Native Seed Sale in Minnesota

Charles Dale
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Seed and Noxious Weed Unit
90 West Plato Boulevard
St. Paul, Minnesota 55107-2094
(651) 296-6123 / Fax: (651) 297-2271
Charles.Dale@state.mn.us

Labeling Seed for Sale in Minnesota

Every person who offers for sale seed for sowing purposes in Minnesota must attach to each container or bulk bin a seed label showing all information required by the Minnesota Seed Law in Minnesota Statutes, section 21.82.

Seed Sales Record Requirements

The following records are required for each lot:

1. The initial labeler must keep a representative file sample for each seed lot for one year;
2. The seed grower must have a "Genuine Grower's Declaration" or similar documentation;
3. Sales must be recorded on invoices that include the lot number, name of the kind and variety, amount of seed being sold, date of sale, and the name and address of buyer and seller;
4. A copy of the seed label and the certification documents when applicable; and
5. The test information from which the labeling information was derived.

Weed Seed Limitations

Prohibited noxious weed seeds are not allowed in any seed offered for sale in the State.

Restricted noxious weed seeds are allowed in seed offered for sale in the State but only up to the maximum rate of twenty-five (25) per pound. If present in lesser amounts, the name and number per pound for each must be listed on the label under the heading "Noxious Weed Seeds."

Label Requirements: Flower Seeds

1. The kind and variety or a statement of type and performance characteristics for flower seeds;
2. The lot number or other lot identification;
3. The pure seed percentage if less than 90%;
4. The inert matter percentage if greater than 10%;
5. The other crop seed, weed seed, and noxious weed seed if present;
6. If the seed is a "Blend" or a "Mixture," it must be identified as such;
7. The year the seed was packed for sale if the germination percentage meets or exceeds the standard established by rule;
8. If the germination is below the standard, the actual germination percentage and the date of test must be listed;
9. Net weight of contents;
10. If the number of seeds present in the container is less than 200 seeds, the actual number present may be listed in lieu of the net weight;
11. The name and address of the labeler.

Native Seed Certification in Minnesota

• Minnesota Statutes 21.901 provides authority to the commissioner of agriculture for the designation of official State seed certifying agency.
• The Minnesota Crop Improvement Association (MCIA) was designated as the official certifying agency in the early 1900's and continues in that role today.

Certification of Pre-Variety Germplasm

• MCIA established standards for pre-variety germplasm in the 1990's.
• Eligible species include indigenous or non-indigenous trees, shrubs (including vines), or herbaceous plants (forbs and grasses).
• The standards apply to seed, seedlings, or other propagating materials of species, selections, clones, intraspecific hybrids, etc. (collectively referred to as germplasm types) which have not been released as a variety.

Germplasm types are recognized as follows:

1. Tested Class - progeny of plants with parentage proven to be genetically superior or possessing distinctive traits for which heritability is stable but for which no variety has been named or released.
2. Selected Class - progeny of phenotypically selected plants of untested parentage that have promise but not proven to be genetically superior or have distinctive traits.
3. Source-Identified Class - seed, seedlings, or other propagating material collected from natural stands, seed production areas, seed fields, or orchards where no selection or testing of the parent population has been made.

• No limitation on the number of generations is defined for source-identified germplasm.
• Limitation of generations For Tested or Selected germplasm may be specified for each species.
• Production is monitored to make sure isolation and other practices are followed to prevent contamination of the germplasm or cause genetic drift.
• Limitation of generations is applicable to both sexual (seed) and asexual (cuttings, rhizomes, grafting, etc.) reproduction.

Current Status of Native Seed Production and Use

• Thousands of acres each year converted to native prairie and woodland
• Demand has exceeded production for a number of years and both continue to grow (CRP Impact)
• Over 70 species in source-identified seed production; 21 growers with membership in the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association in almost half of the State's eighty-seven counties
• In 1991 the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCMR) funded research on this issue.
• A project to develop cultural, market and species information in order to promote the commercial production of Minnesota origin native grass and wildflower seed was initiated in.
• The results included:
  1. Local ecotypes are necessary for most species even though a species may be found from Canada to Texas.
  2. Production not meeting market needs.
  3. System to verify origin needed to be sure success of plantings

(Copies available only by request)

Importance of Seed Regulation to Industry

Truth in labeling is necessary to:

1. Determine value of each seed lot
2. Insure buyer receives the desired genetic background or pedigree
3. The focus for competition is on improving quality of product and not on just price