Rice Farmers Take Company to Court Over Seed Quality
By: Brittney Johnson, KARK 4 News
Updated: July 16, 2012
Dozens of rice farmers across the state are banding together, filing a lawsuit claiming a company is selling bad rice. Some say it's a loss they can't even begin to put a price tag on.
The legal battle started when the Texas based company RiceTec sued an Arkansas farmer who refused to pay his seed bill because he felt the seed didn't produce well. In a counter suit over 30 Arkansas rice farmers claim the company is selling product that does not live up to it's promises.
As Lance Hill walks along his rice fields this year, he says he's discouraged by what he sees.
"We are seeing sporadic... rice it's not coming up uniform" said Hill.
Hill says he planted over a hundred acres of RiceTec hybrid seed and started getting bad results over a month ago, so he called the company in to help and they replaced the seed. But when he replanted seeds from the same batch on different land, Hill says he started seeing uneven results.
"I'm tired of paying for something and not receiving it," he said.
Hill is one of 32 farmers joining a lawsuit-started by a farmer in Greene County. Attorneys allege pictures included in the complaint show sparse fields from that area caused by defective rice seeds that yield low results.
Attorney Clayton Smaistrla said, "What you see now is farmers and guys uniting to take a stand against something that's wrong and needs to be corrected."
Hill says it's too early to tell, but estimates tens of thousands of dollars could be at stake this season.
"With this rice industry, the way it's going one or two bad years can put a man out of business," said Hill.
With Arkansas' standing as the nation's largest rice producer, Hill, a third generation farmer says the state's reputation on the global market could take a big hit.
"They're giving us bad rep. We used to be on top and we're not anymore," he said.
A spokesperson for RiceTec stated the company has not had a chance to review the lawsuit and would not comment before doing so.
The legal battle started when the Texas based company RiceTec sued an Arkansas farmer who refused to pay his seed bill because he felt the seed didn't produce well. In a counter suit over 30 Arkansas rice farmers claim the company is selling product that does not live up to it's promises.
As Lance Hill walks along his rice fields this year, he says he's discouraged by what he sees.
"We are seeing sporadic... rice it's not coming up uniform" said Hill.
Hill says he planted over a hundred acres of RiceTec hybrid seed and started getting bad results over a month ago, so he called the company in to help and they replaced the seed. But when he replanted seeds from the same batch on different land, Hill says he started seeing uneven results.
"I'm tired of paying for something and not receiving it," he said.
Hill is one of 32 farmers joining a lawsuit-started by a farmer in Greene County. Attorneys allege pictures included in the complaint show sparse fields from that area caused by defective rice seeds that yield low results.
Attorney Clayton Smaistrla said, "What you see now is farmers and guys uniting to take a stand against something that's wrong and needs to be corrected."
Hill says it's too early to tell, but estimates tens of thousands of dollars could be at stake this season.
"With this rice industry, the way it's going one or two bad years can put a man out of business," said Hill.
With Arkansas' standing as the nation's largest rice producer, Hill, a third generation farmer says the state's reputation on the global market could take a big hit.
"They're giving us bad rep. We used to be on top and we're not anymore," he said.
A spokesperson for RiceTec stated the company has not had a chance to review the lawsuit and would not comment before doing so.
