HARRISBURG, Pa. — Producers planning fall crops should exercise caution by only purchasing seed that has been tested and labeled to comply with Pennsylvania law, said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. Redding warned that untested “brown bag” seed can threaten crop yields, farm productivity and financial viability.
“Pennsylvania’s seed testing program helps to ensure that consumers get what they pay for,” said Redding. “When you buy seeds that are tested and labeled according to state law, you know where they’ve come from and how they are likely to perform for you. It’s an easy and important way to manage one of the risks of crop farming.”
Redding urged consumers to purchase seed from a licensed seed dealer. Anyone offering seed for sale, whether for cover crop or crop production, is required by law to be licensed in Pennsylvania.
Act 164 of 2005, also known as the Pennsylvania Seed Act, regulates the sale of plant seed in the commonwealth. Seed distributors, whether an individual or a company whose name appears on the label, are required by law to obtain a $25 annual seed license from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Licenses must be renewed each year. Distributors must follow the established regulations to ensure high quality seed that will perform as labeled.
In Pennsylvania, it is illegal to sell seed that has not been tested and labeled. Potential buyers should steer clear of untested seed, sometimes packaged in an unlabeled brown bag, because its quality may be questionable. In addition to the risk of poor germination and inferior crops, the packages could contain unwanted weed seeds.
State law requires that seed labels contain critical information, including the complete name and address of the labeler, lot number, purity analysis, germination percentage and the month and year in which the germination test was completed. The label must appear legibly, in English, in an easily visible place on the outside of the container.
For more information on the Seed Act, its regulations, and to see a list of licensed seed dealers in Pennsylvania, visit agriculture.pa.gov or call 717-787-4894.
— Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture