Cornell Foundation Seed

NYSIP also manages and operates the Cornell Foundation Seed program. Our mission is to facilitate the progression of varieties developed by Cornell University plant breeding programs into the marketplace by carefully amplifying seed stock provided by the Cornell Small Grains Project which has primarily focused on improved oat, malting barley,  and soft red winter wheat seed stocks. We can work on other crops as needed, and as program resources allow. NYSIP grows out some Foundation seed in Cornell fields that we manage and the remainder are produced by qualified growers who we contract with.

We also make Foundation seed stock available for sale to growers of a selection of small grain varieties through our Advance Reservation Program.

Ordering Foundation Seed

Foundation seed is made available for sale to qualified growers in NY State. Learn more about our Advance Reservation Program for spring and fall grains.

NYSIP Foundation Seed Plant

To ensure the highest quality seed, NYSIP conditions all of its Foundation seed stocks in-house at the NYSIP Foundation Seed Plant. Our certified facility is equipped with an air-screen cleaner, seed treatment equipment in addition to a grain storage warehouse.

Additionally, the plant is inspected annually by NOFA-NY and is approved to handle and condition Certified Organic grain.

Cornell Foundation Seed Potato Program

NYSIP does not currently operate a comparable Foundation program for potato seed. Up until 2020, this was the job of the Cornell Foundation Seed Potato Farm in Lake Placid, NY but this facility was closed. Varieties released by the Cornell Potato Breeding Program are often available soon after release by NY Certified Seed Potato growers.