All dealers and labelers of seed in Kentucky must have a current registration or permit on file with the Division of Regulatory Services. Registration and permit categories include Dealer Registration, Agricultural Permits, Custom Seed Conditioner Registration and Vegetable Permits. Registrations and permits are issued on a yearly basis.
Dealers are firms that distribute agricultural seed in containers of forty pounds or more at retail in Kentucky. Agricultural seed includes grasses, forages, cereals, oil, fiber, tobacco and other kinds of crop seed commonly recognized as agricultural seed, lawn seed and combinations thereof. A Dealer Registration Application can be printed, completed and submitted to our office.
Any person labeling agricultural seed must have a permit and is required to pay a quarterly unit sale (tonnage) fee. Agricultural seed includes grasses, forages, cereals, oil, fiber, tobacco and other kinds of crop seed commonly recognized as agricultural seed, lawn seed and combinations thereof. Seed labeled with tags provided by KSIA or purchased from Regulatory Services are exempt from tonnage reporting. An Ag Permit Application is available that can be printed, completed and submitted to our office. A Tonnage Report form is also available.
A Custom Conditioner processes seed for producers only. Conditioning includes drying, cleaning, applying seed treatment, scarifying and other activities which could change the purity or germination of the seed. This seed cannot be sold and is available only to the producer. A Custom Seed Conditioner Registration Application is available that can be printed, completed and submitted to our office.
Firms labeling vegetable seed, flower seed or combination mulch, seed and fertilizer product for sale in Kentucky must also have a permit. Vegetables are considered seed of crops grown in gardens and on truck farms and are generally known and sold under the name of vegetable or herb seed in Kentucky. The Vegetable and Flower Permit Application is available and can be printed, completed and submitted to our office.
For more information about registration types, fees and tonnage reporting, contact David Buckingham, Regulatory Program Coordinator at (859) 257-2785.