New Responsibilities for Seed Growers Beginning in 2014
The Canadian Seed Growers’ Association offers their tips for success moving forward with ASD.
“Going into 2014, the world will change for seed growers and this will impact your responsibilities as a seed grower. Before applying to CSGA for seed crop certification, seed growers will need to secure the services and then designate, on their application, an Authorized Seed Crop Inspection Service (ASCIS) operating in their region or Province”. This is the direction being given by Dale Adolphe, Executive Director of CSGA. That is just one of several changes that seed growers should expect in 2014. The following is a list of some of the changes that will impact seed growers and seed growers’ responsibilities under ASD in 2014 (and beyond):
• More than a simple application for inspection will be required.
Seed growers will need to identify on the CSGA application for seed crop inspection form, the name of the authorized seed crop inspection service they will be using. This identification, or designation, will be done for each field being applied for inspection. This could mean more than one service provider may be designated by the applicant, if the application includes crop kinds or higher generations and plots for which no qualified licensed inspectors exist. Field maps and directions to seed crops must be submitted to the service provider. CSGA no longer requires maps and directions be sent to CSGA. For seed crop traceability, CSGA applications will still require legal land locations and/or GPS coordinates for each field to be inspected.
Seed growers in Canada have to be prepared for the changes to seed inspection that take effect in 2014.
• Know your inspection service before applying for inspection.
To be able to designate an authorized seed crop inspection service, a seed grower should contact and confirm with the service that the service is willing and able to perform the inspection(s). The official list of seed crop inspection services authorized by CFIA will be posted to the CSGA website after December 31. The region(s) in which each authorized seed crop inspection service is operating and the crop kinds and pedigreed classes the service’s licensed inspectors are qualified to inspect will also be posted.
• Pay your inspection fees to the inspection service directly.
Seed growers will pay inspection fees directly to the seed crop inspection service but will continue to pay CSGA fees, branch fees and any applicable CFIA fees to CSGA at the time of application for seed crop certification. In 2014, growers will be able to pay CSGA fees via credit card, debit card or cheque.
• Know what your inspection fees are.
The seed crop inspection fees of authorized inspection services are expected to vary from service to service and region to region. It is in your best interests to confirm with a licensed service provider not only their availability but also their inspection fees. In some cases, you might find an inspection service is willing to negotiate their fee based on field locations, sizes, numbers, crop kind, etc. This is, however, totally between the seed grower and the authorized inspection service.
• Confirm inspections with the inspection service.
It is expected most licensed seed crop inspection services will require payment prior to inspection so those arrangements should be finalized prior to making application to CSGA.
• Don’t miss applying before the deadline date.
Making application and confidently designating an inspection service prior to the application deadlines will be critically important. Although CSGA will be working with service providers in an electronic format, which will speed up communication, inspection services might not have an adequate number of inspectors to inspect your fields if your application is made after the application deadline. Late applications increase the risk of not getting the field inspected. Because adherence to application deadline dates is even more critical with multiple service providers, CSGA is, beginning in 2014, assessing a fee for late applications. These late fees can be avoided by ensuring applications are submitted by the deadline dates.
• Apply online for faster service and provide your email address or fax number.
Seed growers are strongly encouraged to use the online application option on the CSGA www.seedgrowers.ca web site. As much as possible, communication with seed growers is also moving toward an electronic format. The speed of electronic communication will be an important component of moving information back and forth between growers, CSGA, CFIA and inspection services as the industry transitions to seed crop inspection services authorized by CFIA. If you do not have your email address and/or fax number included in your CSGA member profile, please provide them to the CSGA office as soon as possible. No email address or fax number on file or provided with your application will result in a penalty being assessed to your account.
• Make your own arrangements if a re-inspection is required.
If a re-inspection of your field(s) is required, it will be the seed grower’s responsibility to contact the authorized inspection service to arrange for the re-inspection.
• Post-control variety verification testing by CFIA is still required.
CSGA will notify growers and/or assignees of fields that require a representative seed sample for post-control variety verification testing by the CFIA. Growers and/or assignees will need to draw and retain these seed samples and submit them directly to CFIA.
“The most important responsibility for seed growers will be to stay informed,” says Adolphe. “2014 represents a year of change for seed growers and CSGA. We all need to be aware of the changes and how they are impacting our businesses and business practices.”
