THE INTERNATIONAL Crop Improvement Association has had a significant influence on certification policy in the United States and Canada. The idea of obtaining greater uniformity in certified seed produced under the supervision of the different seed-certifying agencies was first discussed at a meeting in St. Paul, Minn., on July 11, 1919. Six men from Ontario, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin gathered to discuss the possibilities of forming an organization to strengthen the efforts of individual seed-certification agencies.

This conference led to the organization of the International Crop Improvement Association (ICIA) in Chicago, Ill., on December 2, 1919.

The first comprehensive set of minimum standards for the certification of seeds was prepared by the ICIA in the early 1940's and published in 1945. These have become the reference for certifying agencies in the United States and Canada. Other organizations throughout the world have used them as guides in setting up certification schemes. The standards have been revised from time to time. Copies of the booklet are available from State seed-certifying agencies.

The ICIA also developed procedures for interagency certification and helped to establish the National Foundation Seed Program.

Nearly all the certification agencies in Canada and the United States were affiliated with ICIA in 1961. It has brought plant breeders, seed specialists, analysts, control officials, research workers, certification personnel, and the seed industry together to develop better methods for making seeds of improved varieties available to the consumer.

That certification of seeds in the United States is important is attested by the fact that 45 States operated certification programs in 1961 and more than 5 billion pounds of seed and propagating materials of good varieties were certified.

The basic function of a seed certification program is to serve agriculture. A measure of the service is the thoroughness with which improved varieties have been distributed to American farmers. Not all farmers plant certified seed regularly, but at least a few farmers in nearly every community plant certified seed of improved varieties often enough to have a beneficial effect on the entire community.

It is mainly through the certification programs that varieties released by experiment stations have been increased and distributed.

The certification tag or label tells the planter that the seed so labeled is the variety it is said to be; that the germ plasm and performance were known to the plant breeder who developed the variety; that it has been tested under various environments and management systems; and that its potential is known.

It tells him that it is a good variety not necessarily the best under all conditions but a satisfactory one where its use is recommended.

It also tells him that a sample of the seed has been tested in the laboratory and found to meet certain minimum requirements as to germination and that it met certain requirements as to limitation of weed seeds, other crop seeds, and inert matter.

The certification label can be thought of as the stamp of acceptability from an impartial agency. The label does not mean that the seed is perfect the physical quality of the seed may vary. But it is a safety feature for sellers and buyers of seeds. For example, tests of trueness to type with Ranger alfalfa showed that farmers who buy noncertified Ranger seed have less than a 50-percent chance of getting actual Ranger performance in the crop.

The certification agencies do not buy or sell certified seed or market it directly. They develop programs to promote the use of certified seed of adapted varieties.

Certified seed is distributed through the established seed-marketing channels seed firms, brokers, retailers, and others who normally engage in the merchandising of seeds. In some crops, such as small grains, soybeans, and hybrid corn, certified seed is often sold by the growers to other farmers.

Production of certified seed is increasing throughout the world.

Each year more certified seed gets into national and international trade channels hence a need for minimum certification standards having worldwide acceptance.

Under the sponsorship of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, "Minimum Certification Standards for Maize in European and Mediterranean Countries" and "Minimum Certification Standards for Cereals in the Near East" have been developed and adopted by the countries in the respective regions.

More recently, the Organization for European Economic Cooperation developed a "Scheme for the Certification of Herbage Seeds Moving in International Trade," which has been accepted by all member countries in Europe.

Such an international certification scheme is of interest to seed-rowers and seedsmen in the United States as seeds of varieties from several European countries are being produced in the Western States for export to the respective originating countries.

FRANK G. PARSONS is a specialist in the Department of Agronomy, University of California, at Davis, and secretary- treasurer of the California Crop Improvement Association.

CARLTON S. GARRISON is Leader, Seed Production Investigations, Forage and Range Research Branch, Agricultural Research Service. He was secretary-treasurer of the International Crop Improvement Association for 12 years.

KELLER E. BEESON is an extension agronomist in the Department of Agronomy of Purdue University and secretary-treasurer of the Indiana Crop Improvement Association.