Fall Seminar Seed Sampling & Labeling Larry Nees Seed - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues Fall Seminar “Seed Sampling & Labeling” Larry Nees Seed Administrator Office of INDIANA STATE CHEMIST & SEED COMMISSIONER

Seed Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues Sampling & Labeling Issues It It al all st l star arts ts wit with

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues “You can’t get a good sample from a bad product” “You can’t get a good test from a bad sample”

Sampling is the first step in Seed Sampling assuring accuracy and precision in & Labeling seed testing. Issues Emphasis is placed on obtaining a “representative” sample from the seed lot being sampled. Equal portions shall be taken from evenly distributed parts of the quantity to be sampled … access shall be had to all parts of that quantity.

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

Seed SEED LAWS – Purpose & Scope… Sampling & Labeling Issues Purpose – Truth-in-Labeling Designed to aid in the orderly marketing of seed, providing legal protection to both buyers and sellers… Providing basic quality information so that consumers can make intelligent purchases of seed products

Seed LABELING Sampling & Labeling “shall mean the use of any labels, and Issues other written, printed, or graphic representations, in any form whatsoever, accompanying or associated with any lot of seed whether in bulk or in containers, and includes any representations on the invoices.” Indiana Policy: Anything on the tag and/or bag

Take My Word For It, It’s Seed Sampling Good Stuff! & Labeling Issues

Seed Let’s Start Over Sampling & Labeling Issues Seriously now, if you were start from scratch, what would “YOU” want to see on your seed label?

Seed LABELING Sampling & Labeling Issues IDENTIFICATION CONTAMINATION • Name & address of seller • Pure Seed % • Kind and/or variety name • Other Crop Seed % • Lot Number • Inert Matter % • Origin • Weed Seed % • Treated Seed Info • Noxious Weed Seeds VIABILITY • Germination % • Hard Seed % • Germination Test Date

Truthful … vs. “Marketing Magic”? Seed Sampling & What Sells? Characteristics Labeling Issues • Dark Green Color • Low Maintenance • Drought Resistance • Traffic Resistance • Ecologically Beneficial • Easy Establishment

Seed Sampling Marketing Magic & Labeling Issues

Marketing Magic Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

Seed “Truthful”? Sampling & Labeling Issues The “Nees” Policy: • Allow consumers to make choices based on verified information instead of marketing claims

Establishing Label Claims … Seed Sampling & Label Claims for Required & “Optional” Labeling Issues Information Should be based on test information obtained from an analysis of the seed lot prior to distribution of the seed. Label claims should not be based on assumed “tolerances”. THERE IS NO LABEL TOLERANCE! There must be a test result to directly support a claim. An “87%” germ test doesn’t justify a “90%” label claim!

Seed “Reasonable Guarantees” Sampling & Labeling Issues Not excessive or extreme; but fair: Pure Seed: 100.00% Germination: 100%

Test Date Labeling/Shipping Seed Seed Sampling & “It is unlawful to distribute seeds within Labeling Issues this state unless the test to determine the Germination Test Dates percentage of germination shall have been completed within a twelve (12) month period, exclusive of the calendar month in which the test was completed immediately prior to distribution…” (Indiana Seed Law) (Exception: 15 months for cool season turf grasses) Example: Test date of Jan 2016 Seed must be sold by Jan. 31, 2017 to avoid retesting and relabeling

Seed Sampling Test Date Labeling / Shipping Seed & Labeling Germination Test Date Issues “The label shall show the month and year in which the germination test was completed. No more than 5 calendar months shall have elapsed between the last day of the month in which the germination test was completed and the date of transportation in interstate commerce …” (Federal Seed Act) Exceptions: 15 months for: Bentgrass, Ky. Bluegrass, Fescues (chewings, hard, red & tall), Ryegrass (per.&ann) Example: Test Date of Jan. 2015 Seed must be shipped by June 30, 2015

Seed Test Date Labeling / Shipping Seed Sampling & Labeling Seed labeled now, with germ test dates for a Issues “future” month & year, shall not be offered for sale until the month & year specified by the labeled test date. Don’t sell before March 2015! ABC Soybeans Seed Retailer Date Tested: Mar 2015

When to Retest? Seed Sampling & • Expiration of Test Date Labeling Issues • New %’s and date may be entered on existing tags, but new tags are advised! • “The person on whose premises the seed is located shall be held responsible for obtaining new test and relabeling”

Records / File Samples Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues Indiana Seed Law Federal Seed Act • Keep complete • Keep complete records for 2 years records for 3 years • Keep file sample for • Keep file sample for 1 year after final 1 year after final disposition of each disposition of each lot lot

Seed Sampling Sampling & Labeling Issues Labeling Any Questions ?

In My Dreams …  Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues