Georgia Crop Improvement Association
The Georgia Crop Improvement Association is an organization of seed producers who are interested in growing and making available to the public, through certification, high quality seeds and propagating materials of superior varieties so grown and distributed as to insure genetic purity and identity. The Georgia Crop Improvement Association was organized in 1946, and made the legal certifying agency by passage of House Bill #104 in 1956. This bill was superseded by Senate Bill #583 in July of 1997. Both bills authorized the Dean of the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences to designate the Georgia Crop Improvement Association as the legal certifying agency in Georgia.

Crop Improvement Associations emphasize more efficient crop production by encouraging the use of high quality seed of superior varieties. Larger yields per acre and better quality products have always been essential for the most profitable returns from crop production.


Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association
The Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association enhances the game of golf and the golf course management profession through advocacy, education, environmental stewardship and recognition for the professionals in the industry.


Georgia Seed Development
Georgia Seed Development is responsible for overseeing the foundation plant material production in Georgia. Since 1997, this effort has resulted in over $15 million of additional support for UGA cultivar development.

GSD works closely with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the University of Georgia Research Foundation and the Georgia Crop Improvement Association in supporting various research projects and in bringing new cultivars to market. 

Georgia Seed Development has an active seed production program for most crops grown in the state including peanuts, soybeans, small grains, cotton, canola, blueberries and bahia grass.  Our programs maintain varietal identity and high seed quality as we increase seed quantities from a small amount of breeder seed to a sufficient volume of certified seed and plant stock for commercial crops. Quality factors such as purity, germination and freedom from noxious weeds are monitored during the certification process.

GSD also maintains foundation material of vegetatively propagated turfgrass and horticultural cultivars developed by the University of Georgia and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Research Service. 

We manage the collection of licensing and royalty fees for cultivars developed by UGA.


Ga Urban Ag Council
The Georgia Urban Ag Council is Georgia’s premier green industry association for professionals involved in all sectors of the industry, including:

  • Landscape design
  • Landscape management
  • Landscape construction
  • Turf care
  • Sports turf management
  • Parks/rec management
  • Golf course management
  • Nursery/grower/garden centers
  • Sod production
  • Tree care
  • Lighting
  • Irrigation
  • Green industry suppliers and consultants

UAC represents one of the largest and most successful industries in Georgia, with more than $8 billion in sales, 7,000 companies and more than 80,000 employees.