The North Dakota State Seed Department (NDSSD) is the state’s designated authority for certification of seed potatoes. NDSSD Potato Programs provide inspections of potatoes and other vegetable crops.

The Potato Program administers services associated with the production of high quality seed and commercial potatoes in North Dakota. Potato Programs staff work with multiple entities in the process of providing North Dakota’s seed industry with the following services:

• Field inspection and certification of Foundation and Certified classes of seed.
• Shipping Point (Grade) Inspection of seed and commercial potatoes under a cooperative agreement with USDA/AMS.
• Good Handling Practices (GHP) and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) audit certification services for processing and tablestock potatoes.
• Production of pre-nuclear generation seed minitubers in NDSSD tissue culture and greenhouse facilities.
• Promotion of North Dakota certified seed in cooperation with the “North Dakota Certified Seed Potato Growers Association” (NDCSPGA).
• Post Harvest Testing in Homestead, Florida provided by Seed Department personnel on NDCSPGA test plot.
• Cooperation with North Dakota State University Plant Pathology in research efforts related to potato diseases; Potato Breeding programs in research and development of seed varieties; and Extension Service in providing production information to seed and commercial growers.
• Cooperation with ND Department of Agriculture in surveys of potato pests identified by USDA as injurious to the industry nationwide.
• Advanced testing of potato diseases and viruses as confirmation of certification regulations or as a service to seed and commercial industries by NDSSD Diagnostic Laboratory.
• Administration and documentation of all factors related to seed certification, allowing for successful transfer of North Dakota seed into recertification and commercial production channels throughout the continent.

The production and handling of certified seed is a function of, and in the control of, seed growers. The North Dakota State Legislature has provided a warranty statement that covers the actions of the Seed Department Potato Program as a regulatory agency. Chapter 74-04-01-03 of Administrative Code reads:

Exclusion of warranty and limitation of remedy. Seed potatoes certifed in accordance with this chapter have been field and grade inspected as specifed in this chapter. The state seed department and the inspection service function and serve only in an official regulatory manner and do not relieve the grower or owner of the grower’s or owner’s responsibility. Neither the producer, the seller, the North Dakota seed commission, the seed commissioner, or the commissioner’s employees make any warranty or representation of any kind, express or implied, as to the quantity or quality of the crop produced from certifed seed, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or absence of disease, or varietal or selection identity. The only representation is that the seed potatoes were produced, graded, packed, and inspected under the seed certication rules and regulations of the North Dakota State Seed Department.
 
History: Amended effective December 1, 1981; July 1, 2007; July 1, 2011
General Authority: NDCC 4.1-55-12
Law Implemented: NDCC 4.1-55-12