Uncertainty and structural issues facing the seed handling industry

The traditional seed handling industry has faced substantial variation in local demands for field crop seed quantities and varieties during the last decade or more. Seed handling firms in Georgia were surveyed to elicit market structure and conduct information and to ascertain issues confronting the industry. Concerns included perceptions of structural changes in the seed handling industry following the Plant Variety Protection Act (1970). Patent law may be expected to contribute to further structural changes in the marketing of seed inputs.