Nadine Wilkins (202) 720-8998Nadine.Wilkins@ams.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced that American Grass Seed Producer’s, Inc., a seed company operating out of Tangent, Ore., has paid $1,400 to settle alleged violations of the Federal Seed Act. The company settled the case in agreement with AMS officials. The company neither admitted nor denied the charges brought against them.
This settlement resolves three cases that involved one shipment each of “Yuchi” arrowleaf clover, “Hallmark” orchardgrass, and ladino clover to Missouri. The alleged violations, while not the same for all shipments, were as follows:
-false labeling as to pure seed, other crop seed, and inert matter;-false labeling as to germination percentage;-false labeling as to hard seed percentage; and-incorrect labeling of a kind name.
AMS administers the Federal Seed Act with the assistance of state seed officials. The investigation was completed through the joint efforts of AMS and seed regulatory officials in Missouri. The Federal Seed Act is a truth-in-labeling law designed to protect farmers and consumers who buy seed.
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