Seed Certification
Certified seed is recognized in national and state legislation as seed meeting high standards for genetic purity and quality. Producing certified seed requires that eligible seed stock is planted in approved fields by qualified growers. During the growing season the fields must be inspected for health and consistency and the seed must pass a lab analysis. Seed that qualifies can be labeled with the official “blue” certified seed tag issued by NYSIP.
In New York, seed certification responsibilities are delegated to Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences by the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. At Cornell, these responsibilities are assigned to us, the NY Seed Improvement Project (NYSIP) within the extension arm of the Plant Breeding and Genetics Section of the School of Integrative Plant Science. NYSIP is a vested member agency of the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA).
Trained inspectors from NYSIP inspect the grower’s fields to make sure they meet the high standards required for Certified seed. Harvested seed lots must be cleaned by an approved mill, and must be tested in an approved lab to ensure it is genetically consistent, free of disease and weed seed and has a high germination rate. Certified seed, labeled with its distinctive blue tag, provides a standard for seed quality for NY farmers.
The mission of this program is to facilitate the increase of high quality, pure, clean seed that is sold by seed farms and planted in the state. For seed buyers planting hundreds or thousands of acres of a particular crop, buying “blue tag” Certified seed is an assurance of a quality start and worthy investment.
The NYSIP Seed Certification program’s main focus currently is small grains (wheat, barley, oats), soybeans, as well as seed potatoes, though we have inspected and certified other crops such as dry beans and buckwheat.
Potato Seed Certification
Certifying seed potatoes has a similar set of requirements as grain seed but they are slightly different since potatoes are clonally propagated and are more vulnerable to disease issues. Potato fields must undergo two inspections during the growing season, plus a bin inspection following harvest. Additionally, seed potatoes must successfully pass a Winter Test to ensure samples from the harvested seed lots are disease free and true to type. Winter Tests have classically been conducted as a field grow-out in Florida or Hawaii. However, in 2023 NYSIP made the decision to instead conduct the NY Certified Seed Potato Winter Test in the form of laboratory testing by the Maine Potato Disease Testing Lab.
Forms & Fees
For all Certification forms and fee, go to our Forms & Fees page.
Certified Seed Regulations
These are the set of rules and regulations governing the certification of seed and the required operating procedures of our Certification program:
Types of certified seed
Four classes of seed are recognized in seed certification, namely; Breeder, Foundation, Registered and Certified. These classes are defined as follows:
1. Breeder Seed is seed (or other vegetative propagating material) directly controlled by the originating, or in certain cases, the sponsoring plant breeder or institution, which provides the source for the initial and recurring increase of Foundation Seed.
2. Foundation Seed is seed so handled as to maintain most nearly the specific genetic identity and purity as designated by the originating developer or sponsoring experiment station. Production of Foundation Seed must be carefully supervised or approved by representatives of the Agricultural Experiment Station. Foundation Seed shall be the source of all “Certified” Seed either directly or through Registered Seed.
3. Registered Seed is the progeny of Foundation Seed. Registered Seed is so handled as to maintain satisfactory genetic identity and purity, and is so certified by the New York Seed Improvement Project. This class of seed is of quality suitable for the production of Certified Seed.
4. Certified Seed is the progeny of Foundation or Registered Seed that is so handled as to maintain satisfactory genetic identity and purity, and is certified by the New York Seed Improvement Project. Only under conditions specified by the certifying agency may Certified Seed be used as planting stock for production of Certified Seed. Certified Seed is the class of seed distributed primarily for general farm use in the production of crops. The “blue tag” certified seed is “Certified.” This seed is la
How to buy certified seed
If you are a grower interested in purchasing and planting NY Certified Seed, refer to our annually-released NY Certified Crop Directories for the current listing of participating growers and the varieties of small grains and seed potato varieties produced in the program this year.
Additionally, we offer some seed for sale through our Foundation Seed Program.