- Call or write for the regulations
(Circular 15) and
an application blank for the crop you want to certify. These are
furnished by the Plant Board. Study these regulations carefully
(Application
for Soybeans, Rice or Small Grains), (Application
for Cotton). A list of seed applied on for certification
is maintained in the Arkansas
Certified Seed Directory.
- Secure an approved source
of seed. Check the regulation on this point.
- Send the completed application to
Plant Board Office, Little Rock. Unless you use your own certified
seed, be sure to include with your application a copy of the invoice
showing purchase of the seed, a set of tags from one of the bags
and about a one pound representative sample of the seed. Check
the regulations for each crop as to time applications should
be made.
- Completely clean all planting equipment
of other seeds and plant the seed for certification in a field
which is relatively free of noxious
weeds, and one which conforms to the regulations as to isolation
from other crops and to crops grown on this field in previous
years. Check the regulations on these points for the seed you
are certifying.
- Prior to the field inspection by
the Plant Board, be sure to rogue your field of noxious weeds,
other crops and off-type plants. This is a very important point
and if the job is done well it may mean the difference of the
seed being certified or disqualified.
- Be sure to notify the Plant Board
office about two weeks ahead of the expected harvest date so that
the necessary field inspection can be made. (Always make sure
the field has been inspected before harvesting the field.)
- Completely clean all harvesting
equipment and storage of all other seeds so that no mixture will
occur at this point. The method of harvesting and the storage
should be approved by the Plant Board (check the cotton regulations
for special requirements as to ginning and storage of seed).
- After harvest is completed, report
to the Plant Board the number of bushels of seed saved for certification.
- Keep a close check on the seed in
storage to see that the moisture content is low enough to prevent
heating. Before cleaning, send in a representative sample for
a preliminary test. This would not be an official test, but would
give information as to the quality of the seed for conditioning
decisions.
- Use the best equipment available
for cleaning and treating seed. If
you are using someone else's facilities to clean your seed, you
may request that the Plant Board inspect the cleaning equipment
just prior to the cleaning of your seed.
- New containers, approved reusable
containers, or dedicated bulk bins must be used
for seed that is for certification.
- After the seed has been cleaned,
notify the Plant Board and an official representative sample for
an analysis and moisture test will be taken by the Plant Board
Inspector. This is the final step, and if the analysis conforms
to the regulations, you are in line for tags or bulk certificates
on your seed. Cottonseed may be officially sampled before being
cleaned either in bulk or bags. (Note: only certified blue-tag
grade may be sampled in the bulk and be eligible for tags or certificates.)
- Tags and/or bulk certificates are
issued when ordered by the applicant.
- By carefully following the outline
above you should not experience too much difficulty in getting
your seed certified. If at any time you have questions or are
in doubt about the next step to take, please feel free to contact
the Plant Board Certification office.
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