Nadine Wilkins (202)720-8998Nadine.wilkins@ams.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, March 21, 2011 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced that Olean Seed, a seed company operating out of Olean, Mo., has paid $450 to settle alleged violations of the Federal Seed Act. The company settled the case in agreement with AMS officials. The company neither admitted nor denied the charges brought against them.
This settlement resolves a case which involved a shipment of tall fescue seed to Georgia. The alleged violation was false labeling in regard to germination.
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 Georgia. The Federal Seed Act is a truth-in-labeling law designed to protect farmers and consumers who buy seed.
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