Utah Crop - Certification Procedures

Summary of Requirements & Standards

1. Contact the Utah Crop Improvement Association before planting to obtain applications to grow certified seed, or before collecting to obtain pre-collection applications and site identification logs for wild-collected seed.

2. Plant Foundation or Registered seed or proper generation of pre-variety germplasm or vegetatively propagated crops eligible for certification. Save the tags or bulk sale certificate or other documentation to establish proof of seed origin and class.

3. Select clean, weed-free ground. A pre-planting inspection is strongly suggested before planting perennial crops. Check certification regulations to see if the field meets all of the requirements such as isolation from other varieties, and crop history of the land for the previous year.

4. Clean the drill and planting equipment (inspection by UCIA representative is optional but is strongly suggested for inexperienced certified growers).

5. Rogue the field for diseased plants, other crops, varieties and weeds.

6. Request a field inspection (or a site inspection for selected or tested wildland sites) by a UCIA representative before harvesting.

7. Clean the combine, bulk trucks and storage areas to remove crop and weed seeds before harvesting certified fields. An inspection of the harvesting equipment by a UCIA representative or grower signature on a UCIA harvesting equipment checklist is required.

8. Have the seed cleaned only in approved certified seed cleaning plants (or on the farm facilities by special permission).

9. Store certified seed in clean bins or bag in new, clean sacks.

10. A representative of the UCIA will draw a sample for analysis in the Utah State Seed Lab or other accredited lab by special permission.

11. To complete the certification process, bags must be tagged or bulk certificates issued under the supervision of the UCIA.