Seed Today - Q1 2008 - (Page 30)

2008 Proposed Amendments to AOSA Rules for Testing Seeds February is a busy month for most seed laboratories. Seed lots are being tested and retested in preparation for spring planting, winter production is thriving, and carry-over is being re-tested. Today’s market requires a readily available, top quality product. This has increased the amount of testing performed on each seed lot. February is also the month that the annual proposed amendments to the AOSA Rules for Testing Seeds are published. These amendments are important as they dictate how seed will test in the laboratory. is based on an appropriate statistical procedure. 2. Another proposal will add information to section 7 regarding Tetrazolium Testing. The amendment seeks to standardize sampling, testing and calculation of results and improve the understanding of TZ testing. This proposal greatly expands the current section on Tetrazolium Testing. 3. Two proposals will change the way we test Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). The first adds Tall fescue to the list of species that use the Uniform Blowing Procedure to determine inert material. The second proposal will change the definition of the pure seed unit so that multiple florets will no longer need to be pulled apart by hand and separated into pure seed and inert matter. The proposal states that the new procedure will eliminate subjectivity, reduce labor cost, and increase test efficiency. 4. A proposal has been submitted that will add “organic growing media” to the rules. This proposal is in conjunction with a second proposal to add organic media as an alternative growing method for pelleted onion. The proposed method to use organic growing media is necessary to minimize the effect of pesticides on germination of coated onion compared to when the seed is germinated on a paper substrate. Why you should care Why should anyone, besides seed technologists, care about amendments to the AOSA Rules? The rules are the standard by which your seed will be tested for quality and for labeling compliance. Changes in testing methods can affect both the germination and pure seed percentages of your seed lot and in some cases change the value of your seed. The proposals and supporting data must be carefully reviewed by both technologists and the industry that will be impacted by these changes. 2008 Proposals A number of this year’s proposals are the result of a comprehensive effort by the Rules Issues and Review special committee. The objective of this committee is to identify procedures in the AOSA Rules that lack clarity, allow too many variables for comparative testing, or have become obsolete. The aim is to provide clear, concise, and standardized laboratory testing procedures. These proposals do not fundamentally alter the way seed is tested. Several other proposals may impact the way in which seed is tested. 1. There is a proposal to make changes to the maximum tolerated difference of noxious weed seeds when a second test, or regulatory test, is significantly different that the first test, or label claim. The proposal states that the current table is based on an unsuitable equation for this application and that the proposed new tolerance table How you can get involved The rules proposed will be available on the AOSA website (www.aosaseed.com) by March 1. We welcome your comments. Send correspondence to the Rules Committee Chair and participate in the on-line discussion format. All correspondence received will be shared with the AOSA and SCST membership prior to voting on the rules in June. We also invite you to attend the meeting in St. Paul, MN, June 7-11, and participate in the open Rules session during which each proposal will be discussed in detail. Anita Hall SCST Executive Director scst@twcny.rr.com www.seedtechnology.net Dr. Brent Turnipseed, RST AOSA President www.aosaseed.com http://www.aosaseed.com http://www.seedtechnology.net http://www.aosaseed.com http://www.aosaseed.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Seed Today - Q1 2008

Seed Today - Q1 2008 Contents Editor’s Notes Cover Feature: Agrecol® Corporation Reed Barker, Ph.D. Cal/West Seeds Inc. Annual GM Use Report Bt Resistance Reported Camelina Tony Harper Gayle Jacklin According to ASTA Krauter Structures AOSCA AOSA/SCST GM and Greenhouse Gas Seed Associations Ad Index

Seed Today - Q1 2008

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