SGS 

is a full service seed testing laboratory started by Tim Gutormson, RST, President, and Sharon Hanson-Gutormson, RST, CGT. The company has been in business since July of 1993 and works with over 1,500 seed company accounts from 43 states and several countries.

SGS is an ISTA accredited laboratory, as well as ISO 9001:2000 certified.

SGS conducts germination, vigor, herbicide tolerance, physical and genetic purity, and GMO (ELISA/protein, DNA/PCR, bioassays) testing. We test hundreds of species every year including: corn, soybeans, alfalfa, canola, sorghum, sunflowers, cereals, grasses, native grasses and forbs, flowers, and vegetables.

Workshops and seed technologist training sessions are held throughout the year.  Seed Sampling, Canadian Graders, Pre-harvest, Seed Quality and Seed Technologist Training  Workshops are offered annually in Brookings at the SGS facility and throughout the country. See our Workshops page for more information.

The company originally started in the basement of our house near Bruce, SD. in July 1993.  In November of 1994 we moved to Brookings and leased 4,000 sq. ft. from the Brookings Area Development Corporation.  

In September 1997 we moved into a new 10,000 sq. ft. facility. The new facility includes expanded germination, vigor, herbicide, wet laboratory, and purity testing areas.  

In November of 1998 we completed an 8,000 sq. ft. addition for expanded soybean and purity testing.

Nov. 2001 - We just completed our 10,000 sq. ft. addition to our current facility. Our DNA Laboratory occupies 3,200 sq. ft. of it for transgenic testing services.  

SGS employs more than 20 full-time seed analysts, ten of which are Registered Seed Technologists (RST's); three Registered Genetic Technologists (RGT), five Certified Genetic Technologists (CGT's), three Certified Viability Technologists (CVT's) and 1 CPT (Certified Purity Technologist). 

Ten of our staff hold Doctor of Science or Master of Science degrees in Agronomy, Biology, Ag Education, Computer Science, Geography, and Counseling/Human Resource Development, as well as 33 Bachelor Degrees in Agronomy, Ag Education, Animal Science, Biology, Ethnobotany, Chemistry, Computer Science, Horticulture, Microbiology, Pest Management, Accounting, Ag Journalism and Family and Consumer Science.

Several seasonal staff and more than 30 South Dakota State University students are employed for planting and general laboratory work during the testing season.