Farmers who intend to sell common seed this year are being reminded that there are specific rules they must follow.
Gord Berg, an inspector with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, says tight seed supplies and some poor-quality certified seed from 2002 may force producers to plant more common or non-certified seed than in previous years.
“Some producers who sell common seed don’t know that there are enforceable standards associated with the product,” Berg told seed growers and industry officials attending the Saskatchewan Seed Growers Association annual meeting in Saskatoon last week.
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The Canadian Seed Act prohibits common seed from being sold by its variety name, and insists that seed be tested for purity and germination and be graded as common number one or two.
That information must be provided on a written label, which also needs to include the seller’s name and address, net weight, any precautionary statements about pesticide use, a lot number and production record.
Each seed type has different standards.
Dale Adolphe, executive director of the Canadian Seed Growers Association, said CFIA tests since 1996 have shown that only 78 percent of common seed met the germination, purity and grade standards required by the Seed Act, while 91 percent of certified seed passed inspection.
Berg said the CFIA monitors common seed advertising in “major, national publications like The Western Producer and also a rotating subscription list of local papers and smaller magazines … and when our inspectors are in the field in the spring they are looking for ads on bulletin boards in elevators, fertilizer and farm supply dealerships.”
He said the CFIA contacts sellers when agency employees find advertisements that are violating the regulations.
“Some folks selling common seed decide it isn’t worth it when they find out that they are subject to the same standards, testing and record keeping as seed growers,” he said.
Lorne Hulme, president of the Manitoba Seed Growers Association, said common seed sellers must also be aware of possible legal problems.
“Just like a seed grower, they are liable if the guy puts it in the ground and it doesn’t perform,” he said.
“The grower can call his lawyer and seek some compensation.”
Bruce Carriere of Discovery Seed Labs said that “just because it germinates doesn’t mean it is going to make a good crop. Producers need to be sure of their seed sources.”
A common seed vendor notice providing information about marketing common seed is available from CFIA.
