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MCIA Board to Propose Bylaws Amendment

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Photo by Sergei Tokmakov from Pixabay.

The MCIA Board of Directors intends to propose an amendment to the Association’s bylaws at the MCIA Annual Meeting on January 29, 2025.

The proposal would change the wording of the following passage of Article XII—Miscellaneous, 12.8 Financial Accounts:

The Board of Directors shall examine the accounts of the Association at their meetings as set forth herein, and shall, in addition, have the books audited at least once a year by a disinterested competent accountant, or by a committee of three members of the Association who are not members of the Board of Directors.

The amended version would read:

The Board of Directors shall examine the accounts of the Association at their meetings as set forth herein, and shall, in addition, conduct a financial review every year and a financial audit at least once every three years by a disinterested competent accountant, or by a committee of three members of the Association who are not members of the Board of Directors.

(Changes, above, highlighted in red.)

The  proposed amendment will be considered at the meeting. Adoption of the proposed amendment requires an affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and entitled to vote at the meeting.

You may view this proposed amendment in the context of MCIA’s complete Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, here: https://docs.mncia.org/public/annual_meeting/Proposed-Bylaws-Amendment-250129.pdf.

Seed Testing and Labeling Reminders

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Soybean pods and seeds. © Minnesota Crop Improvement Association.

Properly Label Seed in Totes

MCIA requires that seed being sold in tote containers must be labeled with a certification tag. A bulk certificate should not be used when distributing seed in tote containers. Any seed class may be sold in tote containers using a certification tag as proof of certification.

In cases where tote containers are unloaded into the buyer’s vehicle, the tags must be provided to the buyer.

Submit Sampling Reports with Test Samples

Remember to submit a completed Sampling Report with every sample submitted for testing—this includes preliminary germs and germ updates, retesting, etc. Also, be sure to include any other documentation required to complete certification, such as Dome and Anthracnose results for field beans, Diaporthe and Pseudomonas results for OECD/EC soybeans, or molecular testing results when applicable for corn.

When Interagency Certification applies, include a completed and signed Certificate of Transfer for Seed Certification or proof of final certification (label or bulk cert). This will prevent delays in processing your samples.

MCIA-MDA Collaboration Upholds Quality Seed

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MCIA and MDA personnel meet with staff members of Western Integrated Seed at Western’s operation in Cokato, Minnesota.

BY Fawad Shah, President/CEO

The Minnesota Crop Improvement Association plays a key role in enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability across the state of Minnesota. A cornerstone of this work is MCIA’s partnership with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Seed and Biotechnology Unit. This collaboration aims to ensure the availability of high-quality seed through seed certification; the use of high-quality seed is encouraged through educational and promotional activities.

MDA’s Seed and Biotechnology Unit is integral to maintaining and enhancing the quality of seed sold in Minnesota. By working closely with MCIA, MDA helps facilitate a comprehensive framework for seed certification, which guarantees that farmers have access to reliable, disease-free, and genetically diverse seeds. This is crucial not only for crop yield but also for the long-term health of Minnesota agriculture.

MCIA recently hosted a group of officials from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, including seed inspectors and seed lab staff, at Western Integrated Seed’s operation in Cokato. MCIA’s staff distributed educational materials and delivered talks regarding seed certification, seed testing, and foundation seed. This presentation was followed by an informal roundtable discussion to explore and explain various scenarios that can and do occur in the seed industry, and to answer questions about Plant Variety Protection (PVP) and species tested in our seed lab.

One of the chief results of this organizational collaboration is the development of new educational programs and resources that foster cooperation and information sharing in the seed space. Another significant outcome of MCIA-MDA collaboration is to strengthen the commitment to regulatory compliance and seed quality assurance. MDA’s regulatory framework, combined with MCIA’s certification processes, ensures that seed varieties distributed within the state meet stringent quality standards. This joint effort helps to maintain Minnesota’s reputation as a leader in agricultural innovation and productivity. By ensuring high-quality seed availability and enhancing educational outreach, this partnership not only benefits farmers but also contributes to the overall vitality of the state’s agricultural sector.

Organic Corner

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Hummingbird hawk-moth. Photo by jggrz from Pixabay.

By Organic Certification Team Leads

The Organic Services department has made significant structural changes to provide timelier service to our clients. To clients who may be waiting to hear from us: We have not forgotten you! To address our timeliness, we are not accepting any new clients at this time, and we have reduced our service area. Please reach out to us if you need your certificate. We apologize for our tardiness and pledge to improve our customer service in 2025.

Handler renewals—MCIA will be working toward changing all handler renewal dates to winter each year, so that we can inspect in the calendar year. This is a work in progress and may not roll out immediately. In general, this change should not affect the timing of your inspection, but for some handlers it will mean that you will be applying shortly after the last application.

For any handlers who are exporting or importing, please be aware that MCIA now requires you to complete an International Trade Addendum.

The new Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) rule goes into effect January 2, 2025. A few of the new requirements include temporary confinement allowances including confinement for under 32° F or above 90° F, specific space and stocking density requirements for indoor and outdoor poultry spaces, weekly ammonia testing for poultry, and specific perch and exit door requirements. Review NOS §205.241 for the new rules.

In other news, in September MCIA hosted a delegation from Taiwan, accompanied by USDA National Organic Program (NOP) representatives, who were conducting a peer review of the NOP. The group shadowed Lauren Martin on an organic inspection at Keith Speltz’s farm. In addition to the inspection, Keith Speltz invited the group to his farm’s sesquicentennial celebration. Many thanks to Keith Speltz for his generosity and congratulations to him on his farm’s 150-year anniversary!

Subsequently, the officials from Taiwan informed the NOP that they had a very favorable impression of the accredited certifiers and the organic inspections they observed while in the U.S. In October, the NOP recognized MCIA with a Certificate of Appreciation for “exemplary professionalism, excellence, and generosity” throughout the planning and execution of the peer review.

Staff News

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We welcome three new employees who began their work with MCIA in September!

Organic Certification Specialist/Inspector Kristen Adams.

Kristen Adams has joined the Organic Services department as an organic certification specialist/inspector. Kristen grew up on a diversified dairy farm and later co-owned and operated a dairy herd in southwest Wisconsin. Kristen completed her B.S. in fine arts from Viterbo University. Kristen’s past work experience includes several years in the employ of MOSA, beginning as a certification specialist/staff inspector and later as director of Certification Services. Kristen was recognized by the National Organic Program with their Director’s Award in 2022 and 2023. Prior to her employment with MOSA, Kristen was the manager of Organic Valley’s Milky Way Café. She has also served on the board of the Domestic Fair Trade Association.

Seed Technologist Sean Manzano-Rabbitt.

Sean Manzano-Rabbitt was hired by the Seed Laboratory as a seed technologist. Sean majored in horticultural sciences and minored in computer science, earning a B.S. from the University of Minnesota. In his role as a research assistant at the Horticultural Science Fruit Lab and Research Center, Sean prepared samples for DNA extraction, analyzed phenolics in freshly harvested grapes, and used paper chromatography to track the malolactic acid fermentation in wines. Sean chose to return to his agricultural roots after working as a technology consultant at Accenture following his graduation. Most recently, Sean was employed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s seed laboratory as a seasonal seed analyst.

Seed Technologist Amy Olson.

Amy Olson has also joined the Seed Laboratory as a seed technologist. Amy holds a B.S. in horticulture from the University of Wisconsin—River Falls. Her work experience includes the position of associate scientist at the commercial seed laboratory Eurofins BioDiagnostics, work at Eisele Greenhouse in Lakeville as a wholesale grower, and a horticulture internship at Normandale Community College. Amy has used AOSA, ISTA, and Canada M&P seed testing protocols. She has also been involved in planting samples and preparing and evaluating seed for TZ analysis, and she has participated in the referee testing and proficiency exams.

Field Notes

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Oats. © Regents of the University of Minnesota.

By Chase Mowry, Seed Laboratory Services Manager

The staff of the MCIA Seed Laboratory has been busy! This summer, interviews were conducted to fill two seed technologist positions. In September, we welcomed Amy Olson and Sean Manzano-Rabbitt to the staff.

Between samples, we completed various tasks such as calibrating equipment, stocking supplies, revising SOPs, and administering the annual customer satisfaction survey. Many thanks to those who took a moment to provide us with feedback. In August, Claire Chapman Biel attended a seed identification workshop at the Federal Seed Lab in Gastonia, North Carolina.

During the late summer through fall, we received a high volume of samples for testing. They included grasses, MnDOT mixtures, natives, and winter small grains. The winter small grains we tested had large variability in quality, as Fusarium infection was prevalent in many of the lots.

We received new equipment, including two new germinators, a purity scale, and a seed blower. We also inspected MCIA foundation soybean fields located on campus for certification and evaluated soybean grow-outs on material from last season as part of the post-control process. We led a tour of the Seed Laboratory for students of Fawad Shah’s class at the UMN, offering our perspective on seed testing processes. And finally, to fulfill ALS accreditation requirements, we submitted germination and purity proficiency test results on two white clover lots to USDA AMS for evaluation.

President’s Corner

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Touring a corn post control plot in Taiwan.

By Fawad Shah, President/CEO

Increasing visibility through capacity building has been among the focuses of Minnesota Crop Improvement Association. The Taiwan Ministry of Agriculture and Taiwan Seed Improvement and Propagation Station invited me and Mr. Kobus Van Huyssteen of the South African National Seed Organization to visit Taiwan to assist them in readying their bid to join the OECD Seed Schemes.

Taiwan is a stunningly beautiful country, but only a small amount of its land is suitable for cultivation because mountains cover about 75 percent of the land. Our first destination was Taipei City, where we visited the Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture and received an overview of crop production as well as the importance of agriculture to the local economy. We spent the following three days at the Taiwan Seed Improvement and Propagation Station (TSIPS) in Taichung City, where we and TSIPS personnel discussed the general framework, prerequisites, and advantages of joining the OECD Seed Schemes.

We thoroughly examined their documents, offered our insights and suggestions, and described the procedure and time frame for joining the Schemes. A visit to the corn post control plots was scheduled after a tour of the ISTA lab located in the TSIPS facility. I gave a talk about the Schemes certification system and how it is used to produce high-quality seed. We met with the Taiwan Seed Trade Association and several seed industry participants at our next destination, Tainan City, in the south.

Some of Taiwan’s major seed companies export seed widely—to almost 30 countries—despite the fact that seed production is still done on a small scale. A visit to three such companies gave us insight into their diverse seed variety portfolios and the techniques used to consistently produce high-quality seed.

By joining the OECD Seed Schemes, Taiwan’s government and seed industry hope to advance their country, gain a place at an international forum, expand seed exports, and further boost their agricultural economy. Although there is still work to be done, I am optimistic that Taiwan will soon fulfill all the requirements and be granted permission to join the Schemes.

As we do each year, Minnesota Crop Improvement Association is putting together an informative program for our Annual Meeting. The event will be held on January 29, 2025, at the Holiday Inn & Suites in St. Cloud. The Annual Meeting is an opportunity to recognize individuals in our industry through the awarding of our Honorary Premier Seed Grower, Premier Seed Grower, and the Achievement in Crop Improvement awards. Plan to attend this important event! Learn and network with others from the seed and agricultural industries.

Field Notes

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Photo by Albrecht Fietz from Pixabay.

By Kris Folland, Field Services Manager

MCIA’s field inspectors had a safe and successful inspection season. The MCIA Field Services staff would like to thank our members for making another great seed production season possible!

Communication between MCIA members and our field inspectors about issues that may affect seed quality helps all of us reach the goal of producing quality seed that meets or exceeds certification and company seed standards.

As the beautiful fall weather shifts towards winter, here are a few good reminders for our seed production members:

  • Inventory all of your seed and check for any issues. Make sure all seed bins are properly identified.
  • Run air on seed and grain bins to cool grain as needed.
  • Verify a passed field inspection report for all seed fields, including seed sources for next year.
  • Check your inventory of MCIA sample bags. Let us know if you need anything for the conditioning and seed labeling season.
  • Verify and check all seed labeling needs including tags, Pure Harvest (online program), and manual paper bulk seed sales certificates.

Contact MCIA with any questions. We enjoy hearing from you!

Chairman’s View

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Brad Barth, Chairman of the MCIA Board of Directors.

By Brad Barth, Board Chairman

2024 is now in the rearview mirror and the new year is upon us. Some constituents I have spoken with about 2024 had an average year while most others in our area will be glad to have the year behind us. Excessive rains during the planting and growing season and a super dry end of the season made it a challenging year. Like all the challenging years before, we will survive to farm again.

At Thanksgiving I concluded that, despite many challenges, I am sure we can all find many things to be thankful for. I reflect on every year as a learning experience, whether it was a good or poor year there is always something we can learn and take forward into the rest of our career.

MCIA will have its Annual Meeting on January 29, 2025, in St. Cloud. This will be a single-day event and will include all the things we have done in the past, just in a shortened version. I am excited to hear the speakers’ presentations as this is always a highlight of the meeting. There will be vendors to visit, and the MCIA staff will be there also. Please plan to attend as I am sure you will enjoy all the meeting has to offer.

I write this with a heavy heart as this will be my last correspondence with you. The Annual Meeting in January marks the end of my second and last term. To say that my time with MCIA was a great experience would be an understatement. To serve on this board was truly a fantastic experience.

The staff at MCIA are second to none. They have all the talent and people skills to carry this organization far into the future. A shout out to Jody Prudhomme, who is the most impressive office personnel I have ever met. The board members are quite a diverse set of super talented individuals, all here with one focus; that is, to steer this 100-plus-year-old organization down the path to the next 100-year benchmark.

I will miss meeting and conversing with my fellow board members and having a hand in guiding this organization. I encourage anyone interested in becoming a board member to take the challenge. You will not be disappointed.