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the leading vegetable crop in the U.S. and currently has no effective form of patent 

 protection. 



The potato, being an asexually propagated crop, was not protected through the 

 Plant Patent Act of 1930. An amendment to include potatoes here would give that 

 commodity the protection equivalent to most every other country in the world. 

 Appropriate language has been adopted to the Senate bill, S 1406, and I urge this 

 Committee to examine the merits of doing the same when the appropriate time comes. 



The grass seed industry, which plays a prominent role in the agricultural industry 

 in the Pacific Northwest, has long relied on marketing practices associated with surplus 

 production. These practices represent an amiable understanding and agreement between 

 breeders which own the patent of a particular variety and farmers growing it under 

 contract 



When released by the contracting company, these arrangements have allowed the 

 grass seed growers to market their seed and recover some of their investment By all 

 accounts, this practice favors both parties, as well as consumers. Another amendment 

 adopted in the Senate would preserve this situation and I believe this Committee will see 

 the wisdom of that provision. 



Finally, Mr. Chairman, I look forward with great interest to testimony regarding 

 the subject of selling saved seed. Saved seed defines the complexity of this issue more 



