1930s Genuineness and Quality

The 1930s were a difficult time for seed associations and the nation. At the ninth annual meeting in 1930, William Burlison, head of the Department of Agronomy at the University of Illinois, spoke about “Crop Improvement Associations and Their Place in State Agriculture.” His predictions proved to be a guiding light as hybrid corn began to influence the association and agriculture. Quality and yield contests developed by the association demonstrated the benefits of hybrid corn and seed certification in general. The continued standardization of seed production practices, with the benefits shown through contests and educational efforts, laid the groundwork for a modern seed industry. An industry focused on delivering “genuineness and quality” to seed buyers.