Department of Agriculture Reminds Montanans to Sow Safe Seeds

Following the first day of Spring and beginning of Ag Week in Montana, the Department of Agriculture is reminding growers to ensure their seeds and plant materials are sourced from licensed dealers and nurseries to preserve the health of agriculture in Montana.

“From farmers and ranchers to backyard gardeners, the success of Montana Agriculture relies on sourcing quality seeds and plant materials from trustworthy sources,” said Ian Foley, Agricultural Sciences Administrator at Montana Department of Agriculture. “Montana’s Department of Agriculture is here to help assure anyone getting ready to plant that their seeds are coming from reputable seed dealers licensed in the state, just give us a call.”

The Federal Seed Act and Montana Seed Laws require seed sellers and distributors to plainly label their packages. The MDA Seed Program ensures that seeds offered for sale in Montana are truthfully labeled for identity, purity, and viability. Planting unknown or unsolicited seeds or plant materials can introduce harmful pests and/or diseases which could have detrimental effects on agricultural lands and the state economy.

To ensure your seeds are safe, please:

* Verify the seed species information is printed on the seed package.

* Do not plant any seeds of unknown species or origin.

* Check to make sure suppliers are licensed in MT at mtplants.mt.gov or contact the department.

The department’s Nursery Program assures the quality of all nursery stock grown in Montana or imported or exported from the state. With most of Montana’s plant materials being imported, hitchhiking insects or diseases have the potential to cause significant harm to other agricultural crops grown in Montana and shrink the state economy. It is imperative that individuals follow the state quarantines in place for pests such as the Japanese beetle and emerald ash borer when shipping plants into Montana to reduce the risk of spreading pests and plant diseases.

The Montana Department of Agriculture is serving Montana Agriculture and growing prosperity under the Big Sky. For more information on the department’s seed and nursery programs, visit agr.mt.gov.