Ag staffer answers questions on Simpson Press Release aug 1 by YourEnchantedGardener .....
Ag staffer answers questions on Simpson Press Release aug 1
Date: 8/15/2014 2:53:58 AM ( 10 y ago)
I have been on a fact finding mission for two weeks.
One more email from Johhny Zook, Seed Program Supervisor, Penn State Department of Ag.
From: Leslie Goldman
To: Zook, Johnny
Cc: Leslie Goldman
Subject: johnny, could you help me understand these concerns expressed in the press release
Johnny,
Here again is the story I wrote on my blog
A look at Pennsylvania Ag Seed Saving Library Protocols
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Seed Saving Library Protocols have a well meaning intent. That is my conclusion after speaking to Johnny Zook, Seed Program Supervisor for the Pennsylvania Department of Ag. Events at the Joseph T Simpson Public Library between Earth Day 2014 and now, and its Seed Library, I hope will continue to inspire a national conversation, not only about Seed Saving, but GMOs. The internet outcry when it appeared that the Simpson Seed Library was being asked to shut down, or being addressed as a potential site of Agri-Terrorist activity, affected me deeply. My earlier stories this week reflect my pain. Deep issues need to be addressed now as the "grow your own food" impulse awakens. My intent is to see the US again become a nation of gardeners and for Federal as well as State Seed Laws to be wide enough to "Open Pollinate" and support the needs and goals of the emerging Seed Library and Seed Bank movement. --Leslie Goldman, Your Enchanted Gardener, Plant Your Dream Blog, August 8, 2014
Date: 8/8/2014 11:23:07 AM ( 9 h ) ... viewed 73 times
http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=2194704
Johnny, Could you help me understand these concerns expressed in the press release.
“While we were disappointed that we could no longer accept harvested seeds, we understood the Department of Agriculture’s concerns about possible infringement of seed patents, the spread of invasiveplantsanddiseaseorcross-pollination,”Erdman said. “We are pleased that Department of Agriculture officials worked with us to allow us to host seed swap events. This means that we can continue working with the community to promote home gardening and the preservation of heirloom seed varieties.”
from press release of August 1, 2014
http://www.cumberlandcountylibraries.org/sites/default/files/SIM/Documents/Misc/2014_CCLSPressRelease_SeedLibraryChanges.pdf
Leslie,
possible infringement of seed patents: I don’t remember this being discussed, but there are some companies trying to get patents of Heirloom varieties that they have developed through standard breeding to have greater fruit set and disease resistance. If the companies succeed, this would need to be taken into consideration when saving seeds. Another thing I heard the other day on NPR was people developing their own Heirloom varieties. This sounds nice and fun, but I would warn people to very careful doing this as they may think they have a new variety when in actually they don’t, or someone else already as a variety that you can’t distinguish the two. If they come up with a new variety – great!, but make sure it really is a new variety.
The spread of invasive plants: In PA we have Prohibited and Restrictive Noxious weed seeds. Prohibited seeds may not be propagated in any way. Restricted cannot exceed certain levels. If the Library was going to accept seeds in and act as the storage and distributor of the seeds, at the very least they should have the seed checked for any of these seeds. I don’t think the Prohibited and Noxious Weed is so much the issue as seeds that have poisonous/drug affect. Whether or purpose not or by accident, it would be something I would want to be certain that there was no contaminants before I was distributing seed.
If someone was being rude and replace black night shade seeds for pepper seeds who would catch it? As a Certified Seed Analyst, it takes me some effort to see the difference. Meeting a person face to face and swapping seeds with them may reduce this type of behavior.
The Spread of disease: I don’t remember talking about this with the library, but seed borne disease can be an issue; bacterial speck in tomatoes is seed borne and can reside in the soil for up to two years even after all host species are removed. Instructions on identifying seed borne diseases and not saving seeds from infected plants would be important. The Seed Act does not address seed borne diseases.
Cross-pollination: This is an issue of patrons not getting what they think they’re going to get, and if the Library was going to collect seeds and distribute them the following year this would call into question truth in labeling. If you are distributing seed and claim the seed to be one variety and something comes up that doesn’t meet that varietal description – you could have problem. Plus a patron may do everything right, but bees don’t respect fences and will be happy to bring pollen from a neighboring Hybrid variety.
Let me know if you need any clarifications.
Johnny
Johnny Zook | Seed Program Supervisor
http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — August 1, 2014
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jonelle Darr, Executive Director
Cumberland County Library System
1601 Ritner Highway, Suite 100 | Carlisle, PA, 17013 (717) 240-6175; jdarr@cumberlandcountylibraries.org
CARLISLE, PA – The Cumberland County Library System’s Joseph T. Simpson Public Library in Mechanicsburg announced today that in order to comply with Pennsylvania’s 2004 Seed Act that instead of accepting and storing harvested seeds from library users that it will host Seed Swap events for library users and will only make seeds available from commercial seed companies in the future.
In early June, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture officials notified the Simpson Public Library that while it was not selling seeds, the library must comply with the 2004 Seed Act which regulates the selling and distribution of seeds. In addition to licensing seed distributors, the 2004 Seed Act requires that distributors only offer seeds that are tested using ‘AOSA Rules for Testing Seed’ and are labeled with each seed variety’s germination test dates, sell by dates, lot numbers, seed types, etc.
Sue Erdman, Director of the Simpson Library, said that since the library is not able to provide testing services for seeds harvested by its library users that the library would not be able to accept harvested seeds as it had originally planned.
“While we were disappointed that we could no longer accept harvested seeds, we understood the Department of Agriculture’s concerns about possible infringement of seed patents, the spread of invasiveplantsanddiseaseorcross-pollination,”Erdmansaid. “WearepleasedthatDepartmentof Agriculture officials worked with us to allow us to host seed swap events. This means that we can continue working with the community to promote home gardening and the preservation of heirloom seed varieties.”
As for the 2015 growing season, Rebecca Swanger, Adult Services Librarian and Volunteer Coordinator at the Simpson Library, said that the library plans to obtain donated commercial seed varieties for the Simpson Public Library’s Seed Library, and to continue offering educational books, DVDs and programs about gardening and harvesting seeds.
Simpson Public Library’s Seed Library was launched in April 2014 as a joint program with the Cumberland County Commission for Women. About 60 people have registered to be part of the Seed Library.
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