State recognition shines a light on the people of the seed industry — a resource renewed with every season and generation
Governor JB Pritzker addresses women in agriculture at Agriculture Legislative Day, highlighting their vital contributions to Illinois’s agricultural economy. Photo credit: Illinois Crop Improvement Association.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has officially proclaimed April as Seed Month in Illinois, recognizing the vital role the seed industry plays in sustaining the state's agricultural economy and in supplying food and fiber to the nation and the world. The proclamation honors everyone involved in the seed supply chain — from plant breeders and seed producers to inspectors, transportation experts, seed retailers, and growers.
Illinois is one of the nation's premier agricultural states, and the quality of its crops and landscapes comes from a dependable supply of seed — seed with the qualities, and in the quantities, that meet the needs of farmers, gardeners, landscapers, and habitat specialists.
Seed Month is a statewide call to recognize the expertise, diligence, and stewardship of the seed industry professionals who ensure that seed meets the highest standards of purity, germination, and performance well before it reaches the field.
Long before seed is delivered to the farms, gardens, and open spaces of Illinois, researchers and plant breeders develop varieties and identify genetic lines for the variable soils, conditions and climates that growers call home. Inspectors and laboratory technicians validate purity and germination on every lot. Seed retailers build trusted relationships with growers of every type and size, and consumers across the country and around the world benefit daily from the plants these seeds become.
Underpinning the entire system is a rigorous regulatory framework. The Bureau of Agricultural Products Inspection within the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) validates product label accuracy, ensuring fair commerce. The Illinois Crop Improvement Association (ICIA), the state's official seed-certifying agency, operates as an independent, non-profit organization providing seed certification and testing services that producers and growers depend on.
The Illinois Seed Trade Association (ISTA) works alongside ICIA and IDOA to support a sustained and informed membership, advocating for policies that strengthen the entire seed supply chain. Together, these organizations stand behind every professional who regards seed not as a commodity, but as a renewable resource — one renewed with care from season to season and generation to generation.
ISTA has encouraged everyone to take a moment to learn more and reflect on where we would be without a vibrant, science and business-based seed industry — and to engage with the educational and advocacy resources available from these cornerstone organizations throughout the year.
“Agriculture is Illinois’ number one industry, and every productive harvest starts with a seed. During Seed Month, we recognize the countless professionals whose work supports our farmers, strengthens the economy, and ultimately feeds and fuels the world.” — Director Jerry Costello II, Illinois Department of Agriculture
Read more from ISTA here.