MSU Foundation Seed Program

The MSU Foundation Seed program provides foundation seed to statewide producer partners, primarily from the university’s spring and winter wheat and barley breeding programs in addition to oats, safflower, peas and lentils. We are an extension of MSU’s breeding programs and strive to increase recommended varieties with the assurance of genetic purity and quality standards.

Seed varieties are developed based on the needs of Montana growers facing climate, pest and soil challenges in the diverse agro-ecosystems of the state. The university responds with varieties specifically bred and adapted to meet these challenges, initially released as MAES varieties in the foundation stage of production.

Updates/News:
The Variety Release Meeting for 2025 will be held Wednesday, February 5, at 1:00 p.m. in 108 Plant BioScience.  Prior to the meeting, lunch will be served at 12:00, also in 108 Plant BioScience Building.
To join via WebEX, please go to http://plantsciences.montana.edu/foundationseed/varietyrelease/index.html.  

Personnel update:
Continued efforts by the MSU Department of Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology, Montana Wheat & Barley, and the Montana Department of Agriculture support Ms. BranDee Johnston as the MSU Crop Variety Promotions and Education Specialist as she works closely with the Foundation Seed Program.  BranDee started at MSU in March of 2022 working from her home base in Worden, MT.  She brought with her to our MSU community an MSU degree in Agronomy/Plant Soil Science, an advanced knowledge of Eastern Montana crop production, pulse crop experience, and experience working in private industry.   A brief overview of her duties includes educating producers and the general public regarding MSU plant genetics and variety releases; developing MSU’s participation in the pulse industry statewide; and working with Montana seed growers, out of state seed growers, and MSU’s Technology Transfer Office to expand markets for our plant genetic portfolio.  For additional information, please go to https://www.facebook.com/MSUplantsciences/. 

Mr. Clayton Edwards of Lindsay, Montana was added to our Foundation Seed Program Team in July of 2023 as a Research Associate.  Clayton is an MSU graduate in Crop Science and worked four years with our team at the Post Farm as an undergraduate.  He came to us with a solid understanding of our program and brings with him years of experience having grown up on a seed farm specializing in pulses and spring wheat.  Clayton excels in applying newer ag technologies with a vision for updating many aspects of our production system ensuring seed quality, purity, and efficiency.  His responsibilities include all aspects of Foundation Seed production from planning, planting, harvesting, cleaning, and seed distribution.   

January 1, 2023 - Increase in research fees
January 1, 2023 - Price increase in Foundation Seed Stock 

For new variety release information, go to: https://plantsciences.montana.edu/foundationseed/varietyrelease/index.html