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

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

Larry Nees

Seed Administrator Office of

INDIANA STATE CHEMIST & SEED COMMISSIONER

Fall Seminar

“Seed Sampling & Labeling”

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

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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”

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

Sampling is the first step in assuring accuracy and precision in seed testing. 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 Sampling & Labeling Issues

SEED LAWS – Purpose & Scope…

Purpose – Truth-in-Labeling

Designed to aid in the orderly marketing

• f seed, providing legal protection to

both buyers and sellers… Providing basic quality information so that consumers can make intelligent purchases of seed products

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

LABELING

“shall mean the use of any labels, and

• ther 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

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

Take My Word For It, It’s Good Stuff!

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

Let’s Start Over

Seriously now, if you were start from scratch, what would “YOU” want to see on your seed label?

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

LABELING

IDENTIFICATION

• Name & address of seller
• Kind and/or variety name
• Lot Number
• Origin
• Treated Seed Info

CONTAMINATION

• Pure Seed %
• Other Crop Seed %
• Inert Matter %
• Weed Seed %
• Noxious Weed Seeds

VIABILITY

• Germination %
• Hard Seed %
• Germination Test Date

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

Truthful … vs. “Marketing Magic”?

• Dark Green Color
• Low Maintenance
• Drought Resistance
• Traffic Resistance
• Ecologically Beneficial
• Easy Establishment

Characteristics What Sells?

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

Marketing Magic

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

Marketing Magic

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

“Truthful”?

• Allow consumers to make

choices based on verified information instead of marketing claims

The “Nees” Policy:

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

Establishing Label Claims …

Label Claims for Required & “Optional” Information Should be based on test information

• btained 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 Sampling & Labeling Issues

“Reasonable Guarantees”

Not excessive or extreme; but fair:

Pure Seed: 100.00% Germination: 100%

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

Test Date Labeling/Shipping Seed

Germination Test Dates “It is unlawful to distribute seeds within this state unless the test to determine the 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)

Example: Test date of Jan 2016 Seed must be sold by Jan. 31, 2017 to avoid retesting and relabeling

(Exception: 15 months for cool season turf grasses)

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

Test Date Labeling / Shipping Seed

Germination Test Date “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 Sampling & Labeling Issues

Test Date Labeling / Shipping Seed

Seed labeled now, with germ test dates for a “future” month & year, shall not be offered for sale until the month & year specified by the labeled test date.

ABC Soybeans Date Tested: Mar 2015 Seed Retailer

Don’t sell before March 2015!

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

When to Retest?

• Expiration of Test Date
• 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

• btaining new test and relabeling”

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

Records / File Samples

• Keep complete

records for 2 years

• Keep file sample for

1 year after final disposition of each lot

• Keep complete

records for 3 years

• Keep file sample for

1 year after final disposition of each lot

Indiana Seed Law Federal Seed Act

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

Sampling Labeling

Any Questions ?

Seed Sampling & Labeling Issues

In My Dreams … 