January 31, 2023

CSGA Awarded AAFC AgriAssurance Program Funding

We are pleased to announce that CSGA has been approved for funding under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) AgriAssurance Program. The project is funded under the National Industry Association (NIA) Component, which supports national-level projects to help the sector develop and adopt systems, standards, and tools to support Canadian agricultural and agri-food products.

Under the AAFC project, the Association is proud to continue delivering on many key priorities, including:

• Continuing its digital transition, including digital seed tags for Select and Breeder seed, continued digitalization of our business processes and developing a variety access console to provide easier access to variety production information for Canadian variety representatives.
• Modernizing the Breeder Seed Regulations
• Developing and launching an awareness campaign on the value of Certified seed and seed certification system

The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, says, “Transparency is essential to ensure that the public and producers trust the agricultural industry. This initiative by the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association further builds on that foundation of trust and transparency and strengthens Canada’s seed certification system both domestically and internationally.”

We invite you to read the full press release here.

We Want Your Feedback on Digital Seed Tags

Digital seed tags are a key element of CSGA modernization efforts, and we are proud to be starting a research pilot supported by the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Agri-Assurance Program to introduce digitally-enabled seed tags for Breeder and Select class seed, the two pedigreed seed classes within CSGA’s authority.

This pilot project will provide the option to print your Breeder and Select seed tags from CSGA’s SeedCert digital platform on tags provided by CSGA. The tags will have improved security measures to help minimize fraud risks and increase the value and confidence in pedigreed seed. They will also have a QR (Quick Response) code that, when scanned, links users to a Tag Validation Page that verifies the authenticity of the seed and supports the option of sharing additional seed information with growers, assignees and buyers.

As we begin this important work, your feedback via this short survey will further guide the development of this research pilot. We appreciate your input and look forward to sharing updates.

Revised Circular 6 Available Online

As Canada’s national seed crop certification authority, CSGA continues to improve the Canadian Regulations and Procedures for Pedigreed Seed Crop Production (Circular 6) to ensure that standards are updated, internationally harmonized, and incorporate new technology.

Following a consultation with members and sector stakeholders, regulation and standard changes have been made to Circular 6 effective for the 2023 growing season. For a complete list of changes, please read the Notice of Changes.

To ensure crops are produced according to regulations, growers and assignees must consult the appropriate sections of Circular 6. Please download the latest version available on CSGA’s website.

Should you have questions on these revisions, please contact Gail Harris, Manager, Standards, or call (613) 236-0497 ext. 227.

Congratulations to our 2022 Long Service Seed Growers!

In recognition of their decades of pedigreed seed production in Canada, please help us congratulate the 267 CSGA members that received their Long Service Certificates in 2022!

From 35 to 60 years, thank you for your tireless work supporting the Certified seed brand and Canadian agriculture. Digital certificates will be sent out in late January, and those celebrating 35 years or more will also receive a certificate by mail.

For the complete list of recipients, please click here.

Logging into SeedCert

We have recently made upgrades to SeedCert to strengthen our system.  As such, some users may need to reset their password to access their accounts.  To do so, please click “Forgot Password?” and follow the prompts. We appreciate your cooperation.

Looking to Purchase Seed for Next Crop Season?

Seed buyers across the country are making their seeding plans for the upcoming crop year. CSGA’s online National Pedigreed Seed Locator and the provincial seed guides are important resources to locate and purchase seed of the variety and class needed for your farming operation. Use the search menu in Seed Locator to find Pedigreed seed by province, crop kind and variety.

On The Edge of Canada! CSGA’s Annual General Meeting

After three years of virtual AGMs, we are pleased to welcome attendees and their families to this year’s Annual General Meeting in beautiful St. John’s, Newfoundland, held July 8 to July 10, 2023.

While more details, sponsorship opportunities and registration links are coming soon, we wanted to give you a snapshot of the agenda and types of activities you can look forward to this summer. You won’t want to miss it! Visit our AGM webpage.

• Saturday, July 8, afternoon: Join us on one of the organized group activities we have planned!
• Sunday, July 9: Join the AGM business sessions or participate in the Companion or Children’s programs. On Sunday evening, you’re invited to SeCan’s “Rally in the Alley” on George Street! It’s going to be a blast!
• Monday, July 10 morning: Final AGM Business Sessions and our very special Awards Luncheon

You will be able to register for everything using one easy link, so stay tuned for more information! In the meantime, please let us know if you are thinking of coming out to Newfoundland and if you’re bringing your family. Click here to answer a couple of quick questions.

CSGA Webinars Available Online

Last fall, CSGA hosted two webinars on issues top of mind for our members: our standard-setting principles and process, as well as an update on the Breeder Seed Regulations review. Thank you to all those who participated in each session and shared feedback!

Both webinars are now available online on our YouTube channel. We invite you to view these webinars anytime and let us know if you have any questions.

CSGA Standards Development Webinar, November 8, 2022

This webinar presented more information about our standard-setting principles and the diversity of value chain stakeholders involved in our committees and expert working groups. We discussed opportunities for the continued modernization of CSGA’s standard development process through CSGA 2.0 concepts, such as a Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Committee and external appointments to CSGA Committees.

Breeder Seed Regulations Review Webinar, December 12, 2022

This webinar provided more information on the proposed revisions to the Breeder Seed Regulations and gathered feedback. The public consultation on these proposed revisions closed on January 15, 2023.

Did you find the information helpful? What topics would you like to see us cover in 2023? You can email us or call 613.236.0497 ext. 229. All feedback is welcome.

Train Your Team with CSGA Learn

Seed businesses come in all shapes and sizes, but knowledgeable team members that are up to date on best production practices are essential to the success of any seed sector business. Whether you’re training new employees or updating the skills of current team members, CSGA Learn provides online learning options to help maintain that blue tag reputation for your seed business.

As a CSGA Learn team manager, you can:

• Choose specific CSGA Learn materials that best fit the needs of your business.
• Manage your team’s online training in one easy-to-access site.
• Managers can organize the learning of team members and track their progress.

Plus, each employee gets their own login and can learn at their own pace. Please email us if you have a large team or have questions about bulk training purchases. We’re happy to help!

Help Your Employees Understand Their
Vital Role in The Canadian Seed Sector! Learn more here.

Deadline Approaching to Apply to Start Plot Probation Production

Plot production might be a great opportunity for your business if you’ve been a long-time grower of seed crops in Canada. Plot production facilitates the first stage of seed multiplication for most non-hybrid annual crops. Plant breeders work with CSGA-accredited Plot Growers to multiply Breeder seed for a new variety, which in turn becomes Foundation, Registered and/or Certified seed.

Many plot growers appreciate the financial and competitive benefits which can be realized from having early access to new traits and genetics and gaining a strong understanding of the agronomic characteristics and management needs of new varieties.

Knowledgeable seed customers, in turn, appreciate the hard work that plot growers put in removing off-types, sanitizing their plot planting, harvesting equipment, and carefully segregating plot seed storage to produce clean, high-quality seed as they increase the supply of new varieties.

Succession Planning for Accredited Plot Growers

Succession plans are required for situations where an accredited plot grower can no longer produce Select plots.  If there is only access to a single accredited Plot Grower, the business risks losing access to self-produced Select status seed if their accredited grower is no longer able to produce Select Plots since Select plot production accreditation is linked to an individual seed grower and not to a business or farm.

An effective plot production succession plan ensures that a second or third seed grower in the business has also been accredited by CSGA as a Plot Grower. In the event of a death, retirement or partnership separation, a succession plan ensures the business can continue to produce its own Select Plots. If a seed grower family business or partnership is suddenly left without their accredited Plot Grower, another family member or partner must then complete the Probation Plot process to become a CSGA-accredited Plot Grower.

Applying to Commence Probation Plot Production
Now is the right time to think about starting in plot production. To obtain the accreditation, an individual grower must successfully complete a probation in plot production. For more details on application requirements, please visit this page. Remember that the Application to Commence Probation Plot Production (Form 154) must be submitted to the CSGA before March 31 for spring-seeded crops and July 31 for fall-seeded crops.

CSGA Learn

Experience plot growers and growers starting plot probation are encouraged to take CSGA’s new online CSGA Learn Plot Probation Program. The course covers roguing, best management practices for plot production, and more. Those who choose to complete the online learning program can accelerate their path to becoming a CSGA-accredited plot grower.

Recognizing Breeding Achievement – 2023 CPBI Recipients

CSGA is proud to sponsor Germination Magazine’s Canadian Plant Breeder Innovation Scholarship Awards, where each year, scholarships are awarded to students enrolled at a master’s or Ph.D. level in plant breeding or plant genetics.

This year, three outstanding students each received a $3,500 scholarship as part of these awards.

Congratulations Jérôme Gélinas Bélanger, Loveleen Kaur Dhillon, and Ritesh Kumar Yadav! Read more about each of them here.