November 18, 2002

The South Australian Farmers’ Federation is urging growers to assess their seed situation for the coming year.

SA Farmers’ Federation Seeds Chairman Tim Schultz said there would be high demand for seed in 2003 due to the drought and that growers should be aware of industry changes that will affect the terms and conditions of buying and selling seed.

“As many growers are aware the South Australian Seeds Act has recently been repealed creating a ‘buyers beware’ scenario.

“The sale of seed for sowing is covered by an industry code of practice and ultimately by the Trade Practices Act. This means that it is essential that buyers of seed request an analytical and purity statement with each lot of seed, to be sure of what they are buying.

“We are advising that all farmers intending to purchase seed become familiar with the Seeds Code of Practice, and are encouraging those selling seed to comply,” he said. (The Code of Practice can be accessed from www.sia.asn.au, or contact SAFF.

“We also advise that the crop sowing seed register initiated by SA Farmers’ Federation and Primary Industries and Resources SA can only register Public varieties of sowing seed, not Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) varieties.

“We urge farmers with seed, or requiring seed, to put their names on this register to indicate supply and demand for seed in the coming season,” he said.

The PIRSA website www.pir.sa.gov.au has a fact sheet on Plant Breeder’s Rights. If growers require seed under PBR, they can contact the commercial partner/licensee to find out access to this seed.