Dakota Select Seed Program

Premise of the program

Certain NDSU breeding programs, such as the oat program and two-rowed barley program, focus on crops that are planted on small acreage relative to some of the major crops in the state, (i.e. hard red spring wheat).  Although the shear number of acres planted to crops like oat and two-rowed barley may be limited, the benefit that producers of these “limited use crops” receive from having a public breeding program working for them is great nonetheless. 

Over the years, public funding for breeding programs has decreased leaving many programs, especially those focusing on small acreage crops, with difficulty in obtaining operating funds.  An idea was brought forward within the North Dakota Crop Improvement & Seed Association (NDCISA) to address the concern of supporting NDSU Breeding programs to ensure continued benefit to the sector of the agriculture community that they serve.  The idea focused on capturing value from varieties that have either been historically unprotected or have not been able to develop adequate end-use markets through traditional production and distribution channels thus providing no revenue to invest back into variety development programs.  The NDCISA has a strong history of working with NDSU varieties and a framework existed to work with these small acreage crops with slight variation to traditional production and distribution channels.   A model was developed which illustrates how a slightly controlled grower network could help to develop an end-use and seed market for small acreage crops and subsequently capture a revenue stream in the form of research fees that could be re-invested into NDSU breeding programs. 

An agreement was reached between the NDSU Research Foundation, the owner of all NDSU varieties, and the NDCISA  which resulted in the exclusive licensing of Souris oat and Rawson barley to the Dakota Select Seed Group within the NDCISA. 

Grower/Member Requirements:

·          Dakota Select Seed member eligibility requirements:
o        Must have a current seed tax number
o        Must be in good standing with NDSSD and NDSU/RF
o        Must have met final certification of at least one crop in 3 of the last 5 years 

·          Variety Access fee:
o        Member must pay a $100 per variety per year variety access fee. 

Reporting Requirements: 

·          Growers must complete all forms and submit by deadline

·          Reports will consist of:
o        Planting report (acres and bushels planted) due June 15th  of production season
o        Production report (gross bushels from Certified and non-certified/failed acres) due October 15th following production season
o        Sales report (total retail sales and carryover bushels) due September 15th the year following production season 

·          A warning letter will be sent out via Certified mail 10 days after the due date.  A grower who does not submit reports within 10 days of receipt of this letter will be considered out of compliance with reporting requirements. 

·          Failure to meet reporting requirements will result in denial to access seed the next year with reinstatement subject to committee’s approval

·          All forms should be submitted to the NDCISA office.  

Payment of Fees:

·           All research fees and NDCISA Association (first year increase) fees will be collected by the NDCISA office. 

·           Payment of fees will be due October following the production season and all late fees will be assessed a 20% late fee.   

 Certification Requirements:           

·           Classes of certified seed
 o        Souris and Rockford oat (PVP with no Title V)
    §         Foundation
    §         Certified 
    §         Quality Assured
    §         (Registered seed will only be used to supply international licensees if need is recognized and approved by committee.)

o        Rawson (PVP with Title V)
   §         Foundation
   §         Registered
   §         Certified

  o       Overland HRWW (PVP with Title V)

       §         Foundation
   §       Registered (this is a non saleable class for use only by purchase of foundation seed for certified seed increase)
   §       Certified

o        Bobcat winter triticale

    §         Registered
§         Certified
 

·           Field inspection and final certification must be conducted by the authorized seed certification agency in your state. 

For problems or questions regarding this web contact [ndcisa@ndcropimprovement.org].
Last updated: January 13, 2011.