Since hemp was authorized as a commercial plant two years ago, producers are still experiencing difficulties in acquiring a consistent and regular supply of credible, predictable genetics. This comes as the budding sector launches itself and crop-breeding measures continue.
Farmers seeking to acquire trustworthy hemp genetics should settle for seed from varieties which have been produced in tandem with standards evaluated and administered by a seed certifying department.
Seed certification parameters are adopted by AOSCA the Association Of Official Seed Certifying Agencies and locally enforced by seed-certifying commissions.
Seed certification needs for varietal purity are featured in America’s Federal Seed Act and have been attached to other agricultural plants, such as Hemp, for several years.
The final objective is to allow the seed organization to produce and advertise pure genetic seed. this merits seed buyers through ensuring that they get a pure variety that they bought.
Regulations for producing licensed seed include field inspections, land requirements, planting quality parent stock, complete seed lab evaluation and appropriate seed labelling.
Chet Boruff, AOSCA CEO said that seed certification is unfamiliar to the hemp sector and there is some confusion about how the procedure works.
Seed certification is a two-phase procedure.
Chet said that the first step begins with a crop breeder who has crafted a new variety plant type. The breeder then submits the invented variety for analysis.
He added that the evaluation adheres to regulations featured in the Federal Seed Act such as meticulous clarification of the breeding background and methods used to create the variety as well as traits to determine it’s uniform, stable and distinct.
The second phase entails production of hemp clones, transplants and seeds. The variety proprietor will submit his/her variety to a local seed licensing agency to proliferate the parent seed of the variety by cultivating a seed plant for sale using AOSCA’s parameters to keep up varietal purity.
