As the National Seed Health System (NSHS) prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary this month (August 2026), the Iowa State University Seed Science Center has reached another important milestone in protecting U.S. agriculture with the relaunch of the NSHS website on July 31. Included in the website relaunch was a redesign for the Seed Health Dashboard (Seed HD) that went live on July 20.
The updated NSHS website, available at seedhealth.org, includes a completely redesigned website, offering improved functionality, compliance, navigation, and compatibility to better serve seed industry stakeholders.
The newly updated Seed HD, available at dashboard.seedhealth.org, provides a modernized platform for the seed industry to voluntarily track cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) in imported seed through seed health testing. The update comes after the previous Seed HD website began experiencing compatibility issues in late 2025, prompting a complete redevelopment in partnership with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) IT Web Team.
Originally launched in 2016 as the National Seed Health Accreditation Pilot Program (NSHAPP), the initiative was created to establish a voluntary system for screening imported seed for pathogens of phytosanitary concern. Developed through a partnership between USDA-APHIS and the seed industry, the program helps reduce the risk of introducing seed-transmitted diseases into the United States through imported seed.
CGMMV, a highly contagious virus affecting cucurbit crops such as cucumber, melon, and watermelon, became the first pathogen monitored through the program. Imported seed of these crops is voluntarily tested, providing an additional layer of protection for U.S. agriculture.
Following the pilot program's success, the initiative transitioned to a permanent program in 2022 and was renamed Seed HD, with the ability to expand to additional pathogens in the future.
"The relaunch of Seed HD ensures that our industry continues to have a reliable, user-friendly platform for participating in this important voluntary program," said Kelly Iverson, Program Coordinator for the National Seed Health System’s Administration Unit. "While the previous website had reached the end of its functional life, this new platform provides a strong foundation for future growth as we continue to enhance seed health monitoring and add additional pathogens over time."
The redevelopment for the NSHS and Seed HD websites was a collaborative effort between the Seed Science Center and the CALS IT Web Team. CALS IT led the technical development while Seed Science Center staff reviewed functionality throughout the project. Development began in April 2026, and the new dashboard officially launched last week.
For Dr. Scott Heuchelin, Director of the National Seed Health System’s Administration Unit and Director of the Iowa State University Seed Science Center, the timing is especially meaningful.
"As we celebrate 25 years of the National Seed Health System, the launch of the new Seed Health Dashboard and NSHS website reflects our continued commitment to protecting U.S. agriculture through science, collaboration, and innovation," Heuchelin said. "The strength of the NSHS has always been its partnership with industry and government. Seed HD is another example of how those partnerships help safeguard seed movement while supporting global trade and maintaining confidence in the health of imported seed."
Since its establishment in 2001, the National Seed Health System has provided accreditation to enable non-government agencies to carry out seed health testing, field inspections, and seed sampling necessary to obtain phytosanitary certificates to export seed from the U.S. The program supports the safe movement of seed through standardized testing methods, accreditation, and collaboration among industry, government, and academia. The relaunch of Seed HD reflects the Seed Science Center’s commitment to that mission. It provides an improved tool to support the voluntary monitoring program, which helps protect U.S. crop production from emerging seedborne threats while facilitating the continued movement of healthy seed around the world.
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Contact:
Kelly Iverson
Program Coordinator
NSHS Administrative Unit
160 Seed Science Center • Iowa State University • Ames, IA 50011
Email: nshs@iastate.edu