1958 Drill Box Survey – Oat

While not the first state to conduct drill box surveys, Illinois’ cooperative efforts in assessing seed quality started with small grains in the late 1950s. The association’s 1958 drill box survey for oat showed a wide range of quality. Half of all farmers surveyed were using homegrown non-certified seed. Laboratory analysis of the non-certified seed samples were shown to have six times the weed seed content, 30% more inert matter, and six times as much seed of other crops as certified. Indeed, it demonstrated the value of certification, but unfortunately, it was a sign that seed certification had not been universally accepted by year 36 in the association’s history.