Illinois Crop Improvement Association, Inc.

Shortly after Illinois Crop Improvement Association was created, the need for a seed laboratory to help assess the quality of seed being certified was evident. The first laboratory was operated in conjunction with the University of Illinois Ag Experiment Station. As time went by and seed testing volume increased, it was necessary to bring the seed laboratory into ICIA’s headquarters building. Many things have changed in seed production and testing since ICIA was founded. Seed certification is still a part of our business, but the seed laboratory has evolved into a full service laboratory offering traditional seed testing for professional seed production companies and seed testing services for all segments of the agricultural industry.

Quality seed testing has always been a source of pride for Illinois Crop Improvement Association and its members. The seed laboratory has been staffed by qualified, well-trained, experienced analysts from the very beginning. The seed lab managers or directors have been registered members of the Society of Commercial Seed Technologists since the 1960’s, almost 40 years. At the present time, our permanent staff consists of a seed lab director/registered seed technologist with 27 years of seed testing experience, an assistant seed lab director with 14 years of experience in the seed industry and three seed analysts with numerous years of experience in the seed industry and seed testing. All of the seed laboratory staff routinely attends seed workshops and training schools in order to increase and maintain skill levels. All of our seed lab personnel have agricultural backgrounds, which we see as an important asset when it comes to testing seed.

Referee testing is conducted routinely with other US and international laboratories as well as proficiency testing sponsored by the Society of Commercial Seed Technologists. The ICIA seed laboratory was one of the charter members of the Illinois Seed Technologists/Seed Analysts Committee sponsored by Illinois Seed Trade Association. The Seed Analysts Committee has been conducting referees on corn and soybean germination and vigor testing since the early 1970’s. At the present time, there are 40 laboratories throughout the central part of the US that participate, including several state laboratories.

The ICIA seed laboratory is capable of conducting a wide variety of traditional seed tests on a wide number of crop species. We can meet your other seed or grain testing requirements through Illinois Crop Improvement’s Identity Preserved Grain Laboratory, Field Services/Greenhouse for genetic testing or Puerto Rico Winter Farm for growout, nursery, and winter production needs.

We will not recommend testing of any kind that does not benefit you, the people we serve. The Illinois Crop Improvement Association seed laboratory offers top quality seed testing on a timely basis at a reasonable rate.

	ICIA Test Procedures Our seed testing is completed according to Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA), International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), Federal Seed Act (FSA), Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), or proprietary Illinois Crop Improvement Association, Inc. (ICIA) methodologies and procedures. The use of strict standards enables us to produce accurate and repeatable results while providing turnaround times second to none.
	Reports Results are available within minutes of a completed analysis. ICIA offers several different ways of receiving your results to meet your needs. We have internet access available with download capabilities, official test result reports, fax, and phone. Reports may be sealed by our RST at your request.
	Laboratory Visits The ICIA seed laboratory is always happy to welcome visitors and customers into our laboratory. Stop by anytime for a visit or a tour. Please understand that we secure customer laboratory documents while you are visiting our facilities. All necessary measures are taken to ensure the confidentiality of our customers’ information. For larger groups, please call ahead for arrangements.

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