Nebraska Crop Improvement Assn

What Nebraska Crop Improvement Assn does

Nebraska Crop Improvement Association (NCIA) is a not-for-profit, membership-based corporation designated by Nebraska state law (Nebraska Revised Statute § 2-2808) as the official seed and plant part certification agency for the State of Nebraska. The organization is appointed by the Vice Chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and operates from Lincoln, Nebraska with a six-person staff. NCIA provides third-party seed certification, Quality Assurance, and Identity Preserved grain programs for crop seed grown in Nebraska, including impartial field inspections and a full-service seed laboratory.

The organization's technology and service stack centers on three core offerings: Seed Lab Services for laboratory purity and quality testing (NCIA's lab is the only non-government laboratory in the United States recognized as an Official Member of the Association of Official Seed Analysts), Field Services for in-person crop inspections, and the Nebraska Seed Tracking System (NSTS), a web-based platform (nciacert.org) that tracks seed from field through seedlots and sales, including bulk sales certificates and year-end carryover. NCIA also operates the NuPride Genetics Network sub-brand, which connects certified soybean variety distribution to 16 affiliated seed dealers across Nebraska and Wyoming.

NCIA generates revenue through fees for seed certification services, laboratory testing (available to both members and non-members), and recurring membership subscriptions. It is part of the Association of Official Seed Certification Agencies (AOSCA) national network and administers a small annual Educational and Research Grants program (capped at $3,000/year). Its customer base spans Nebraska seed producers, farmers, and seed enterprises seeking unbiased third-party certification that demonstrates genetic identity and genetic purity under Nebraska's limited generation concept from Breeder Seed through Certified Seed.

Name

Nebraska Crop Improvement Assn

Legal name

Nebraska Crop Improvement Association

Website

https://necrop.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nebraska Crop Improvement Association (NCIA) is a not-for-profit, state-designated seed certification agency for Nebraska, providing third-party field inspections, seed laboratory testing, and seed-tracking services to seed producers, farmers, and seed enterprises under the authority of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Seed Certification Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (1151), Support Activities for Crop Production (11511)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Seed Testing, Certification & Quality Assurance (Germination, Purity, Phytosanitary) (AFABAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seed Testing Services (Germination, Purity, Vigor, Seed Health) (AFACAKAL), Seed Quality Testing & Certification Services (AFAGAIAI), Seed Quality Testing & Certification Support (Germination, Purity, Vigor) (AFAOADAK)

Keywords

• Seed certification services
• Seed laboratory testing
• Quality assurance programs
• Field inspection services
• Agricultural seed tracking

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Seed Certification Services: Fees for seed certification including field inspections, quality assurance programs, and identity preserved grain programs for seed producers in Nebraska.
2. Seed Laboratory Testing Services: Full range of testing services for Certified, Quality Assurance, Identity Preserved, and service samples. Testing is provided to both members and non-members. Results are emailed and posted to NSTS the same day.
3. Membership Fees: NCIA is a not-for-profit, membership-based corporation. Membership provides access to certification services, NSTS, and other NCIA resources.
4. Educational and Research Grants Administration: NCIA administers a Grant Fund to support investigations and promotion of seed science related projects in Nebraska, with maximum funding of $3000 per year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Nebraska Crop Improvement Association provides third-party seed certification, quality assurance, and identity preserved grain programs for crop seed grown in Nebraska. It delivers field inspections, full-range seed laboratory testing, and operates the Nebraska Seed Tracking System (NSTS) for tracking seed from the field through seedlots and sales. Services are available to seed producers, seed enterprises, farmers, and non-members.

Product overview

Nebraska Crop Improvement Association offers a portfolio of seed certification and quality assurance services centered around their core offerings: Seed Lab Services for comprehensive seed testing, Field Services including Seed Certification, Quality Assurance, and Identity Preserved programs, and the Nebraska Seed Tracking System (NSTS) for digital seed tracking. The NuPride Genetics Network sub-brand provides soybean varieties through affiliated seed dealers. Together these products serve farmers, seed producers, and the agricultural community in Nebraska with third-party verification and certification services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NuPride Genetics Network: A network of established seed experts providing soybean varieties of the highest quality, relying on NCIA's impartial laboratory and field inspections.
• NuPride Affiliates

Quantifiable outcome

• Ensures genetic identity and genetic purity of seed through limited generation concept (Breeder Seed to Foundation Seed to Certified Seed)

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCIA operates as part of AOSCA's network of agencies alongside associates in other states and countries. AOSCA provides the general Identity Preserved (IP) standards that serve as a minimal framework, allowing NCIA to develop more specific programs under AOSCA's guidance. In June 1999, AOSCA adopted specific requirements for non-GMO corn and soybeans.
• University of Nebraska–Lincoln (Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCIA is designated by the Vice Chancellor, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska–Lincoln as the official seed and plant part certification agency for Nebraska, as enabled under the laws of the State of Nebraska. NCIA maintains close ties with the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture.
• NuPride Genetics Network AffiliatescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor16 seed companies across Nebraska and Wyoming (Arrow Seed Company-Broken Bow, Dunbar Seed-Eustis, Evergreen Farms-Albin WY, Heritage Seed LLC-Crawford, Knobel Seeds-Fairbury, Kubik Seed Sales-Prague, Maschmann Mills-Deshler, Miller Seed and Supply-York, Olsen Certified Seed-Imperial, Rezac Seed-Valparaiso, Ruben Wehnes-Inland, Seitec Genetics-Fremont, Thimm Farms-Beatrice, V & F Farms-Chappell, Vogt Farms-Elmwood, Westco-Morrill) serve as authorized dealers distributing certified soybean varieties.
• Association of Official Seed AnalystscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NCIA Seed Laboratory is the only non-government laboratory in the United States recognized as an Official Member of the Association of Official Seed Analysts, providing credibility and standards for seed testing services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• SGS Agricultural Services: Global testing, inspection, and certification company with an agricultural division offering seed quality and purity testing. Represents a broad incumbent that could enter the Nebraska seed certification market or compete for lab testing share.
• Eurofins BioDiagnostics: Large commercial seed and plant tissue testing laboratory serving agricultural clients globally. Represents the private-lab competitive threat to NCIA's testing services with broader crop and trait coverage.

Direct peers

• Iowa Crop Improvement Association: State-level crop improvement association providing seed certification, field inspection, and lab testing services in Iowa under the same AOSCA framework as NCIA. Operates an analogous non-profit, university-affiliated model for Nebraska's neighboring state.
• South Dakota Crop Improvement Association: State AOSCA member offering seed certification and quality assurance services to South Dakota seed producers. Comparable university-affiliated non-profit model serving an adjacent state.
• Minnesota Crop Improvement Association: Provides seed certification, Quality Assurance, and Identity Preserved programs in Minnesota, with close ties to the University of Minnesota. Directly comparable state-certification agency model and product set.
• Wisconsin Crop Improvement Association: University of Wisconsin-affiliated seed certification body offering field inspection, lab testing, and foundation seed services. Comparable non-profit, university-tied operating model with similar GTM.
• Illinois Crop Improvement Association: Non-profit seed certification organization in Illinois providing field inspection, lab testing, and identity preserved programs. Direct peer in the same AOSCA network serving a major corn/soybean state.
• Kansas Crop Improvement Association: State-designated seed certification agency serving Kansas seed producers and farmers with field inspection, lab testing, and quality assurance services. Direct regional competitor to NCIA in the Great Plains.

Others

• Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA): Umbrella organization for state seed certification agencies including NCIA. Sets Identity Preserved standards adopted by NCIA and serves as the network/credibility backbone for member agencies.

Regional players

• Colorado Seed Certification Service (Colorado Crop Improvement Association): Performs state-level seed certification and laboratory testing in Colorado within the same AOSCA network. Less direct overlap with NCIA's core corn/soybean geography but operates the same regulatory and product model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nebraska-crop-improvement-assn

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nebraska Crop Improvement Assn