Purity

Several factors go into the production of pure Colorado Certified Seed. Each purity factor is important in it's own right, but when all are compiled, Colorado Certified Seed provides a product superior to uncertified or "bin-run" seed. Colorado Certified Seed assures a high level of purity in each of the following:

• *Genetics

  . Colorado Certified Seed is your assurance that every seed you plant will be of the variety that you have chosen.
  Steps are taken to assure you that mixtures will not occur. Mixtures can mean uneven maturity, disease problems, poor standability and reduce yields.

• *Freedom from weed contamination

  . Weeds that grow in your field compete with your crop for moisture, sunlight and nutrients.
  Colorado Certified Seed provides mechanisms to eliminate harmful weed seeds from the seed that is bought.

• *Disease resistance

  . Disease infections can cause yield and stand reductions in crops. Colorado Certified Seed production is monitored to prevent seed borne disease contamination from infecting your crop.
  An example of a disease is Bean Common Mosaic Virus in pinto beans. Colorado Certified Standards mean extra measures are taken to avoid the spread of this disease.
  Colorado Certified Pinto Bean Seed production is concentrated on the West Slope; production in this limited area plus close scrutiny of fields and seeds are the reasons that no seed production field has ever been associated with Bean Common Mosaic Virus.
  

Several control methods are used to assure the quality of Certified seed. First of all, the Colorado Seed Growers Association monitors the production of Certified Seed with inspections of the seed grower's facility, fields and of course, seed.

• *Field Inspection

  . A trained representative of the Colorado Seed Growers Association inspects the seed crop for presence of genetic impurities, harmful weeds and seed-borne diseases. A seed field can be rejected at this point if it does not conform to standards.

• *Seed Conditioning Plant Inspection

  . All Certifiable seed must be processed at an approved conditioning facility. Plants are inspected by a trained inspector who assures that the equipment and bins will not permit any cross contamination between seedlots.
  Standards also specify that operators keep accurate conditioning records and seed samples, and that the operator attend seed conditioning clinics to keep abreast of the latest technology.

• *Seed inspections.

  All certifiable seed must be tested by a Colorado Seed Growers Association approved seed-testing laboratory. Each seedlot must conform to standards of germination and purity before it can be certified.
  The Colorado Seed Growers Association trains growers in the latest methods of producing certified seed. Growers spend many hours cleaning field equipment, removing weeds and off-types from fields and totally cleaning conditioning plants to eliminate any chance for impurities to infiltrate the seedlot.