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.