Stuffing started in New York

The origin of the seed stuffing allegation, one of the features of the giant suit between Kentucky Blue Grass gowers and Scotts, got its start in Farmingdale, N.Y. Pullman attorney Tim Esser filed a motion in court last week in an attempt to get access for pre-trial discovery on behalf of his client, Seeds Inc. of Tekoa.

The seed stuffing allegation, which has since been discounted in court rulings, alleged growers last fall delivered seed harvested from fields which were not under contract to Scotts to take advantage of the higher prices prices on the Scotts advance contracts.

Esser alleged the stuffing allegation was brought up by a Scotts executive when he informed producers Scotts planned to withhold payments for delivered seed.