Florida Firm Pays $1,750 To Settle Seed Case

AMS No. 001-11

Nadine Wilkins (202)720-8998Nadine.wilkins@ams.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 2011 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced that B & G Seed Processors Inc., a seed company operating out of Williston, Fla., has paid $1,750 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 five cases involving shipments of bahiagrass to Georgia. The alleged violations, while not the same for all shipments, were as follows:

-false labeling as to pure seed and other crop seed percentages and-false labeling of germination and dormant seed percentages.

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 Georgia. The Federal Seed Act is a truth-in-labeling law designed to protect farmers and consumers who buy seed.

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