AMS No. 032-13

Nadine Wilkins (202) 720-8998

nadine.wilkins@ams.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2013 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced that Green Thumb Commodities Inc., Oldham, S.D., has paid $2,700 to settle alleged violations of the Federal Seed Act.

This settlement resolves four cases, which involved one shipment of ‘Fridge’ triticale seeds and three shipments of sunflower seeds to Texas. The alleged violations, while not the same for all shipments, were:

-false labeling of pure seed, inert matter, and other crop seed percentages;

-failure to label the presence of noxious-weed seeds;

-failure to test for germination within the prescribed time prior to shipment; and

-failure to keep required records.

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