Levy Collection and Grower Information

We fund various types of activities described in our regulations, the Forage Seed Development Commission Development Plan, by collecting a levy on all forage legumes (not including alfalfa), turf grasses, forage grasses, and amenity, restoration, and reclamation species.

The levy is 0.75% of the gross value of all forage seed marketed upon final settlement made to the producer, by a registered forage seed buyer.

The check-off or levy collection is collected in the same manner as all other producer check-offs, at first point of sale. All grades and crops listed are eligible to the check- off. Seed buyers, who are often the processors as well, are responsible to check-off the appropriate levy, and submit the funds to the Commission. Seed buyers of Saskatchewan produced seed have all the appropriate information with regards to registration and submission requirements. If producers market their own processed production to other producers, or market outside of Canada, it is their responsibility to submit the levy on their production.

The levy is 3/4 of 1 % of sale value ($0.75 per $100.00). This is a refundable check-off, so producers who feel there is no value in producer directed research can contact the SFSDC office to request a refund application.

• Board Order No. 13/15 – Levy Collection (PDF)

• Board Order No. 14/15 – Refund of Levy (PDF)

Under the federal Agricultural Products Marketing Act, and the Saskatchewan Forage Seed Order SOR/2013-240, the Commission is authorized to collect levy collection on interprovincial forage seed deliveries.

Forms

Each forage seed buyer, processor, or assembler of forage seed produced in Saskatchewan shall register with the Commission prior to August 1st of each year. The following forms are provided by the Commission.

• Buyer Registration Form

• Forage Seed Levy Remittance Form

Producer Registration

Each producer will be registered with the Commission upon (i) deduction of the levy by a registered buyer, or, (ii) proof is provided to the Commission that the producer has sold forage seed within the last two year.

The registration will remain in effect until the producer ceases to pay the levy for two consecutive fiscal years under the Plan. The SFSDC fiscal year runs July 1st to June 30th.

• Board Order No. 10/15 – Producer Registration

Forage seed produced and marketed by plant breeding institutions are exempt from levy collection (see Board Order No, 11/15)

The Forage Seed Crops Covered by SFSDC Levy

With the exception of alfalfa seed, all major and minor forage grass and forage legume species are subject to the SFSDC levy. The list includes all crop kinds used for forage, turf seed, or reclamation purposes, and is subject to change as production practices and market opportunities change.

• Board Order No. 08/15 - Forage Seed Species Inclusion

• Board Order No. 13/15 – Levy Collection

• Board Order No. 14/15 – Refund of Levy

All grades are subject to levy collection, including Foundation 1 & 2, Registered 1 & Certified 1 & 2, Common 1 & 2, Reject and no grade, and shall also include seed purchased as a seed mixture. Breeder seed will not be included.