AMS No. 012-12
Nadine Wilkins (202)720-8998
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2012 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced that James Reneau Seed Company, Shamrock, Texas, has paid $16,200 to settle alleged violations of the Federal Seed Act.
The company settled these cases in agreement with AMS officials. The company neither admitted nor denied the charges brought against them. This settlement resolves 13 cases involving multiple shipments–one shipment of rye seed to Alabama and 12 shipments of rye seed to Georgia. The alleged violations, while not the same for all shipments, were as follows:
-false labeling as to germination rate;
-false labeling as to noxious-weed seed rate;
-failure to test for germination prior to interstate shipment; and
-failure to keep or supply complete records as required.
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 Alabama and Georgia. The Federal Seed Act is a truth-in-labeling law designed to protect farmers and consumers who buy seed.
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