September 2026

CSGA Seeks Feedback on Proposed Revisions to Mechanical Purity Standards in Cereals

CSGA is currently seeking stakeholder feedback on proposed revisions to the maximum impurity standards for the mechanical (species) purity of cereal seed crops producing Foundation, Registered, and Certified status seed. Specifically, the requirements being addressed are the crop (in-field) standards for the presence of plants of other crop kinds found during seed crop inspection (one cereal in another).

Note: No changes to the maximum impurity standards for Select status seed crops are being proposed at this time.

The proposed revisions aim to simplify and streamline the current standards and now stakeholders in the entire seed sector value chain are invited to participate and share their feedback.

We encourage you to review the consultation document and complete the survey. The survey is open until November 3, 2026, at 5pm ET.

Should you have any questions, please reach out directly via email to both Mike Scheffel and Gail Harris. Thank you for your participation. Your feedback on these proposed revisions helps ensure a responsive and effective seed certification system that supports Canadian agriculture.

Review Your Seed Guide Listings in SeedCert

It’s time to review your seed guide listings in SeedCert before your variety and production information is sent to the Branches for inclusion in provincial seed guides.

CSGA’s National Pedigreed Seed Locator and provincial seed guides help buyers find the seed varieties they’re looking for. To have seed you produced or seed assigned to you included, CSGA must have your consent by the applicable deadline.

Growers provide consent through the Membership Application form, while crop certificate assignees provide consent through the Third Party Information and Consent form. Consent is provided earlier in the year but can be updated through the ‘My Account’ tab in SeedCert. Without consent by the applicable deadline, your production will not appear in the seed guides.

Seed Guide Deadlines:

• Alberta and British Columbia: September 16, 2026 (this deadline has passed; clients were notified in advance)
• Manitoba: September 30, 2026
• Saskatchewan: October 31, 2026
• Ontario: November 15, 2026

Please review your seed listing for accuracy by the applicable deadline before it is sent to the Branches for publication.  To do so, log in to SeedCert and select the “Seed Guide Listing Review’ form under the ‘Forms’ tab. If there are errors or omissions in your listing, or if you have questions or need assistance, contact us via email or 613-236-0497, ext. 8803.

CSGA Proposes Revisions to the Canadian Breeder Seed Requirements

CSGA is currently seeking stakeholder feedback on CSGA’s proposed revisions to the Canadian Breeder Seed Requirements relating to the criteria for recognition of plant breeders and Quality Management System (QMS) requirements for Breeder seed production, including authorization to conduct crop inspections of Breeder seed plots.

The proposed revisions aim to clarify the criteria for recognition of plant breeders, broaden the recognition of other forms of formal education, and streamline oversight mechanisms to provide greater flexibility for plant breeders. Stakeholders across the seed sector value chain are invited to share their feedback.

If you have any questions or would like to provide feedback, please email our Policy and Standards team by November 9, 2026, copying both:

Mike Scheffel, Managing Director, Policy and Standards

Gail Harris, Standards Manager

Thank you for your participation. Your feedback on these proposed revisions helps ensure a responsive and effective seed certification system that supports Canadian agriculture.

Wrap Up your Certification in SeedCert

As the season wraps up, now is a good time to log in to SeedCert and make sure there’s nothing outstanding on your account.

A few things to check:

• Review your Crop History. Visit the Crop History tab to check your fields in certification and respond to any requests for missing information. Scroll to the right to see what information or action may be required.
  • If CSGA has requested an isolation correction, make sure the reinspection has been completed and accepted by CSGA before harvesting your crop. You should also confirm that your crop has been inspected before harvest, as crops harvested before inspection are not eligible for seed certification.
• Settle your account. Check the My Payments tab to confirm your account is up to date and to access invoices or statements.
• Finalize your crop certificates. Once a crop certificate has been authorized, you’ll receive an email letting you know it’s ready for completion in SeedCert. Simply sign the digital declaration and enter your harvested quantity before cleaning.
  • Don’t have your harvested quantity yet? You can still access your crop certificate and return to complete it once that information is available.

Once finalized, click the certificate number anywhere it appears in SeedCert to open a PDF copy. You can also use the Share function on the Crop Certificates tab to send a copy directly to your seed cleaner or another third party.

Need a hand? Contact us via email or call 613-236-0497, ext. 8803. We’re always happy to help.

Proposed Circular 6 Update: Provisional Standards for Nuclear Male Sterile Hybrid Wheat

At the request of industry, CSGA recently established an ad hoc working group to develop Canadian standards for Nuclear Male Sterile (NMS) hybrid wheat.  With the support of the Regulatory Services Committee (RSC) and the Board of Directors, CSGA is proposing the addition of provisional standards for NMS hybrid wheat to Circular 6 in advance of the 2027 crop production season.

In accordance with CSGA’s Provisional Standards Policy, CSGA is providing this formal notice of the proposed change and has posted the proposed standards on its website for a 45-day stakeholder comment period.  Any feedback received will be reviewed by the RSC at its meeting in mid-November, after which the Committee will provide a recommendation to the Board of Directors for consideration at its next meeting.

For questions regarding this proposal, please contact Gail Harris.