MCIA offers an array of on-site inspection, audit, and other quality management services for agricultural producers throughout Minnesota. MCIA’s personnel are located throughout the state and are available to advise agricultural producers in setting up programs customized to meet their specific needs.
MCIA’s well-trained and experienced staff performs inspections and evaluations according to Association policies and procedures designed to protect the program’s integrity, avoid conflicts of interest, and ensure proper decisions.
Through collaborations with AOSCA and our agency partners, MCIA can provide a uniform package of services to clients with operations in other states or regions of the U.S.
Approved Facilities
MCIA provides an evaluation and approval process for facilities processing and selling seed and identity-preserved grain products. Facilities processing and/or handling products sold under the seed certification, QA seed, and IP grain programs must be inspected and approved by MCIA. Approved facilities are issued Certificates of Approval annually, which are prominently posted in their place of business.
FAQ
What is the Approved Facility Program?
MCIA’s Approved Facility Program provides an evaluation and approval process for facilities processing seed and identity-preserved (IP) grain products. Facilities processing and/or handling products sold under MCIA’s seed certification, Quality Assured seed, and IP grain programs must be inspected and approved by MCIA staff.
How is a facility approved?
To be approved, facilities must meet equipment and labeling requirements appropriate for the seed or grain to be processed. Approval is granted on an annual basis for conditioning, handling, and labeling specific seed types, or for processing grain products for specified end uses.
Why use an approved facility?
Approved facilities are inspected annually to determine their ongoing conformance to requirements necessary to preserve product identity and quality and to assure proper labeling.
What should I look for to verify that a facility is approved?
Approved facilities are issued Certificates of Approval annually that are to be prominently posted in their place of business. MCIA also provides Approved Facility signs.
For more information about this program, please contact us at 800-510-6242 or mncia@mncia.org or visit the Client Resources page.
Field Inspection Services
MCIA’s field inspection services are unique in their ability to focus on the varietal purity attributes of crops. MCIA inspects 200,000 to 250,000 acres of seed, grain, forage, straw and sod production each year. Seed crop inspections include soybeans, small grains, corn, turf grass seed and numerous other crop kinds plus nearly 100 different native species.
MCIA ‘s experienced field inspection team has the capability of delivering consistent inspection services statewide and even beyond the state’s borders through its partnerships with other AOSCA agencies. Seed companies large and small use MCIA’s field inspection services as a cost-effective means to manage risk and meet their quality goals.
MCIA’s Liberty Link® Soybean Program is designed to assist licensees in meeting Bayer license agreement requirements for Liberty Link® soybean seed production. The spray and inspection records will provide valuable documentation for meeting seed production requirements.
MCIA’s Roundup Ready® Soybean Program is designed to augment a grower’s quality control program for Roundup Ready® soybean seed production. The spray and inspection records provided through this program are valuable documentation that growers are meeting seed production requirements.
For more information about this program, please contact us at 800-510-6242 or mncia@mncia.org or visit the Client Resources page.
Inspection, Audit, and On-site Evaluation Services
MCIA provides customized inspection, audit, training, and other types of quality management services to agricultural industry. With over a century of experience in agribusiness, MCIA and its experienced, well trained staff knows the importance of a well-designed quality management system. Seed companies, specialty grain companies, government agencies, and other agricultural industry partners have all used MCIA quality management services.
MCIA’s customized quality assurance services provide support to producers and processors to improve product quality and confirm adherence to market or regulatory requirements. Government agencies can obtain on-site quality assurance services from MCIA to verify that products supplied by vendors meet pre-determined specifications. Agricultural organizations and producer groups can partner with MCIA to develop specifications and production standards to enhance the value of their members’ products in the marketplace. MCIA can develop a program to meet your needs.
For more information about this program, please contact us at 800-510-6242 or mncia@mncia.org or visit the Client Resources page.
MnDOT Services
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) uses MCIA certification and quality assurance services to verify that seed, mulch, and sod products supplied to MnDOT construction projects meet MnDOT specifications.
- MnDOT Seed Vendor Program
Seed providers who wish to supply seed for MnDOT projects must be Approved MnDOT Seed Vendors. Approved MnDOT Seed Vendors are inspected annually and must meet requirements to ensure that seed labeled for use on MnDOT projects meets seed specifications. MCIA administers the MnDOT Seed Vendor Program under the direction of MnDOT.
Program Requirements:
- Seed used on MnDOT projects must be labeled with an Approved Seed Vendor Tag.
- Seed must be obtained from Approved MnDOT Seed Vendors.
- MnDOT Seed Vendors warrant that seed labeled with MnDOT Seed Vendor labels meet the requirements of MnDOT Specification 3876, project special provisions and applicable Tech Memorandums.
- MCIA inspects seed vendors to verify seed handling and labeling procedures comply with MnDOT and seed law requirements.
- Noxious Weed Seed–free Forage and Mulch Program
MnDOT Type 3 mulch is clean grain straw certified by MCIA to be free of noxious weed seed as specified under the MCIA Noxious Weed Seed–Free Forage and Mulch Program. MCIA provides a list of mulch producers who have product that meets the requirements of the program. - Sod Quality Assurance
The Sod Quality Assurance Program provides verification of the quality of sod used on MnDOT construction projects. Currently, salt tolerant sod designated MNST-12 is specified for use along boulevards or other high salt environments.
For more information about this program, please contact us at 800-510-6242 or mncia@mncia.org or visit the Client Resources page.
Seed Quality Assurance
MCIA provides an unbiased, third-party quality control system for seed merchandised as varieties, hybrids, brands, or blends. Quality Assurance guidelines enable the seed producer to market seed to each customer with the assurance that the seed is of known purity and quality. Inspection services can be customized to meet the particular needs of a seed company or producer. This customization may include:
- Customized field and varietal increase inspections
- Product quality control inspections
- Non-GMO soybean seed verification programs
- Quality management consultation and auditing services
FAQ
What is quality assured seed?
Quality assured (QA) seed has met standards designed to preserve the purity and identity of a crop variety. Standards, similar to those applied in seed certification, enable a company to produce and market seed according to sound quality management practices.
How is seed quality assured?
The quality assurance process includes field inspections, laboratory testing, audits of production records, and on-site evaluations of conditioning and treatment facilities. Seed meeting all requirements is eligible to be labeled with the AOSCA QA logo.
Who produces quality assured seed?
Seed producers of all crop types may use a QA program to access a complete service for seed sold as varieties, hybrids, brands, or blends. QA programs can be customized to support an existing quality management system or as part of an AOSCA program.
Why buy quality assured seed?
Quality assured seed provides assurance to seed buyers that the seed is of known purity and quality as verified by an unbiased third party.
What should I look for?
Seed meeting QA standards may bear a quality assurance label or be marked with a QA logo. Buyers of bulk quality assured seed may be provided with a QA Bulk Sales Certificate.
For more information about this program, please contact us at 800-510-6242 or mncia@mncia.org or visit the Client Resources page.