To cooperate with other agencies in supporting and sponsoring educational activities related to improved seed and production practices. To develop, establish and adopt rules, regulations and standards for the growing, conditioning and certification of seed. To develop, establish and adopt a uniform nomenclature for all classes of certified seed and to require the use of uniform and distinct tags, emblems or marks on the classes of seed officially certified by the Association. To verify eligibility of planting stocks, to carry out such field and seed inspection services as required in seed certification, to designate lots of seed by appropriate certification class, and to issue tags, seals and other documentary evidence of certification class. To publicize, advertise and otherwise promote the merits and use of certified seed.
Certified seed provides correct variety identity and assures varietal purity.
Acceptance is based on data and information that must show the variety to be distinct or novel in one or more respects. Varieties for certification may be developed by public or private plant breeders. The first seed of anew variety is grown under supervision of the plant breeder and is called Breeder's seed. Breeder's seed is turned over to the Association's Foundation Seed Stocks Division at SDSU and is planted to produce the Foundation seed class. Certified seed, which is the seed of commerce, is then produced from either Foundation or Registered seed.