Bulk Retail Facilities and Bulk Distribution Centers
Bulk Retail Facilities and Bulk Distribution Centers are sites other than a certified seed producer's primary place of business that serve as retail outlets for Kansas Certified seed. Both types of facilities must register with the Kansas Department of Agriculture as a seed retailer.
The two types of facilities have different functions and responsibilities. Any facility with proper equipment completely separate from grain handling facilities and with the ability and desire to maintain seed quality and conform to state seed laws and Kansas certification standards is eligible. All facilities must follow all KCIA standards and properly label. All bulk retail locations either apply with KCIA directly (Bulk Retail Facilities) or a certified seed grower registers a site with KCIA for their sales (Bulk Distribution Center).
Bulk Distribution Center (BDC)
A Bulk Distribution Center is a facility that contracts with a certified seed grower to sell that grower's Certified seed. The grower inspects the site for suitability and submits the registration form to KCIA. The grower is responsible to ensure the BDC is acting in accordance with state seed laws and Kansas certification standards. They should not register a site if these expectations can't be met by the facility/staff.
The grower supplies his/her seed and either Bulk Retail Sale Certificates or Bulk Invoice Labels to the BDC. The BDC agrees to maintain the seed in quality and purity, deliver the seed to its customer, and issue the proper document or label to the customer. The grower remains responsible for the seed and is required to report the final distribution on all their seed moved through a BDC. A facility may act as a BDC for more than one grower if all parties are ammenable, but the seed lots must remain separate.
There are no fees associated with a BDC.
Bulk Retail Facility (BRF)
A Bulk Retail Facility is an independent facility with the ability to purchase eligible Kansas Certified seed and sell that seed under their company name. KCIA will complete an on-site inspection of facilities and a training session for staff over standards, procedures, and laws for the proper storage, sale, and labeling of certified seed. A BRF is responsible for complying with all seed laws and certification standards and since its name is on the label, assumes all responsibilities for the seed.
A seed movement between elegible members that is not intended to be planted by the buyer, such as seed contracted by a BRF, is a resale purchase. This movement is documented on the KCIA dashboard at the time the seed physically moves and is assigned a tracking Certification Number unique to the buyer. All resale seed is labeled with the "standard analysis" unless the buyer submits their own sample for laboratory testing. The BRF must create Bulk Retail Sale Certificates or order Bulk Invoice Labels to provide to the buyers of their seed lots. Seed lots of the same class and variety may be combined prior to retail sale. Compared to other certified seed, BRF consolidated lots have different tracking and distribution reporting requirements, including using the Bin Inventory and Sales Tracking Sheet.
There is an application fee and annual renewal for BRF sites. KCIA membership is not required but fees are substantially higher for non-members.
Marketing Certified Seed as a Bulk Retail Facility - slide overview of BRF procedures and certified seed labeling