New York Seed Improvement Project
The New
York Seed Improvement Project:
- Produces and distributes foundation
seed stocks for NY seed growers
- Provides seed certification
services for NY seed growers and companies.
- Develops educational
programs and materials encouraging the production and distribution
of high quality seed for NY farmers.
The New York Seed Improvement Project (NYSIP) operates within Cornell's
Plant Breeding extension program. It includes two divisions:
Foundation Division: The goal of this division is to
develop foundation seed stocks from breeder seed, as the base for
further seed production. Plant breeders normally produce small
amounts of seed of new varieties, usually ounces or pounds. This
seed is designated as "breeder seed". Personnel in the Foundation
Division of NYSIP take breeder seed and increase this to the larger
quantities (bushels or tons) needed as planting stocks for Certified
seed growers.
Certification Division: Certified seed is recognized in national
and state legislation as seed meeting high standards for genetic purity and
quality. In New York seed certification responsibilities is delegated to
Cornell by the Commissioner of the NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets.
At Cornell, these responsibilities are assigned to the Department of Plant
Breeding and Biometry, and to the NY Seed Improvement Project (NYSIP) within
that department. Trained inspectors from this project inspect seed fields
to make sure these meet the high standards required for Certified seed. Harvested
seed lots must pass high quality standards. Certified seed (labeled with
its distinctive blue tag) provides a standard for seed quality for NY farmers.
For information on growing or purchasing foundation seed contact:
Don Shardlow, Project Manager.
Project Personnel
Alan Westra, Project Manager
Lena Gray, Office Manager
Pat Meenen, Bookkeeper
Margaret Smith, Project Leader
NYSIP Address: Office
NY Seed Improvement Project
Leland Fieldhouse
Ithaca, NY 14853-1901
Phone: 607 255-9869
FAX: 607 255-9048
E-mail:
nysip@cornell.edu
Seed Plant (McGowan Barn)
791 Dryden Road
Ithaca, NY 14483-1901
Phone: 607 272-1691
FAX: 607 255-6683
E-mail: nysip@cornell.edu
