The Agronomy Seed Farm (ASF) manages extensive trials and production of foundation seed, utilizing modern processing equipment for the production, cleaning, conditioning and distribution of seed. Commercial-sized fields of old and new crop varieties and potential variety releases are grown and tested at the ASF. Hundreds of bushels of breeder seed are produced and distributed to other North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station (NDAES) Research Extension Centers and foundation seed to other states.

Variety Release

ASF grows foundation seed of an average of at least 2 newly released varieties each year.

Research Interaction

The ASF works with researchers in developing new and improved varieties and coordinating their release. The ASF provides seedstocks of NDSU released varieties and other popular varieties from surrounding states to North Dakota producers.

Facilities

The ASF uses between 1,300 and 1,400 acres each year to produce seed. This includes 250 acres at the site which are used primarily for research, and 150 acres at the Fargo Main Station which are used for research and seed production.

ASF has storage for approximately123,000 bushels of seed. This extra storage capacity allows for the storage previously grown seed that is still in demand. It maintains around 30 different varieties and sells around 30,000 bushels per year.