Carryover Seed Explained: Certified, Tested, and More Valuable Than Ever

Jan 02, 2026

From bumper crops to insurance against bad harvests, carryover seed plays a bigger role than many people realize.

Carryover seed is becoming a more visible part of the Alberta seed landscape, but according to seed growers and testing experts, its presence is nothing new. In fact, having carryover seed on hand often presents a strategic advantage for both seed growers and farmers.

The Alberta-British Columbia Seed Growers’ Association (ABCSG) has offered a carryover listing service since around 2009, before the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA) added carryover capability to the national Seed Locator in 2018.

For Greg Stamp of Stamp Seeds, carryover seed — certified seed that simply wasn’t sold the year it was produced — is a natural part of running a pedigreed seed business. Predicting dryland yields isn’t exact, he says, and some years he produces more seed than expected.

“Sometimes we expect 20 bushels of durum and get 40 or 50,” he says. “That becomes two years’ worth. We’re selling that crop across two seasons.”

Demand can shift just as unpredictably as yield. A variety that sells quickly one year may stall the next. In both cases, carryover seed remains certified and fully tested, but seed growers must make sure buyers are aware it exists.

Morgan Webb, president of Seed Check, agrees that carryover isn’t always a sign something went wrong in the marketplace — often it’s simply a result of high-quality bumper years, or a cyclical oversupply in crops like alfalfa, timothy or turf species. In years of poor harvest quality, having old-crop inventory can even be an insurance policy.

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Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.