Arizona Farm Bureau Leads Effort to Improve Cotton Seed Quality

An Arizona Farm Bureau initiative launched to address ongoing concerns about cotton seed quality in the state evolved into a comprehensive seed-testing program implemented in the 2025 growing season.

Through grassroots engagement and the policy development process, Arizona Farm Bureau farmer members highlighted persistent issues with cotton seed, particularly poor germination rates and declining performance, prompting the organization to convene a coalition of stakeholders including growers, volunteer Farm Bureau leaders, seed companies, university Extension specialists, commodity groups and the Arizona Department of Agriculture.

The collaborative effort is a significant step toward improving seed reliability, reducing replanting risks amid high costs and supporting the long-term viability of Arizona’s cotton industry.

With the overarching goal of ensuring only high-quality cotton seed is distributed in Arizona, the coalition was specifically looking to validate both cold and warm germination rates.

Laboratory Analysis

In collaboration with the Arizona Cotton Growers Association, the Arizona Department of Agriculture, and the Cotton Research and Protection Council, a statewide cotton seed testing program was launched. Through the program, the Arizona Department of Agriculture collected seed samples from locations across the state and submitted them to the state laboratory for evaluation of both warm and cold germination rates to assess overall seed quality.

Surprising Results

State lab testing confirmed that warm germination rates were high, but – surprising both growers and seed companies – cold germination rates were significantly low. These findings prompted seed companies to voluntarily share their cold germination rates with growers, a big step forward in building trust and accountability.

Continued Collaboration and Transparency

Stakeholders are expanding data collection beyond germination rates to include additional seed quality indicators such as oil content. In addition, they’ll also be looking into collecting contextual data from growers, like planting time, soil temperature and environmental conditions, to better understand the factors influencing seed performance.

State Awards of Excellence

Arizona Farm Bureau’s efforts to address concerns with the state’s cotton seed quality were recognized with a 2026 Award of Excellence in the Advocacy category. The award was presented at the 2026 American Farm Bureau Convention in January in Anaheim.