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.
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.
We have been receiving questions about testing cover crop seed lately.
FYI: The MCIA Seed Laboratory can test cover crop seed for germination, purity, and any other seed tests needed or required.
It is important to know seed viability and if there is any other crop or weeds present in the seed you are planting. If you are enrolled in a certification program, check its standards for the particular seed testing requirements.
For more information:
By Chase Mowry, Seed Laboratory Manager
With summer upon us, submissions of samples for testing have begun to slow. Samples submitted for certification during the spring continued to show high quality across all crop groups. Samples continued to have few disease issues. The number of samples tested this year surpassed those of previous years—partly due to an increase in the number of service samples submitted. The lab also reached a milestone: We have tested 20,000 samples since reopening in 2016.
Our focus has begun to shift to other duties and responsibilities, when time allows. OECD soybean grow-outs have been organized and delivered for planting to conduct post-harvest evaluation of phenotypic traits in the field. We have placed orders for two new germinators and a seed blower. The review and revision of SOPs has started. Revisions to the fee schedule are also underway. We will also begin lab equipment calibrations once their respective due dates arrive, along with other accreditation requirements. We will send out our Annual Customer Satisfaction Survey via email in June to solicit your feedback on this past season. As previously, I will keep the survey minimal. It will only take a moment to complete if you choose to participate. We appreciate any feedback you provide us.
I am happy to announce that the MCIA Seed Laboratory is now a CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) Officially Recognized Foreign Seed Testing Laboratory. This recognition is based on the laboratory’s USDA ASL accreditation and successful completion, in April, of an evaluation regarding the Canadian Methods & Procedures for Testing Seed. In the future, you will notice some differences in how we report results for Canadian testing; they will more closely resemble the Canadian standardized report format.
In June, please watch for a customer satisfaction survey sent to you by MCIA Seed Laboratory Manager Chase Mowry. It will be delivered to your inbox via MailChimp.
Please take a few minutes to respond to the questions.
If you do not receive a survey request and would like to participate, please contact Chase at chase.mowry@mncia.org.
Your participation is greatly appreciated!
Friendly reminders to MCIA Seed Laboratory clients:
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.
Be sure the information on your Sampling Report is complete and accurate.
By Chase Mowry, Seed Laboratory Manager
And so, it began. . . .
With spring comes a daunting workload for a seed analyst. As one expects, samples have started to roll in for testing. Because of this, I will keep the lab update short and sweet so that I can get back to testing and stay afloat.
In terms of samples received, we are two to three weeks ahead of where we were at this time last year. Overall, purities and germination tests have continued to be of high quality, except, perhaps, for some drought-stressed soybeans. Diseased seed has also continued to be minimal.
Except for a written SCST proficiency test due in May, we have submitted all other tests for the year. The lab recently received a new microscope and magnifying lens with light for conducting purity and noxious exams. We are still awaiting a new germination chamber.
As no two days are the same in the lab, we hope sample throughput remains high to provide you with results in a timely manner.
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:
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.
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. This form can be found on the Client Resources page: www.mncia.org/resources. Look under Certification Services, Seed Certification Program, Labeling & Transferring Seed.
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.
By Chase Mowry, Seed Laboratory Manager
Can you believe that it is December already? It feels as though the days are passing by faster than ever. This is perhaps a direct reflection of the work being done out in the field.
Samples submitted for testing have continued to stay steady through the months, with numbers ahead of last year. This is due, in part, to an increase in service samples being tested. Overall, germs have been good, apart from a few beans impacted by stressful field conditions last growing season.
When possible, during what little down-time there has been between samples, we have continued to work on accreditation items. We recently completed our first round of proficiency tests, with more to come in the next several months.
We have been fortunate to have some additional help in the Seed Laboratory thanks to the arrival of Gil Waibel. Gil brings more than 40 years of experience in seed testing, has served AOSA and SCST in many, many capacities, and offers great insight from his life experiences. Gil is very passionate about agriculture and the seed industry. Welcome Gil!
By Chase Mowry, Seed Laboratory Manager
For us at the Seed Laboratory, as for many of you, I’m sure, the summer months seemed to just fly by. We were busy over the summer conducting training, calibrating lab equipment, participating in proficiency testing, and stocking supplies for the upcoming season.
Grass samples submitted for testing remained steady over the summer months, with the number of samples about two weeks ahead of last year. This kept us quite busy and has provided the opportunity to do some more hands-on training. We have also received several germ updates on small grain crops, and more recently winter grain samples submitted for completing certification. Preliminary germ tests have shown some Fusarium (scab) infection, to varying degrees, with the most significant presence found in rye.
As fall arrived, we continued staff training in the laboratory as well as on campus with soybean field inspections and the evaluation of soybean grow-out plots. There were also several accreditation items in need of completion before the influx of fall samples.
As a reminder, please complete a Sampling Report when submitting your samples. Be sure to provide all pertinent information, including crop year, as this will dictate if a prechill is necessary for certain species.
