Maryland Agriculture Turf and Seed Section Celebrates 100 Years of Service

The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Turf and Seed Section – the unit that ensures farmers and homeowners with a garden begin with high quality seed – is celebrating 100 years of service to Maryland Agriculture this month. The Centennial Anniversary recognizes the Maryland Seed Law, which was adopted October 1, 1912

Seed is the single most important input to any agricultural system. The Maryland Seed Law requires all seed offered for sale in the state to be accurately labeled. This includes agricultural, vegetable, flower, lawn and turf seed, as well as specialized seed such as seeds of trees, shrubs, native species, wildflowers and seed used in reclamation and wetlands mitigation and conservation projects. This seed is sold in quantities ranging from small packets of vegetable and flower seed sold to home gardeners to bulk sales of thousands of pounds of crop seed sold to farmers. All seed distributed in Maryland is subject to inspection by MDA.

Because of the Turf and Seed Section’s strong enforcement presence, Maryland is nationally known for its high-quality sod, and MDA’s turf certification program serves as a model program for other states.  MDA’s Turf and Seed Section manages regulatory and service programs including seed inspection, testing, certification and quality control programs designed to ensure the continued availability of high quality seed to Maryland consumers.  Farmers participating in the Maryland Cover Crop Program use the seed laboratory to test their grain to ensure that it will meet the standards of that program.  Cover crops help keep excess nutrients from entering our waterways.

“The department is honored to celebrate 100 years of quality service to Maryland agriculture,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance. “The Maryland turf and seed industries are significant components of Maryland agriculture and Chesapeake Bay protection. Our highly trained staff takes tremendous pride in ensuring that all turfgrass and seed offered for sale in Maryland are of the highest quality through certification and regulatory activities.”

The key to a successful laboratory operation is a well-trained staff.  The Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) maintains an accreditation program for seed analysts in official laboratories throughout the United States. Analysts who pass rigorous tests, which include both written and practical examinations, are certified as official purity and germination analysts. Currently, six MDA staff members are certified by AOSA in both purity and germination testing, and two analysts are certified in germination testing.

Today’s seed industry exists in an environment of rapid change. The continued development of biotechnology and the expansion of genetically modified organisms has had an enormous effect on the production, distribution and marketing of seed and upon state seed programs. Seed regulatory, testing and certification programs throughout the country are being challenged to meet the demands brought about by these changes in seed technology.

For much of its seed needs, Maryland relies on other areas of the country and the world where climates are more suited to seed production.  Thus, it is important that Maryland maintain a strong and effective regulatory program in order to prevent low quality seed from entering the state.