NDCISA Survey Results
(589 of 2400 responding)

1. How many years have you grown certified seed?

2. Circle years you have grow certified seed:  1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 

3. Does the current Seed Increase Program through Crop Improvement effectively

distribute & increase new varieties?   

4. Does the proposed grower classification plan appear reasonable?  

5. Would such a system improve distribution & increase of varieties?

6. Is the current seed pricing system satisfactory?  

7. Would you like to see price flexibility at the county level?  

8. What minimum size would you prefer for seed allotments?

9. Please include any additional comments:

(see below)

COUNTY	# yrs. grown	Min.Size (bu)	Comments
Adams	1	50
Adams	6	50
Adams	3	15	What happens if you have an older grower that isn't doing a good job anymore? Don't know what current pricing system is.
Adams	1
Adams	20	20
Barnes	20	200	set price the same for bordering states or don't sell them any seed.
Barnes	2	100
Barnes	5
Barnes	3	120
Barnes	10	50
Barnes	20	100
Barnes	25	120
Barnes	8	50
Barnes	15	80
Barnes	10	50
Barnes	7
Barnes	4
Barnes	20	40	would like to see some flexibility for low demand varieties.open pricing does create problems across county lines
Barnes	15	40
Barnes	2	50
Barnes	7	100
Barnes	2	100
Barnes	10	75
Benson	1	50
Benson	4	20
Benson	5
Benson	20	100
Benson	16	80
Benson	3	30
Benson	12	100
Benson	20	40	Class 1, 2out of 5 "or 10 yrs. experience", Class 2, 2out of 5 "or less than 10 yrs. experience, Class 3, OK
Benson	17	50	#6 - sometimes the grower is paid less than other varieties.
Benson	30	100
Bottineau	10	60	cert. seed plants should make a committment to purchase seed & not leave the grower holding the bag.
Bottineau	1
Bottineau	10	150	price gouging would happen if made flexible.prices do seem high though
Bottineau	2	100	leave pricing as is
Bottineau	1	80	2 levels, not 3.one yr. experience should be enough to move up.your way sounds like "the good ol' boys club".
Bottineau	20
Bottineau	6	50
Bottineau	30	40
Bottineau	13	50
Bottineau	2	100
Bottineau	6	100
Bottineau	15	100
Bottineau	4	50
Bottineau	15	50
Bottineau	2
Bottineau		100
Bottineau	8	50
Bottineau	3
Bottineau	3	100	larger lots are easier to work with.
Bottineau	5	100
Bottineau	30	40
Bottineau	15
Bottineau		100
Bottineau	10	100
Bottineau	1	300
Bottineau	10		size of allotment depends on supply and demand
Bottneau
Bowman	15	80
Bowman	6	50	I only grew cert. seed for resale in 1997, but have raised it for my own use in the other years.
Bowman	5	50
Bowman	1	100
Bowman		50
Bowman	3	25	it seems to me you are entitling just a few growers out there the right to foundation seed.
Bowman	1	60	I have grown only 1 yr and sprout killed me.The class system has good & bad parts, but would someone like me trying to get in be rejected?
Bowman	4	100	would like to see a minimum and maximum price but with enough flexibility for county to set price.
Burke	8
Burke	3	50
Burke	10
Burke	1		not enough experience to respond to #3&5, but two proposals are good idea
Burke	3	20
Burke	3	60
Burke	10	25
Burke	5	40	when seed supplis are very tight, why not allocate seed lots to traditional growing regions(i.e. durum to only western counties)
Burke	3	50
Burke	2	50
Burke	30	100	need larger lots
Burke	5	20	proposed plan benefits only large farmers.
Burleigh	11	100	don't leave Western ND out of the seed increase program.we produce consistant quality
Burleigh	5	40
Burleigh	25	150
Burleigh	10	125
Burleigh	3	40
Cass		100	I think the proposed grower classification would probably help in the distribution & increase of varieties, but isn't equitable for everyone & not fair to all growers.
Cass	3
Cass	5	50	new system runs risk of developing an exclusive seedsmen club who get new varieties in large quantities
Cass	1	150
Cass	20	50	the protected varieties end rules are killing the industry.per bu. fees are too high.
Cass	15	100
Cass	25	120
Cass	50
Cass	20	120	have growers clean their lots earlier-not wait until April
Cass	30	200
Cass	10
Cass	7
Cass		1000
Cass			I raise cert. seed intermittently so my opinion's probably are not representative.I feel a class 3 should not be eliminated entirely-a careful evaluation of the grower is important.
Cass	3	250	don't think the new growers selection would be fair to the grower in class 2 or 3, should be able to raise seed because some yeaar's didn't work out w/new varieties for some growers.
Cass		120	you cannot discriminate with public property!
Cass	20	100
Cass	8	100
Cass	15	40	the surcharge/premium on grains(such as $.40 on 2375) is too high, given the market prices lately
Cass	20	100
Cass	10
Cass	10	120
Cass	15	120
Cass	50	100	I think we should implement the proposed changes, but like maintaining County Crop Imp. pricing regime
Cass	15	120
Cass	15	80
Cavalier	25	40	our local assn. uses a combination of random selection & growers abilities at the county level.
Cavalier	25	40
Cavalier	2	120
Cavalier	23	40
Cavalier	3	50
Cavalier	3	80
Cavalier	35	40	Is it going to change? It seems that only Crop Improvement Board Members always get the seed increase.
Cavalier	2	75
Cavalier	1	80
Cavalier	32	60	a record of purity of seed grown should also apply, not just number of years grown.
Cavalier	6	50
Cavalier	7
Cavalier	15	40	after a certain date the county should be able to lower the price.
Cavalier	7	50
Cavalier	10	50
Cavalier	10	120
Cavalier	2	50
Cavalier	5	40
Cavalier	4	100
Cavalier	1	200
Cavalier	3	120
Cavalier	6	50	Some growers don't keep the seed or fields, or equip. clean enough. Applied for reg. seed in 1999, but didn't receive any.
Cavalier	20	80
Cavalier	15	100
Cavalier
Cavalier	10	75
Cavalier	2	none
Cavalier	4	80
Dickey	15	75
Dickey	1
Dickey		300
Dickey	4
Dickey	4	40	the proposed increase grower selection has some flaws.At one time I was a class I grower & now I would not be eligible for an allotment of a new variety.
Dickey	3	100
Dickey	15	40
Dickey	15	150
Dickey	10	100
Dickey	1	40	Class 3 growers should be allowed to increase new varieties in extreme circumstances, if approved by county crop improvement board.
Divide	2	100	system we have works well in ND.
Divide	2	20	is there a problem w/occasional seed increase growers producing quality seed or do "seedsmen" need the exclusivity.I'm not sure of the integrity of current pricing system- always seems some slippage somewhere.
Divide	7	150
Divide	4
Divide	4	100
Divide	3
Divide	20	30	more producer input on price for the seed grown, some varieties are more in demand than others.supply and demand can dictate price in some yrs.
Divide	15	80
Divide	8	100
Divide	1	25	would prefer the county associations decide who qualifies.
Divide	1
Divide	1	75	the present system works in our county. I can see where the new proposals may leave too many options open to "politics".
Divide	1	100	last yr I called in to get 100 bu. alloc. of Mountrail, hell, it went to one producer(900 bu) is that fair?
Divide	2	100	stop trying to make a special class of farmers called certified growers.
Dunn	2	50
Dunn	3	60
Dunn	25	30	minimum price could be set at 50-60% of Foundation Seed Price.
Dunn	5	40
Dunn	10	60
Eddy	3	none
Eddy	20		prefer a small lot size
Eddy	2	80
Eddy	27		the purpose ought to be to procure seed, not set up an elite few to get rich.some varieties just haven't been worth the effort.
Eddy	6	100
Eddy	1	30	grew cert. seed once in the 80's.system worked fine, however, most varieties now need to be cert. to be sold, maybe that changes things.
Eddy	6	100	grower eligibility should be based on past success/or problems, not just number of years.How do new growers start?
Emmons	25	60
Emmons	5	40
Foster	2	75
Foster		120
Foster	10	80
Foster	15	100
Foster	10	none
Foster	15	100	seed prices are typically higher in east/lower in west.Class 1 should be 4outof5/Class2 should be 3outof5
G. Valley	4	100
G. Valley	15	40	State Seed Dept. should not be funded by taxes when they are acting as a "private" entity, thus not on NDSU campus.
G. Valley	2	20
G. Valley	10	60
G. Valley	3	50	I'm a little concerned about grower history,when the name of the farm would change.as when my son would take over?
G. Valley	45	80
G. Valley	30	20
G. Valley	5	120	I encourage you to adopt the class system.please establish a minimum price for increase seed-I'm tired of low ballers!
G. Valley	5	50	I did not read anything dealing w/those seedsmen who have repeatedly not been able to pass certfication but are allowed seed.
Gr. Forks	1	50
Gr. Forks	6	200	satisfied w/existing structure-price should reflect more realistic market pricing.lower when market is lower
Gr. Forks	20	100
Gr. Forks	2	80
Gr. Forks	8	160
Gr. Forks	20	100
Gr. Forks	40	100	need to have lots large because of time needed to clean equip.
Gr. Forks	10	100
Gr. Forks	2	60	all growers should get a chance to grow new seeds.
Gr. Forks	7	50
Gr. Forks	12
Gr. Forks	18	60
Gr. Forks	5	160
Gr. Forks	1	30	need better Fdt. Seed Growers
Gr. Forks	20	120	the system in effect w/MT,SD,MN-couldn't agreements w/them be changed to same expected of ND
Gr. Forks	20	60
Gr. Forks		none
Gr. Forks	7	150	A very good idea.will insure a quality produced seed product!
Gr. Forks	10	none
Gr. Forks	4	50
Gr. Forks	35	160	should not be limited to only crop improvement members.
Gr. Forks	20	200
Gr. Forks		80
Gr. Forks	6
Gr. Forks	25	160
Gr. Forks	20	30
Gr. Forks	18	100
Grant	20	40	better grower response today deals with low commodity prices & variability to market grain at current price set by state.
Grant	1	40
Grant	6	1	restricting distribution to experienced growers which are usually on CIA board is unfair,it is a dog-eat-dog world, open it up and let the lowest price seed be sold.
Grant	2	100	#5-in our county it would be detremental because of low grower participation in the past.
Grant	4	25
Grant	5	50	It appears to me a few seed growers and seed dealers are trying to dominate a state funded project!
Grant	1	10
Griggs	10	60	if was passed, it would eliminate new growers from getting into the seed production industry and give the seed dealers a "monopoly" in the industry.very bad idea
Griggs	1	40	In Griggs county we have had better success w/first year growers than we have w/continuous growers.It's hard to justify $15 seed on a $2.80 cash market.
Griggs	10	80	this seems like a scheme to further squeeze out the small farmer & let the "big boys" corner the market on fdt. seed production.
Griggs	4	60
Hettinger	6	100
Hettinger		50
Hettinger	10	50
Hettinger	6	50
Hettinger	3	50	I think the grower should be able to choose whom he may buy his seed from, instead of the county telling him.
Hettinger	5	100
Hettinger	3	100
Hettinger	15	50	country associations must do more than select grower.education is a must do!
Hettinger	8	40
Hettinger	1	50
Hettinger	3	100
Hettinger	3	150
Hettinger	10	50
Hettinger	3	100
Hettinger	10	100
Hettinger	10	50
Hettinger	20	75
Hettinger	1	200	if you go to a class system, then some people will get the new varieties every year, just like now. It might eliminate the buddy system of picking producers to grow the new variety.
Kidder	3	150
Kidder	2	50
Kidder	15	40	seed in 40 bu. totes
Lamoure	1	150
LaMoure	10
LaMoure	5	60
LaMoure	10	60	the county agents know the growers and should have some input.the pricing bit is the same.leave it alone.
LaMoure	15	100
LaMoure	4	100
LaMoure	7	200	advertise more on county level-1 or 2 guys always get the 1st crack at good stuff.
LaMoure	12	200
LaMoure	1	200
LaMoure	5	variable
LaMoure	20	50
LaMoure	20	100
LaMoure	2	100
LaMoure	2
Logan	3	50
Logan	20	40	we need a guarantee on sales of bu. that we produce or else there is no need raise them.I still have most of my Jud oats - "no demand".
McHenry	10	100	although there is merit to the proposal, it carries a seedsmen bias-Crop Improvement was a producer organization at one time.
McHenry	20	20	the price of increased seed has been set too high.getting hard to sell
McHenry	32	80	I was against the proposed grower class system when I first heard of it, but have changed my mind.
McHenry	4	50
McHenry	10
McIntosh	18	60
McIntosh	2	20
McKenzie	3		allotments need to be adjusted to seed supply & grower experience
McKenzie	3	100
McKenzie	2	60
McKenzie	20	100	because a grower occasionally grows cert. seed does not qualify him as the best choice to receive seed increases.distribution must be made to all counties.
McKenzie	8	40
McLean	1	30	The McLean Cnty CIA appears to be self-serving,allowing as little info(about new varieties availabe) as possible to general farming public-we only hear about new varieties when the CIA members have seed for sale!
McLean	12	100
McLean	4	50
McLean	5	80	most crop improvements are "buddy" arrangements between county agents & certain farmers.
McLean	5	150	150 bu gives an adequate size lot for the seed conditioner.
McLean	3	50
McLean	3	100
McLean	3	50
McLean	2		we do not need all the new varieties grown by "seed" farms - others should get a chance.
McLean	10	80	some of the questions asked really need to be addressed in more detail.
McLean	5	150	classify the end product, not the producer.what you are proposing will cause hard feelings.
McLean	1	50
McLean	4	100
McLean	2	50
McLean	10	125
McLean	7	100
McLean	7	100	many growers never clean combines out.
McLean	4	100
McLean	2	20	you're just creating more rules and regulations to benefit a few growers.
McLean	2	50
McLean	30	80
Mercer	1	50
Mercer	2	100
Mercer		45
Mercer	15	50
Morton		40	too much control to a small group of individuals.
Morton		100
Morton	2	40
Morton	2	30
Morton	35	100
Morton	10	50
Morton	5	100
Morton	10	100
Mountrail	28	50
Mountrail	5	20	if you go to a class system, new farmers or seed growers are at a disadvantage.
Mountrail	1	50
Mountrail	9	50
Mountrail	2	75	in my area its the big operators that seem to be the ones that raise cert. seed & turn around and sell it to the local elev. at a premium.
Mountrail	1	100
Mountrail	2	30
Mountrail	2	50
Mountrail	1	40
Mountrail	3	50
Mountrail	20	100	do not neglect the west! in particular durum-alloc. designated for area in past few years were pitiful.
Mountrail	10	50
Mountrail	2	100
Mountrail	10	50	please stop elevators from selling certified seed.we spend a lot of money & have SF to raise good seed.
Mountrail	1	100
Mountrial	5	30
Nelson	8	100
Nelson	10		larger allocation would be better.
Nelson	15	200
Nelson	10
Nelson	4
Nelson	2	200
Nelson	2
Oliver	3	50	seems to be an attempt by those who are "in" to eliminate the smaller operator competition!
Oliver	2	40	this system would promote "seeding" to quality for Class 1 grower & penalize new growers irregardless of their farming practices.
Pembina	30		Allotments should depend how much seed is available.
Pembina	30	50	What's wrong with a growing # of seedsmen? are the 'big boys' losing out?
Pembina	10	100
Pembina	4	100
Pembina	12	100
Pembina	25	60	Sometimes it appears directors of Co. Assns. do much of the increase growing.Is this right?
Pembina	10	40
Pembina	30	150
Pembina	5	40
Pembina	10	120
Pembina	5	120
Pembina	15	80	I feel this new program would leave a lot of good growers out.I think the old pricing is good, but release it to the grower 1st of April so he can sell it.
Pembina	3
Pembina		1000
Pierce	20
Pierce	5	40	if it's not broke, don't fix it! Seed distribution has got into the "most" farmers by the current method.
Pierce	8	50
Pierce	20	40	What are out of state growers doing w/new ND releases?they should be increased in ND.New growers are possibly more careful than experienced growers.
Pierce	15	60
Pierce	10	100	too much politics in seed grower selection.
Pierce	4	40
Pierce	10	40
Pierce	10	100
Pierce	10	120	it seems crop improvement only allows seed to a select group(not based on experience in growing cert. seed) Classification would be GREAT!
Ramsey	1	75
Ramsey	15	40
Ramsey	1	40
Ramsey	12	15
Ramsey	12	100