A second Yorkshire farmer has been found guilty of marketing farm-saved seed less than a month after P and M Kendra Market Weighton received a £90,000 finefor similar offences.

York agricultural merchants Campbell and Penty and company director Andrew Penty were both found guilty of marketing farm-saved seed at York Magistrates Court last week, following a prosecution brought by DEFRA.

Both defendants received a 12-month conditional discharge and were ordered to pay DEFRA’s legal and investigation costs of nearly £4,000.

The offences related to the marketing of uncertified seed to a number of farmers in the area. Mr Penty and his company were each charged with six offences, contrary to seed marketing regulations.

Tony Harrington, director of Policy and Regulation at Fera, said: “This is the second successful case this month involving the marketing of uncertified seed and reinforces the role of legislation in assuring the quality of seed bought by farmers.”

The first case was brought against Philip Kendra and his firm P and M Kendra Market Weighton earlier this month. Both were convicted of 40 offences relating to the marketing of farm-saved seed and Mr Kendra received a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with fines and costs of over £90,000.

Mr Harrington said Fera would continue working with the industry to protect the status of certified seed and ensure the quality of seed marketed to farmers was maintained.