Introduction
The Q & A Program has been written with a primary focus on pulse crops (peas, lentils, & chickpeas) grown in Washington State. These crops have been passed up or missed by the certification process for three primary reasons
With the WSCIA Q & A Program we address all three of these issues and bring pulse crops into a maintenance and certification program that benefit both growers and companies using these crops. Many of the early common varieties are still in use today and with a collaborative effort between WSCIA and the seed producers bringing these lines into the Q & A Program will give the grower and seed companies a process to assure a quality product. With Washington growers seeing the advantages of small grain certification by having one of the highest percentages of certified seed in the United States, WSCIA’s intent is to stress these same advantages of quality assurance and certification in the pulse industry.
The present cost and procedures for seed certification is set by state law and these costs and requirements work well for cereals and other higher value crops but not for pulse crops. The WSCIA Q & A Program adjusts these costs and procedures to better reflect the growth habits, genetics and value of the crop. Even with these adjustments the overall standards are still at a minimum, comparable to a certified class of seed.
Since WSCIA works with the Washington State Department of Agriculture under a Memorandum of Understanding this program was sent for their review and informal approval. They did wish that we write it in a manner that would allow the possible future additions of other crops commonly grown in Washington.