HB 317 -- Seed Availability and Competition Act

Sponsor:  Shoemyer

This bill is to be known as the Missouri Seed Availability and
Competition Act.  Farmers who plant patented seed and want to
retain seed from their harvest for next season's planting must
register with the Department of Agriculture and pay a fee of $7
for each bushel of seed retained.  The fees are to be deposited
into the Genetically Engineered Seed Fund, created by the bill.
Six dollars per bushel collected are to be remitted to the patent
holder of the genetically engineered seed on a quarterly basis.
One dollar is to be retained for actual administrative costs of
the fund, with any excess moneys to be appropriated from a
subaccount of the Genetically Engineered Seed Fund to the
University of Missouri for agricultural research and development.

A farmer will only be liable if he or she intentionally or
negligently fails to follow the patent holder's or manufacturer's
instructions and guidelines regarding the use of the seed.

Any person who violates the provisions of the bill commits the
crime of misappropriation of patented seed and is guilty of a
class D felony.  All other additional legal remedies are
available to the owner of the misappropriated seed.

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 25, 2005 at 1:18 pm