February 2025

Affiliate and Associate Membership Applications Are Now Open!

Grounded in our Strong Foundation, we’re welcoming new Affiliate and Associate members to help shape our Bright Future through collaboration and a stronger seed certification system. Whether you are directly involved in seed production or supporting the sector in other ways, your contributions matter.

Our new membership structure is designed to create a more inclusive, dynamic, and innovative seed certification system—one that benefits the entire agricultural community. By becoming a member, you help drive this transformation, ensuring a resilient and forward-thinking seed sector that delivers essential public good services.

Why Join CSGA?

As a CSGA Affiliate or Associate member, you’ll be part of a collective effort to advance Canadian agriculture. We invite passionate individuals, businesses, and organizations in the seed and agriculture sectors to apply today and help shape the future of seed certification.

Apply Now!

Membership is open to eligible stakeholders, and the annual membership fee is $240, applicable across all membership classes. Apply today and help shape the future of seed certification!

Who Can Apply?

Affiliate Membership is available to any regulated party in Canada’s seed certification system, including:

• Authorized Seed Crop Inspection Services (ASCIS)
• Licensed Seed Crop Inspectors (LSCI)
• Plant Breeding Institutions
• Plant Breeders not applying for the certification of Breeder seed this year
• Registered Seed Establishments
• Seed Analysts
• Seed Companies
• Seed Graders
• Seed Growers not producing seed crops this year
• Seed Laboratories

Associate Membership is open to industry associations or organizations involved in or interested in pedigreed seed production and certification, such as:

• Government and intergovernmental organizations
• International seed sector associations
• National and provincial agriculture and agri-food associations
• Organizations supporting the seed sector
• Seed sector associations

Please Note: Seed growers and plant breeders producing pedigreed seed this year will receive their application packages for seed crop certification in mid-March and will continue to apply for membership in SeedCert as in previous years.

Mechanical Purity in Cereals – Survey Open Until March 4

CSGA is currently reviewing the maximum impurity standards for the mechanical purity of cereal seed crops producing Foundation, Registered, and Certified status seed. Specifically, the requirements being addressed are the crop (field) standards for the presence of plants of other crop kinds found during seed crop inspection (one cereal in another). The proposed options aim to simplify and streamline the current standards.

Have your say! The pre-consultation survey is open until March 4, 2025, at 5pm ET. 

Thank you for participating. Your feedback helps ensure a responsive and effective seed certification system that supports Canadian agriculture. Please contact both Mike Scheffel and Gail Harris with any questions.

Understanding Circular 6: Your Guide to Seed Crop Certification

The official version of Circular 6 is available on the CSGA website. Circular 6—officially known as the Canadian Regulations and Procedures for Pedigreed Seed Crop Production—is the foundation of seed crop certification in Canada. It outlines the essential requirements that both seed growers and seed crops must meet to achieve pedigreed seed crop certification.

Understanding the standards and requirements that apply to your seed crop kind and seed class helps you succeed in seed production and reduces the risk that your crop is declined pedigreed status or demoted to a lower class. From general requirements for all pedigreed seed crops to specific standards for different crop kinds and classes, Circular 6 provides everything you need to know in one place. Whether you’re an experienced seed grower or new to the process, awareness of these requirements is key to success.

Before you plant, make sure you have reviewed both the General Requirements for All Pedigreed Seed Crops and the certification requirements and standards for the crop kinds and classes you intend to produce.

To make finding the right information easier, CSGA offers an online search tool that allows growers to quickly access crop-specific standards. Simply enter the crop kind and class you are producing, and you’ll have access to the necessary requirements in just a few clicks.

If you want to verify the eligibility of a particular field for pedigreed seed crop production, before planting complete a Land Use Verification Form, found under the ‘Forms’ tab in SeedCert. This a complimentary CSGA service.

If you have any questions, or need help interpreting requirements, please contact the certification team.

Interested in Becoming an Accredited Plot Grower?

Are you looking to expand your business by producing Select or Foundation plots? Or are you preparing for retirement and need to ensure other members of your seed farm or business are accredited to produce plots? Before becoming an Accredited Plot Grower to produce Select or Foundation plots, you must successfully complete a Probation plot production period.

Remember—plot accreditation is specific to an individual, not the farm, and cannot be shared across a business. A strong risk management plan for a Select seed/plot-producing farm includes multiple accredited plot growers to prepare for the unexpected.

Here are the main steps towards becoming an Accredited Plot Grower.

1. Fill out a Form 154 – Application to Commence Probation Plot Production available on the ‘Forms’ tab on SeedCert.
   • Take note of the eligibility requirements (including two years minimum seed production experience) and deadline dates.
   • Complete the CSGA Learn Probation Plot Grower program to reduce the pedigreed seed crop production experience requirement!
   • If your application is approved, you don’t need to fill out this form again for your following year(s) of probation.
2. Once approved to start Probation, apply for the plot on the Application for CSGA Seed Crop Certification making sure to choose “Probation” as the plot type and choose your individual name as the Grower responsible for the plot.
   • You can only produce one plot in each year of probation.
   • You must complete your probation period with the same crop kind (but you can switch varieties).
3. Successfully complete three years of Probation plot production or reduce it to two years with the completion of the CSGA Learn Probation Plot Grower program.
   • Note: the CSGA Learn program must be completed before April 1 of your second year of Probation plot production.
   • Your last successful year of Probation plot production will result in Select status seed.

Please feel free to contact the office with any questions and refer to Section III General Requirements for Probation Plot Production in Circular 6 for detailed information.

U.S. Tariff Uncertainty – CSGA Advises Members to Act Now

As the situation is unpredictable and can change abruptly, CSGA strongly encourages members planning to export seed to the United States to do so as soon as possible. It is very possible that blanket tariffs on imported goods will apply to seed. Early action could help mitigate potential financial impacts.

If you need assistance finalizing certification for your 2024 seed crops, please contact our Certification team at certification@seedgrowers.ca or call (613) 236.0497 ext. 8806.

CSGA is actively engaged in discussions with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Seeds Canada, and our U.S. counterparts through the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) to assess the situation.

For any questions or concerns, please reach out to Doug Miller. We will continue to provide updates as more details emerge.

2025 AGM - See You Soon in Victoria

Mark your calendars for the 2025 CSGA Annual General Meeting (AGM) in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, from July 3 to July 5, 2025. Registration will open in March, so stay tuned!

Great Learning and Fun for the Whole Family

• Thursday: We’ll start the AGM off right with great optional social activities –  Salmon Fishing Charters, a Tall Ship Sailing Adventure, Butchart Gardens, or 18-Holf Golf at Cedar Hill
• Friday: Includes AGM Business Program Sessions.
  •  We are proud to welcome Mike Downie as our Keynote speaker. His talk “What’s Your Story?” will inspire you to reflect on your experiences & the role you play in shaping the future of Canadian agriculture.
  • Companions and Children enjoy their own full-day programs.
  • Then it’s SeCan’s Family Fun Night at Church and State Winery, featuring family games.
• Saturday: We’ll close out the event with Business Program Sessions and the semi-formal Evening Awards Gala

A draft agenda (subject to change) is available here. Pricing will be available once registration opens.

Support the AGM as a Sponsor!

Our sponsorship kit is also available, offering a fantastic opportunity to showcase your support for the seed industry. Join us as a sponsor and gain visibility among Canada’s seed sector leaders. Contact us for more details on sponsorship opportunities.

For registration details and sponsorship inquiries, contact us at agm-aga@seedgrowers.ca. We look forward to seeing you there!

Understanding the Roles of Third Parties in Seed Crop Certification

Many growers rely on third parties to help manage key aspects of the seed crop certification process. These third parties can include crop certificate assignees, intermediaries, and payees, all of whom play a role in ensuring a smooth certification process. 

All third parties must submit a Third Party Account Information and Consent form each year for every account they will be using.

Third Party Roles 

Assignee: When a seed grower produces a seed crop under contract, they may transfer the crop certificate to an assignee by naming the assignee on their Application for CSGA Seed Crop Certification. This allows the assignee to access all relevant crop information in SeedCert and receive updates directly related to that seed crop. Keep in mind that each application can only designate one assignee.  

Authorized Third Party: An authorized third party acts as an intermediary between the seed grower and the assignee, helping to manage the seed certification process. This role requires the grower’s consent for CSGA to share relevant information with the third party. With this permission, the authorized third party can submit applications, forms, and other documents on behalf of the grower and gain access to the seed crop details in SeedCert.  

Payer: In some cases, third parties may wish to cover the membership or certification fees for the grower. If this is the case, they must give consent through the Third Party Account Information and Consent form in order to be listed as a payee on CSGA’s application forms. 

Seed Crops Grown Under Contract 

If you contract seed production to other growers, CSGA membership and seed crop certification applications must be submitted under the grower’s name, not yours. However, seed crops can be assigned to you through the CSGA Application for Seed Crop Certification. 

For more details on crop certificate assignment and managing contracted seed production, contact our Client Service team. 

Stay tuned! The Application Support Document for Third Parties will be released shortly, providing detailed process guidance.