AMS No. 092-13

Nadine Wilkins (202) 720-8998

nadine.wilkins@ams.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, May 15, 2013 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced that ProSeeds Marketing Inc., Jefferson, Ore., has paid $2,475 to settle alleged violations of the Federal Seed Act.

This settlement resolves three cases that involved one shipment of a grass seed mixture to Maryland, one tall fescue seed to Minnesota, and one Kentucky bluegrass shipment to Pennsylvania. The alleged violations, while not the same for all shipments, were as follows:

-false labeling as to pure seed and other crop seed;

-false labeling as to date of test; and

-false labeling as to correct variety name.

The company settled the cases in agreement with AMS officials. The company neither admitted nor denied the charges brought against them.

AMS administers the Federal Seed Act with the assistance of state seed officials. The investigations were completed through the joint efforts of AMS and seed regulatory officials in Maryland, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. The Federal Seed Act is a truth-in-labeling law designed to protect farmers and consumers who buy seed.