What does the Seed Program do for you?

This program provides licenses to seed dealers in Montana in order to assure consumers that seed offered for sale in Montana are truthfully labeled for identity, purity and viability.

The following are the seeds included in this program:

• Grass seed;
• Forage seed;
• Cereal seed;
• Lawn seed;
• Fiber crops seed;
• Mixtures of seed; and
• Any other kinds of seed commonly recognized within the state as agricultural seeds.

How does the Seed Program ensure Seed quality?

The Seed Program provides statewide regulatory services to the general public and specific agricultural industries. The program conducts inspections of seed facilities to assure compliance with licensing and labeling requirements, obtains random seed samples and submits them to the Montana State University’s Seed Laboratory in Bozeman for analysis.

The laboratory analyzes the samples for the following:

• Purity;
• Germination;
• Noxious weed seeds;
• Restricted weed seeds;
• Total weed seed content; and
• Seed from other crops.

The program then compares the results with the label to verify if the seed is within accepted tolerances and reports the result to the labeler.

All seed products must have proper and accurate labeling. If there are any problems the labeler will be contacted for resolution.

Who needs a Seed Dealer License?

A seed dealer license is required for the following:

• Any seed dealer distributing seed in Montana
• Any person whose name appears on the label as a seed labeler
• Any facility that conditions seed
• Any Montana producer selling their own production with a gross annual sales value of more than $5,000

Review the licensing exemptions at the backside of the Seed Dealer License application form.