ORS 576.802: Failure of seed dealer to make timely payment; fee.

(1) If a seed dealer fails to pay a producer for other seed when payment is due under a seed production contract or fails to pay a seed grower for other seed when payment is due under a seed purchase contract, the producer or seed grower may notify the State Department of Agriculture. Upon notification by a producer or seed grower, the department shall determine whether payment has been made when due. If the department determines that the seed dealer has not made a payment that is due under a seed production contract or seed purchase contract, the department shall notify the seed dealer in writing that the dealer has 30 days to pay the producer or seed grower all delinquent amounts plus interest on each delinquent amount at the rate of one percent per month simple interest from the final payment date for that delinquent amount. (2) A seed production contract or seed purchase contract may not vary the terms of the remedy provided by this section. A seed dealer may appeal the notice given by the department under this section as provided in ORS chapter 183. This section does not prevent a producer or seed grower from filing a notice of lien against a seed dealer. (3) If a seed dealer fails to make payment as required by a notice given by the department under this section, the department shall suspend any seed dealer license issued to the dealer until the dealer demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that the dealer is current on all payments due to all producers and seed growers. An order suspending a license under this subsection is subject to ORS chapter 183. However, the department may not suspend a seed dealer license under this section using the procedure described in ORS 183.430 (2). (4) A seed dealer that fails to make payment on a seed production contract or seed purchase contract as required by a notice given by the department under this section is considered to have authorized the producer or seed grower to sell in a commercially reasonable manner any seed from the contract that is still in the possession of the producer or seed grower. This subsection does not prevent a seed dealer from giving consent to the producer or seed grower by other means and does not supersede the terms of a consent given by other means. (5) The department may charge a producer or seed grower a fee, not to exceed $200, for determining whether payment has been made in accordance with the terms of a seed production contract or seed purchase contract. The department may charge a producer or seed grower a fee, not to exceed $50, for notifying a seed dealer in writing regarding the deadline for payment of delinquent amounts plus interest. [2018 c.26 §8]