USA
September 10, 2014

Illinois Crop is asking for more transparency among the regions of the National Plant Diagnostic Network to ensure accurate diagnosis of submitted samples. This letter was forwarded today to the National Program leader by the Director of the Illinois Plant Clinic.

To Whom It May Concern,

The Illinois Crop Improvement Association is accredited under the USDA-APHIS National Seed Health System for the field inspection of seed crops during the growing season. Our accreditation is valid for all sites and locations throughout Illinois and Puerto Rico, where we have a winter farm and station. As part of our accreditation inspectors submit plant samples to the University of Illinois Plant Clinic or the University of Puerto Rico pathology lab.

When the pathologist at the University of Puerto Rico is out, due to travel and education duties, samples are sent under permit to the University of Illinois Laboratory. During a recent meeting at the University of Illinois Lab it came to my attention that the plant disease diagnostics network does not allow access to laboratory results outside of their region. While the diagnosis of diseases on corn and soybean samples from Puerto Rico has not yielded any exotic or unknown pests I believe it is important to allow regions to share pathology and pest information. There is an active shipping channel between the US Mainland, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Florida during the fall and spring. Plant breeders and parent seed producers produce more than one generation of seed per calendar year using the afore mentioned winter locations.

It is counterintuitive to me to restrict access to data among regions with active exchange of seed. The lack of information could pose a risk to the corn and soybean industry for the US and around the world. I encourage the decision makers in this policy to consider opening the database among regions to address an active seed channel. Thank you.

Doug Miller
CEO, Illinois Crop Improvement Association
National Seed Health System Field Inspection Organization

Website: http://www.ilcrop.com

Published: September 10, 2014