1955 Official Recognition

In 1955, the Illinois State Legislature codified the role of Illinois Crop Improvement as the official seed certification agency. Illinois Crop Improvement was previously recognized by regulation under the State Seed and Weed Law. During this same timeframe, several other states also found that they were recognized but not authorized to perform seed certification to the satisfaction of those interpreting and enforcing the Federal Seed Act. The Illinois Legislature granted authority to the University of Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station and the Illinois Crop Improvement Association as the certifying agent. The 1950s saw several other organizational changes, including the end of the corn and wheat contests , and interstate-certification, now known as interagency-certification, began in earnest in 1950 with oat seed produced in Illinois and processed in New York State.