Cone & Seed Fee Schedule

Proposed Changes to the Cone and Seed Fee Schedule

The stakeholder consultation survery (held February 2019) regarding proposed changes to the cone and seed fee schedule is now closed. Information is still available on the proposed changes and as well as a comparison of the existing fee schedule and the proposed new fee Schedule.

Current Cone and Seed Fee Schedule

• Domestic Surplus Seed Prices
• Cone and Seed Service Fees
• Cone and Seed Fee Schedule (PDF)
   
• Notice to Stakeholders (PDF)
• Rationale for Fee Schedule Amendment (PDF)
• Previous Cone and Seed Fee Schedule (PDF)

The Tree Seed Centre prepares invoices, typically on a quarterly basis.

• Read more about invoicing.

Domestic Surplus Seed Prices

The following prices apply to the sale of ministry seed purchased on an individual sowing request basis.

Seed Orchard Seed

Germination Price Adjustment

If the percent germination of a seedlot is the same or higher than the average listed in the tables, there is no adjustment to the price.

If the percent germination of a seedlot is lower than the average in the tables, the following adjustment formula will apply.

Price Variations

The ministry may set different prices for seed if:

• there is no seed price listed for the species and source;
• the ministry acquired the seed for a price different from that listed in the tables above;
• the seed was produced to specifications requested by a client which required additional resources to produce, collect or process; or
• the seed is sold as part of a bulk sale or seed supply agreement.

Cone and Seed Service Fees

This schedule contains fees for the following services offered at the ministry’s Tree Seed Centre:

1. Cone and Seed Processing
2. Seed Testing
3. Seed Preparation 
4. Seed Withdrawal and Transport
5. Other Services

This fee schedule does not apply to services rendered in registering and storing seed in accordance with the prescribed requirements under the Forest and Range Practices Act and Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act, including associated seed testing, withdrawal, and transport.

Cone and Seed Processing

Basic Processing Fees

Basic seedlot charges are divided equally among owners.

Processing Fees by Species

In addition to the Basic Processing Fees, the following fees apply:

Multi-agency seedlot charges are apportioned by volume owned.

Services provided for the above fees include:

• pre-collection cone and seed evaluations
• pre-treatment, conditioning and storage of cones
• kiln, wind and/or ambient drying of cones
• tumbling and/or screening to extract and recover seeds
• seed cleaning, de-winging and separation to specified purity, moisture, filled seed and homogeneity standards
• mixing, labelling, and bagging of seed
• cone and seed inspections performed throughout the process
• removal of waste cones and burlaps sacks
• On processing completion, observations, results and any recommendations are reported to clients. Problems may be reported to clients at any stage during processing.

Every effort to process seedlots on a priority basis is made providing the seedlot in question can tolerate expedited processing.

Priority Processing Fees

Where clients request that a seedlots processing be fast tracked so that it is immediately available (for example, Crown land reforestation), an additional fee of $150 per lot will be applied.

Additional Handling Fees 

Where atypical effort is required to receive and/or process seedlots, a fee of $50 for each hour of additional handling will be applied (e.g.) unorganized and/or unpalletized cone shipments; seedlots containing excessive amounts of debris and mould.

Seed Testing

If clients wish to request additional or family lot testing, the following per test charges apply. The Tree Seed Centre offers these services using International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) standards and protocols.

Germination Tests

* Preferred test type will be selected for germination tests.

Other Tests

Sampling

A sampling fee of $11 will be added when one or more tests are requested against a seedlot.

Seed Preparation

Seed Stratification

*True firs, white pine, yellow cedar and requests for more than 6 weeks stratification duration.

Stratification services provided for above fees include:

• running water soak
• surface drying where appropriate
• chilling
• re-dry techniques used for Abies spp.
• testing and inspection throughout the process.

Seed Pelleting

Seed pellet services are provided on contract and the Tree Seed Centre facilitates this process and tests and inspects the final product. Fees for pelleting species other than Western red cedar will be based on contractor rates. Fees for western red cedar pelleting are as follows:

• $100 per request plus $0.25 per gram to be pelleted up to a request weight of 740 grams. For requests where the pre-pellet weight is greater than 740 grams, a flat rate of $285 per request will apply. Fees for pelleting services for Alder and other species will be based on contractor’s rates.

Seed Withdrawal and Transport

Seed withdrawal and transport services are provided at the following charges:

There continues to be no charge for withdrawal and shipping of requests for Crown land reforestation, education and research.

* minimum charge per individual shipment is $10. Clients should advise the Tree Seed Centre directly if other than standard shipping methods are preferred and if so, shipments will be forwarded "collect".

Other Services

Fees for other services are:

• An Invoice Statement (FS70) is prepared and forwarded to clients on completion of services.
• All fees are subject to GST.
• Charges are billed directly to the requesting agency unless the Tree Seed Centre is otherwise directed in writing.