting of the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association, the association’s president reports on MCIA’s activities over the past year and provides an assessment of the state of the organization. Following are highlights from Dr. Fawad Shah’s presentation to MCIA membership on January 29, 2025.
The President introduced MCIA’s staff members, presented a history of MCIA, and explained the roles of MCIA committees. Next, he reported that fiscal year 2023–2024 was another successful year for MCIA. Total revenues were $3,625,981 while total expenses were $3,443,619. As of January 15, 2025, the general investment account balance is $5,370,733 and the building reserve fund account balance is $828,740. Organic Services led all departments in revenue generated followed by Field Services, Certification Services, Foundation Seed Services, and the Seed Laboratory. Major expenses for all departments include salary, benefits, and payroll taxes.
The President then reported staffing, recruitments, and transitions within the organization. Organic Services hired Frances Schuster, Maddie Barkholtz, Karen Lehto, and Kristen Adams. Seed Laboratory Services hired Sean Manzano-Rabbit and Amy Olson. MCIA will prepare for the upcoming retirements of Alan Makinen, Communications Specialist, and Michelle Menken, Organic Services Manager on Special Assignment.
MCIA’s Field Services inspected roughly 180,000 acres in 2024. The department inspects nearly 180 facilities each year under the Approved Facility Program. Field Services is working with the Minnesota Compost Council to develop a third-party inspection audit-based program.
The MCIA Seed Laboratory tested 3,222 samples in the past year. The top five crops being tested are perennial ryegrass, soybeans, corn, wheat, and oats. MCIA’s Seed Laboratory is now a Canadian Food Inspection Agency foreign recognized seed testing lab. Training of new staff continues.
Foundation seed sales were down 26 percent compared to last year. This is primarily due to the University of Minnesota having released no new wheat variety. Soybean variety line increases included a black seeded soybean, a food grade clear hilum soybean, and high oleic oil type soybean.
In their audit of MCIA’s Organic Services, the USDA National Organic Program issued 17 non-compliances. Many of the non-compliances were related to Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) regulatory requirements. MCIA completed its responses to the non-compliances within the requested time. MCIA has changed the department’s management structure to include five team leads. The Board of Directors approved the purchase of a FileMaker database for the sustainability, functioning, and future of the department. Organic Services received recognition from USDA NOP for hosting a delegation from Taiwan and for performing a witness inspection.
Next, the President reviewed the ways that the association informs our members: through its publications, the Directory, the Minnesota Seed Grower, Samplings, and the Minnesota Certified Seed Guide, and through its website, which includes a blog, press releases, and industry news articles.
In conclusion, the President described ways that the association has engaged in capacity building. He accepted an invitation to give a talk and conduct workshops on seed germination, viability, and seed sampling at the Third International Pakistan Seed Congress. He also traveled to Taiwan along with Mr. Kabus van Huyssteen from the South African National Seed Organization to assist Taiwan in their effort to apply for and join the OECD Seed Schemes.
