b'CSGA / SEEDGROWERS.CA / ENABLING SEED GROWERS TO EVOLVECSGAS IMPROVED CIRCULAR 6 BENEFITS EVERYONEON FEB. 1, 2020, a modernized and completely reformattedthe opportunity to supplement the version of the Canadian Regulations and Procedures forproduction experience and are likely Pedigreed Seed Crop Production (Circular 6) was issueda more efficient and effective way of in time for the 2020 crop production season. ensuring that accredited Plot Growers Over the past year, with the help of working groups,have the competency to maintain the plant breeders, CFIA and other stakeholders, CSGA hasvarietal identity and purity neces-continued to work on developing certification require- sary for higher generation seed crop ments for new crop types as well as making continuousproduction.improvements to existing requirements that took effect onRevised requirements for the 2021 Feb. 1 for the 2021 crop production season. production season incorporate the New certification requirements have been developeduse of eLearning tools and include Mike Scheffel,for Feminized Hemp Seed for Certified productionchanges to the prior experience CSGA Managingof FHS varieties which produce only female plants,required to commence probation, Director, Policy andCertified and Foundation production of Composite andincluding the type of crops which Standards Synthetic Mustard (S. alba) and Certified production ofhave been previously produced, the Hybrid Wheat with Individual Parent Lines planted insize of probation plots and the length bays or strips. of the probationary period. Some significant changes have been made to the long- The new CSGA eLearning and standing requirements for higher generation status seedProfessional Development program production including the requirements for Plot Growerwill launch in autumn 2021. accreditation and Foundation status seed production of Section 2 and 3 crop kinds. Other revisions include clari- Foundation Status Seed Production of fication of isolation requirements for Select and ProbationSection 2 & 3 Crop Kindsplots, higher voluntary or additional certification require- Until now, only accredited Plot ments, clarifications regarding authorized inspectors andGrowers could produce Foundation crop inspection, and CSGAs authority to determine seedstatus seed crops of most Section 2 crop certification eligibility. and 3 crop kinds including cereals, small grains, and pulses. The one Modernized Requirements for Plot Grower Accreditation exception has been soybean, subject For many years, seed growers have been required to goto certain requirements, as companies through a probationary period to obtain Plot Groweroften found it difficult to find grow-accreditation that allows them to produce Select plots ofers to produce their higher genera-crops such as wheat and soybeans or Foundation plots oftion seed crops, particularly in some canola or hemp. The requirements include three years ofareas. seed production experience before commencing proba- However, the exceptional require-tion and then three years of probation plot production. ments for soybean were an admin-Many have argued that six years is too long andistrative challenge for seed growers, discourages seed growers from seeking accreditation. seed companies and CSGA staff. Others have argued that it is an unnecessary barrier thatThey also meant that soybean seed is not effective in ensuring that the grower has the com- production companies did not have petencies required to produce higher generation stockto have their Foundation seed crops seed. CSGAs requirements for Plot Grower accreditationproduced by accredited Plot Growers, remained the same these past 30 yearsuntil now. unlike companies working with all Over the past year CSGA has developed eLearningthe other crop kinds in Sections 2 curricula to support the professional development of seedand 3.growers. There are approximately 10 modules, eachEnabling all seed growers to pro-focusing on different topics such as roguing that would beduce Foundation seed will provide beneficial for Plot Growers, and a module that specificallynew opportunities for seed growers focuses on plot production. and companies and could result in The current requirements focus entirely on produc- more Foundation seed crop produc-ing pedigreed seed crops. These new tools providetion in Canada. 16GERMINATION.CAMARCH 2021'