Medium
The State Seed Department is the state’s designated authority for certification of seed potatoes. The program is responsible for the management of all processes involved in the production of certified seed potatoes including field inspection, post-harvest testing, shipping point inspections and wholesale potato dealer licensing. The program also manages a potato seed stock program for the production of minituber stocks. The program also administers special programs such as USDA GAP/GHP inspections and audits and Potato Cyst Nematode sampling. Program staff play an active role in promoting North Dakota certified seed potatoes in cooperation with the North Dakota Certified Seed Potato Growers Association.
Services Provided
- Establish rules and standards for seed potato certification
- Perform field inspection in support of certification and custom programs
- Conduct shipping point (Grade) inspections of seed and commercial potatoes
- Provide audit certification services for USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP) for processing and table stock
- GAP audit email: GAP@ndseed.ndsu.edu
- Produce pre-nuclear generation seed minitubers
- Manage post-harvest winter testing program
- Cooperate with NDSU scientists, faculty and staff in research efforts related to pathology and breeding
- Cooperate with NDSU Extension in providing production information to seed and commercial growers
- Cooperate with ND Department of Agriculture in surveys of injurious potato pests identified by USDA