Illinois Crop Improvement Association, Inc.

Phytosanitary Field Inspections under the National Seed Health System (NSHS)
Phytosanitary certificates are often required when exporting seed or grain from the United States. In the state of Illinois, ICIA field inspectors are accredited under the NSHS to conduct disease evaluations during the growing season. The University of Illinois makes an official diagnosis based on plant tissue samples submitted by the ICIA inspector. The IDOA, under the authority of the USDA, ultimately issues the official certificate based on ICIA reports. The National Seed Health System (NSHS) operates under the authorization of the United States Department of Agriculture – Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA – APHIS).www.seedhealth.org

Source Identified Program for Wildland Collected Seed
Wildland collected seed encompasses three distinct classes under the AOSCA Pre-Variety Germplasm Certification Standards. The "Tested” and “Selected" classes are the result of plants selected and advanced with the intention of producing a superior or unique line from a native population. Source Identified is a class of propagating materials collected from natural stands where no selection or testing of the parent population was conducted. The purpose of this seed certification program is to maintain and make available to the public, quality seed of source-identified species of native plants so produced, handled, and distributed as to ensure proper labeling and identity. The Illinois Crop Improvement program specifically addresses the Source Identified class of seed production under the AOSCA Wildland Collected Seed/Pre-Variety Germplasm Certification Standards.

Weed Free Forage Program
Illinois Crop Improvement Association is now authorized through the North American Weed Management Association to offer a program for Certified Weed Free Forage and Mulch. There is a growing demand in North America for the use of Certified Weed Free Forage and Mulch as a preventive program in Integrated Weed Management systems to limit the spread of noxious weeds. Certified Weed Free Forage and Mulch can help protect natural resources and natural habitats for wildlife, preserve the aesthetic value of natural scenery and prevent the introduction and continuing spread of noxious weeds through interstate movement of forage and mulch products. Certain state and federal agencies have forage-restricted areas where only Certified Weed Free Forage and Mulch can be used for feeding animals or as a ground cover. ICIA now offers this program to give producers an opportunity to move forage and mulch freely in restricted areas intrastate, interstate and internationally, whenever forage for livestock, wildlife or vegetation projects is needed. Please contact Doug Miller at ICIA for more information.

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