Inside this issue:

OCIA HOSTS ANNUAL MEETING IN OKLAHOMA

Approximately 150 OCIA membes, OSU administrators and researchers, and other interested parties attended the annual meeting of the Oklahoma Crop Improvement Association, February 9-10, 2007.  Again this year, the meeting was held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Oklahoma City.

Program speakers included Drs. Brett Carver, Hassan Melouk, Tom Peeper, and Case Medlin from OSU giving updates on new varieties and research being conducted at OSU.  Dr. Jeanne Schneider, USDA/ARS meteorologist from El Reno, OK provided insight on how agriculture is affected by the variable climate in the state.  Drs. Clarence Watson and Him Stiegler provided updates regarding administrative and program changes at OSU.

Highlights of the meeting include the presentation of the Premier Awards to John Goodknight, Producer of the Year and D. L. "Doc" Jones, Friend of OCIA.  Mr. Goodknight has been a seed producer for a number of years and has served on the board of directors for OCIA and Oklahoma Genetics, Inc.  Doc Jones, Director of OK Foundation Seed, has been an active supporter of OCIA and served as Interim Executive Director of OCIA on two occasions.  OCIA appreciated the contributions both of these men have made on behalf of the association.

   At their December 2006 meeting, the OCIA Board of Directors reviewed a proposal made in 2004 regarding changes to the small grain standards.  The following are some of the changes accepted by the board:

• Wheat standards will be removed from the small grains standards and will have its own section.
• When submitting samples for testing a 2 lb sample, will be required NOT a 5 pound sample as proposed.
• Under the new standards both Registered and Certified seed will have a minimum pure seed of 98.00%, and maximum inert matter of 2.00% other crop seed.  Weed seed will have a maximum percentage of 0.10%.
• Objectionable weed seed will remain as previously published.

Updated information is being prepared for insertion into the Standards and Rules manuals and will be mailed to all members soon.  Please seed page 3 for a complete list of standards for wheat.

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