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In Memoriam: Donald Rasmusson, 1931–2024

Donald Rasmusson. Photo courtesy University of Minnesota.

Donald Rasmusson, who was the year 2000 recipient of MCIA’s highest honor, the Achievement in Crop Improvement Award, died August 6 at the age of 93. MCIA also honored Professor Rasmusson with an Honorary Premier Seed Grower Award.

The University of Minnesota notes:

Don was hired by the University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics Department in 1958 and was a faculty member for 42 years. He was a world-renowned barley breeder who developed nine varieties of barley, including Morex, Robust, Excel, and Stander. Don served as the director of Plant Breeding Graduate Studies for 22 years and advised more than 70 graduate students, including special-program Moroccan students, from 1961 to 1999. He was also credited with publishing more than 200 manuscripts, abstracts, reports, and articles.

Don’s work was recognized with many awards and accolades, including the University of Minnesota Crookston’s Torch and Shield Award (1989), the Monsanto Crop Science Distinguished Career Award (1994), and the University’s Siehl Prize for Excellence in Agriculture (1996). He is also memorialized on the U’s Scholars Walk on the East Bank campus.

To read Donald Rasmusson’s official obituary, visit: https://www.ohalloranmurphy.com/obituary/Donald-Rasmusson.


MCIA Seeks Organic Administrative Specialist

Photo by Andreas Neumann from Pixabay.

Minnesota Crop Improvement Association is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Organic Administrative Specialist.

At MCIA, the organic administrative specialist supports day-to-day operations of our busy and growing Organic Services department by answering and directing telephone calls; preparing, distributing, and processing certification applications; and more.

MCIA’s Office is located on the Saint Paul campus of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.

This full-time position offers a competitive salary and full benefits. For more information, including how to apply, visit our Job Openings page.


Remembering the Life and Work of Donald Wyse

Donald Wyse examining intermediate wheatgrass grown on the Saint Paul campus of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Photo by David Hansen. © Regents of the University of Minnesota.

In remembrance of Professor Donald Wyse, a great friend of MCIA who died July 2, 2024, we present here remarks he shared upon receiving MCIA’s highest honor, the Achievement in Crop Improvement Award, in January 2021.

A 46-Year Career Working in Collaboration with MCIA and the Grass Seed Industry in the Roseau and Lake of the Woods Region

By Donald Wyse (1947–2024), Professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota

My wife, Beverly, and I, along with our two children Dawn (5 years) and Ryan (3 weeks), moved from East Lansing, Michigan, to St. Paul in June 1974, to start my career as an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota. I had just completed my Ph.D. program in weed science and plant/herbicide biochemistry at Michigan State University. I had recently agreed to accept a weed science research and teaching position in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics that had been lobbied for by MCIA and the northern Minnesota grass seed industry. The research focus of my new position was selected to be perennial weed management across all of Minnesota’s agricultural systems. The primary research focus of the position was intended to be on two perennial weeds, quackgrass and Canada thistle, which were of great concern at that time to farmers across the state of Minnesota, and especially important to the grass and legume seed producers in [the] Roseau and Lake of the Woods region of northern Minnesota.

After early discussions with MCIA personnel, and the grass seed producers, my research program soon became focused on the development and implementation of quackgrass management systems to support the production of certified quackgrass-free seed of turf and forage grass species. When I started my career, quackgrass was endemic throughout Minnesota, and was the primary deterrent to the production of high-quality grass seed of turf (Kentucky bluegrass) and forage (timothy) species that were under production in the region at that time. Quackgrass was also prohibiting the expansion of grass seed production to new turf species, like perennial ryegrass. Quackgrass reduced the seed yield of the turf and forage grasses, but the primary impact was on seed quality, because it was difficult to remove quackgrass seed and seed parts from the harvested Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass seed during the combining and seed cleaning process. Grass seed that could not be certified to be free of quackgrass could not be sold for sowing purposes, which was a very costly potential economic loss to grass seed producers, [if] their seed was rejected. This is where my interaction with MCIA started, in a collaborative working relationship, along with the grass seed producers and seed processors in Roseau and Lake of the Woods counties.

My early interaction with MCIA was through discussions with Ward Marshall, who was the Manager of MCIA when I arrived in my new position, and then Harley Otto, soon thereafter. My primary MCIA contact became Ray Derry, who lived in Roseau at the time I initiated my research program. He became one of my primary mentors in the early days of my career, as I learned about the grass seed industry and the associated weed seed contamination issues facing the grass seed industry. Over the years, I had the privilege of continuing my relationship with MCIA personnel through my interaction with Gary Beil, Ben Lang, Fawad Shah, Roger Wippler, Cindy Wippler, and Kris Folland. I soon learned that there was a great working relationship between the grass seed producers, seed processors, MCIA, and the University of Minnesota, all designed to produce high-quality, certified grass seed for the global market.

When I started my research, the primary seed processors in the Roseau, and Lake of the Woods region were Marvin Seed, Northrup King, Northern Farm and Garden, and Habstritt Farms. Over the years, these companies evolved and today the seed processing and marketing leadership for the grass seed industry is provided by Northern Excellence, Habstritt Seed Co., and NorFarm Seeds. These organizations, in partnership with the seed producers, MCIA, and University of Minnesota researchers, have developed coordinated grass seed production and seed processing systems that dramatically reduced quackgrass contamination in producer fields. The low level of quackgrass seed remaining in the harvested grass seed has been eliminated through the development of ingenious seed processing systems that rely on the art, science, and technology developed by the seed processing industry in the region, resulting in the reliable production of high-quality, certified quackgrass-free grass seed from the Roseau and Lake of the Woods region of Minnesota.

My relationship with MCIA was also facilitated through my interaction with many of the grass seed producers, seed processors, and associated industries that have worked in a close partnership with MCIA, and in some cases played leadership roles in the MCIA organization over the years. This included Charles Habstritt, Chuck Habstritt, Scott Habstritt, Jim Habstritt, Gustav Kveen, Ed Baumgartner, Mike Baumgartner, Bob Bergland, Stephen Dahl, George Helmstetter, Evert Helmstetter, Steven Helmstetter, Yvonne Magnusson, Richard Magnusson, Charles Lund, Doc Berry, Don Berry, Brent Benike, Dwight Roll, and many others. What I have learned in my career is that it truly does take a Village to produce great outcomes, and in this case a Village composed of individuals and families from Roseau, Lake of the Woods, and Ramsey counties.

Major contributions from the Village I worked in:

On my first trip to Roseau, in late June of 1974, I was taken out to a Kentucky bluegrass field, directly north of the Habstritt Farms seed processing facility, to view the quackgrass challenge that I would face in my career. The field was infested with the most vigorous and phenotypically diverse patches of quackgrass that I had ever seen in my life. The group that took me out to the site were members of the families and organizations that I would work with for the next 46 years. They showed me a plot of quackgrass that had been treated with a new herbicide at that time, called Roundup. The plot had been treated the previous fall with a high rate of the herbicide; the quackgrass regrowth in the treated plot was more vigorous than what was in the untreated check. The herbicide treatment had just thinned out the quackgrass stand and made it more vigorous. I remember Charles Habstritt Sr. looking at me with a grin on his face as he wished me good luck in my career that was designed to subdue quackgrass. But now, when I look back on that day, I can say that I did have a great career. However, my accomplishments were the result of members of the Village working together to figure out how to subdue quackgrass in the grass seed production region of Minnesota.

I initiated a comprehensive quackgrass research program in the fall of 1974 to evaluate how herbicides, tillage, and cropping systems could be used in combination to develop durable and profitable quackgrass management systems for grass seed producers. One of the new tools that became available that fall was Roundup, which became a very important tool in the development of effective quackgrass management systems for grass seed producers. Very early on in the development of glyphosate for the control of quackgrass in grass seed production systems, we discovered that regardless of the rate or date of treatment quackgrass regrowth always occurred following the initial application. In subsequent research, we discovered that a nocturnal weevil (Notaris bimaculatus) invaded quackgrass stems and then migrated into the rhizomes where they fed on the rhizomes, resulting in the detachment of rhizome segments from the parent plant, prohibiting the translocation of glyphosate into the detached rhizome sections. Buds on the detached rhizome segments sprouted, allowing the re-establishment of the quackgrass populations. This understanding led to the design and implementation of successful quackgrass control systems.

The cost of Roundup, in its early stage of introduction, was about $30 per acre, which was very expensive for use in the grass seed production system, limiting its use by producers. Producers tried to reduce the cost of the Roundup treatments by reducing the rate of application, but this resulted in a dramatic reduction in quackgrass control. My project discovered how to cut the cost of the Roundup treatment by 50 percent without a corresponding reduction in quackgrass control. We discovered that if the water carrier rate was cut by 50 percent, when the herbicide rate was reduced by 50 percent, the control remained equal to the full herbicide rate with the standard carrier rate. The Roundup label was modified by Monsanto to reflect this discovery, which saved grass seed producers and other farmers a lot of money over the years.

Since the glyphosate treatments failed to give complete control of quackgrass prior to seeding new stands of Kentucky bluegrass, we developed a technique to selectively control tall growing quackgrass in newly seeded Kentucky bluegrass fields. It was based on the principle that quackgrass regrowth from rhizomes produce tall stems, while newly seeded Kentucky bluegrass did not produce stems without vernalization. This situation provided for a height differential between the two species, allowing for the spraying or wiping of a glyphosate solution on the tall growing quackgrass stems without making contact with the low growing Kentucky bluegrass plants. My research team developed and evaluated several prototype applicators that provided the proof of concept. Then, we worked in partnership with Dwight Roll, Myron Kofstad, and Charles Habstritt, to develop a roller applicator that allowed for the selective application of glyphosate solutions on quackgrass stems and leaves in new seedlings of Kentucky bluegrass. This selective treatment delayed the re-establishment of quackgrass in Kentucky bluegrass seed production fields. We developed a company to produce the roller applicators and made them commercially [available] to producers across the country. The roller applicator was also used to control tall growing Park off-types in fields of short, elite varieties of Kentucky bluegrass that were being introduced for seed production in the region.

My research team discovered that herbicides from two new herbicide families, the FOPs and DIMs, which had been developed to control annual and perennial grasses in dicot crops, could also be used to selectively control quackgrass in creeping red fescue, sheep fescue, and hard fescue. This opened up the potential to move the seed production of these fescue species into the Roseau and Lake of the Woods region, along with the ability to selectively manage quackgrass in the seed production system. When this discovery was made, none of varieties of these fescue species performed well in the region. However, Eric Watkins, the University of Minnesota’s turf grass breeder, has since developed, and will soon release, a new high yielding creeping red fescue variety for production in the region, allowing for another grass seed crop to be produced in the region in which quackgrass can be selectively controlled.

My herbicide biochemistry team was the first research team in the world to discover the mode-of-action of the FOP and DIM herbicide families. The site of action was ACCase, a key enzyme in lipid synthesis in all plants. This discovery led to the development of Poast tolerant field corn and sweet corn varieties, which were marketed commercially by Pioneer Hybrid, DeKalb, and PepsiCo.

The major outcome of the ACCase research effort, however, was in support of the grass seed industry, through the development of Assure II tolerant perennial ryegrass. Kevin Betts, working in partnership with Nancy Ehlke and Donn Vellekson, developed the first Assure II tolerant perennial ryegrass variety through the crossing of an annual ryegrass selection that contained an herbicide resistant form of ACCase, with a turf type perennial ryegrass line. This discovery led to the development of the University of Minnesota’s perennial ryegrass breeding program. This breeding program helped to initiate the perennial ryegrass seed production industry in the Roseau and Lake of the Woods region of Minnesota. The ryegrass breeding program has developed turf type perennial ryegrass varieties with good winter hardiness, Assure II tolerance, and improved texture and color. The Assure II tolerant varieties allow producers to control quackgrass selectively in perennial ryegrass seed fields. Ranger, Ranger II, Artic Green, Green Emperor, Polar Green, and Royal Green perennial ryegrass varieties developed by the University of Minnesota breeding program have been released to grass seed producers in the region over the last 20 years. New perennial ryegrass varieties with improved color are scheduled to be released from the program very soon.

The development of effective, glyphosate-based quackgrass control programs in all cropping systems associated with the grass seed production system, along with the introduction of Assure II tolerant perennial ryegrass, has opened up the production of many additional commercial perennial ryegrass varieties, which now supports a very vibrant perennial ryegrass production and processing industry in the Roseau and Lake of the Woods region.

Following many years of the evaluation of the phenotypic variation in quackgrass populations collected in the Roseau and Lake of the Woods region we identified lines of quackgrass that we incorporated into a population of quackgrass that produced high forage yields with high digestibility. The selected line was released as a forage grass variety, named Evert, which was a result of a collaboration with Nancy Ehlke and Craig Sheaffer.

Based on the successful development of the grass seed industry in the Roseau and Lake of the Woods region over the last 70 years, it is now viewed by many as a model for the development of similar collaborative programs in other regions of the state. A diverse set of individuals and organizations, including faculty, state agencies and community leaders are working together to develop this type of program for the entire state of Minnesota through the Forever Green Initiative. The program is now focused on the development of 15 new perennial and winter annual crops, that can be incorporated into Minnesota’s agriculture system to produce ecosystem services and new economic opportunities for producers and rural communities. MCIA, and several grass seed producers, and seed processors have been instrumental in supporting the development of this new initiative. These groups have played very important roles in the development of one of the first Forever Green crops, Kernza. The University of Minnesota recently released MN-Clearwater, which is the first perennial grain variety developed in the world. It is now available for production by Minnesota grain and seed producers. For additional information on the Forever Green Initiative go to the Forever Green website: https://forevergreen.umn.edu.

I also want to acknowledge the University of Minnesota faculty and administrators that have supported the development of the grass seed industry in the Roseau and Lake of the Woods region of Minnesota. Park Kentucky bluegrass was developed by H.L Thomas, a grass breeder in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics. Carl Borgeson, Secretary of MCIA, worked with two grass seed producers, Gustav Kveen and Charles Habstritt, to evaluate the performance of Park Kentucky bluegrass in the Roseau environment, and found that it was an excellent seed producer. This discovery resulted in a rapid expansion of the grass seed industry in the region. The Agronomy and Plant Genetics Department heads, Herbert Johnson, Orvin Burnside, Kent Crookston, Burle Genenbach, Nancy Ehlke and Gary Muehlbauer, have provided the level of support for Laddie Elling, Nancy Ehlke, Donn Vellekson, and myself that was necessary to continue our work on the issues facing the grass seed industry over the last 60 years. The Horticultural Science Department heads also provided support for the turf grass breeding programs led by Don White and Eric Watkins that have and will continue to contribute to the long-term vitality of Minnesota’s grass seed industry. I also want to acknowledge the support of the Richard Magnusson Family, Marv Zutz, MDA personnel, and all of the members of the Northern Minnesota Grass Seed Producers organization that made it financially possible for University of Minnesota personnel to support the grass seed industry.

Note: The above text has been lightly edited. MCIA also published an edited and condensed version of this text in the fall 2024 issue of the Minnesota Seed Grower.


MCIA Seeks Organic Certification Specialist/Inspector

Photo by Paul Brennan from Pixabay.

Minnesota Crop Improvement Association is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Organic Certification Specialist/Inspector.

Duties of an organic certification specialist/inspector include collecting and distributing certification information, creating records, reviewing applications, conducting on-site inspections, performing final reviews, and writing certification decision letters.

MCIA’s office is located on the Saint Paul campus of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Qualified candidates who live in our inspection area (Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, eastern North Dakota, and eastern South Dakota) will be considered for an in-office, hybrid, or remote office set-up.

This full-time position offers a competitive salary and full benefits. For more information, including how to apply, visit our Job Openings page.


Organic Cost Share Application Period Opens

Organic farmers and handlers are eligible for rebate

Minnesota organic farmers and handlers currently certified through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program may be eligible for a rebate of up to 75 percent of their certification costs.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Organic Certification Cost-Share Program is open to Minnesota operations that received organic certification (or had ongoing certification) between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024. The program provides reimbursement for up to 75 percent of certification-related expenses, with a maximum of $750 per category (crop, livestock, processing/handling, and wild harvest).

Applications for the cost-share are due October 31, 2024. Funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis and come from a cooperative agreement with the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA).

Interested farmers or handlers can review full program and application details on the MCA’s cost share program web page: https://www.mda.state.mn.us/orgcertcostshare. Applicants who do not wish to apply through the MDA may apply through their local FSA Office. Questions can be directed to Cassie Dahl at Cassie.Dahl@state.mn.us or 651-201-6134.

Organic certification is a third-party verification system that assures consumers the organic products they buy are produced in accordance with federal organic regulations. Organic operations must follow National Organic Standards and are monitored through review of their records and on-site inspections at least once a year.

For those transitioning a farm operation to organic, the MDA also offers the Minnesota Transition to Organic Cost-Share Program: https://www.mda.state.mn.us/minnesota-transition-organic-cost-share-program.

Read about MCIA’s Organic Services here: https://www.mncia.org/services-programs/organic-services.


MCIA Seeks Organic Services Manager

Photo by Nicolas Baumert: Kaedesis from Pixabay.

Minnesota Crop Improvement Association is seeking qualified candidates for the position of manager of our growing Organic Services department. This full-time position offers a competitive salary and full benefits. MCIA’s Organic Services department operates out of MCIA’s main office on the campus of the University of Minnesota, Saint Paul.

For more information, read the full position announcement on our Job Openings page: https://www.mncia.org/job-openings.

Minnesota Crop Improvement Association is an EEO Employer.


2024 Winter Grains Directory Published

MCIA has published the 2024 edition of our annual Winter Grains Directory. Growers can use the Winter Grains Directory to identify sources of certified and registered rye, triticale, winter barley, and winter wheat seed. The Winter Grains Directory includes crop variety descriptions as well as producer location and contact information.

Additionally, the Winter Grains Directory includes information on the availability of rye and winter wheat foundation seed from our neighboring states.

View the digital edition of the Winter Grains Directory here: https://docs.mncia.org/public/website/WinterGrainsD24.pdf.


AOSCA Recognizes Ben Lang with Honorary Membership

Ben Lang in 2008. Photo © Minnesota Crop Improvement Association.

At AOSCA’s recent Annual Meeting, the association granted honorary membership to retired MCIA President and CEO Ben Lang in recognition of his service to the seed industry. AOSCA is the Association of Seed Certifying Agencies.

In the words of ASOCA:

“Ben served in several roles during his thirty-five years at Minnesota Crop Improvement Association, first as a seed analyst/field inspector, then field supervisor, manager of field services and finally serving eight years as President/CEO of the organization. He excelled at all levels, earning the respect and admiration of seed producers, industry professionals and co-workers along the way. Throughout his career Ben supported AOSCA and the seed industry it serves. Ben was instrumental in the evolution of MCIA as it moved from a seed certification only business to a multi-faceted organization. He was a key part of the development and implementation of various programs, including quality assurance, identity preserved, native seed certification and organic certification.”

Ben Lang joined MCIA in 1980 and retired in 2015.

AOSCA also recognized the accomplishments of Randy Judd, retired manager of Michigan Crop Improvement Association, with an honorary membership. The 2024 AOSCA Annual Meeting was held in Miramar Beach, Florida, June 16–19.


Field Inspection Reminders

Photo © Minnesota Crop Improvement Association

Seed growers: Be sure your small grain seed field is inspected before you harvest!

If you do not have a field inspection report, contact your field supervisor.

Do not harvest unless you are sure the field has been inspected.

We can still accept applications for small grain field inspections. If you need to add a field, contact the MCIA Office or your field supervisor.