Become A Certified Seed Grower
Complete Certification By Following These Steps:
1. Review the appropriate crop standards and rules covering the crop you wish to certify.
2. Select a variety that is eligible for certification, foundation (white tag) or registered (purple tag) seed is required. The developer/owner of many varieties requires that a producer of seed obtain a license before seed* may be propagated and marketed. GCIA will not field inspect or issue certification tags unless permission is granted by the developer/owner and GCIA is notified either by the developer/owner in writing or via a copy of the license.
*To include vegetatively propagated varieties GCIA may share with the developer, maintainer or licensing authority any requested applications, reports, observations, data supporting quality or quantity of production fields, seed, product, etc. of varieties requiring a license to propagate.
3. Application forms and standards can be obtained by contacting Georgia Crop Improvement Association at 2425 South Milledge Avenue, Athens, Georgia 30605-1639, calling (706) 542-2351, email billy.skaggs@georgiacrop.com or visit our website www.georgiacrop.com.
4. Complete, sign and mail the application along with the source of seed (tag and invoice covering total amount of seed purchased) and check to cover certification fees to the GCIA office. See application for fees, date of filing, etc. additional certification information may be found at www.georgiacrop.com.
5. Rogue fields of noxious weeds, other crops and other varieties before the inspector arrives.
6. Your crop will be inspected in the field after maturity but before harvest. You will be given a copy of the inspection report. DO NOT harvest until the official field inspection has been made.
7. Clean and adjust all harvesting equipment. Clean and fumigate all storage facilities. Store seed in such a way as to maintain varietal purity and quality.
8. Take your seed to one of Georgia Crop Improvement Association’s Approved Seed Conditioners.
9. When the seed are cleaned and placed in new seed bags, the official sample will be taken by a GCIA Representative in an Approved Seed Conditioner or by the State Seed Inspector in your area. NOTE: The lot number must be stenciled on all bags of certified seed.
10. All seed laboratories that have a registered seed technologist or a Certified Crop Analyst are eligible to analyze seed for certification. (See list of Approved Seed Laboratories in Section 4).
11. The seed laboratory will analyze the submitted seed sample and send an analysis report to the Georgia Crop Improvement Association.
12. On those lots of seed meeting the minimum GCIA standards, the Association will print and mail certification tags or certificates to the seed conditioner upon request. A letter of rejection will be mailed on those lots failing to meet the standards.
13. Attach the certified seed tags or certificates to the proper bags and this will complete the certification. NOTE: In many cases, the seed conditioner operator is now requesting the tags in advance and attaching them to the bags as the seed are bagged. Tags must be removed from the bags on those lots of seed failing to meet the minimum GCIA standards. DO NOT move seed into the seed trade channels until it is officially cleared for certification. Failure to comply may result in suspension or expulsion from the program.