Arbitration is a hearing before the Seed Arbitration Board to determine a dispute between the purchaser and labeler or seller of seed sold in Texas regarding the failure of seed to produce or perform as represented by the warranty or by the label, or as a result of negligence.

The State Seed and Plant Board acts as the Seed Arbitration Board for complaints filed for arbitration. 

How to file a complaint:
A purchaser may begin arbitration by mailing a sworn complaint and a non-refundable filing fee of $500 to TDA.  The purchaser must send a copy of the complaint to the seller via certified mail.  The purchaser must submit the sworn complaint no later than the 10^th day after the date on which the purchaser discovered the defect.  
The seller shall file an answer to the complaint with TDA and send a copy of the answer to the purchaser by certified mail no later than 15 days after receipt of the complaint. 

Arbitration process:
TDA shall conduct a preliminary investigation.  TDA will refer the complaint, the answer, and preliminary investigation findings to the Seed Arbitration Board.  The Seed Arbitration Board then will schedule a hearing and give reasonable notice to all parties.  After holding the hearing, the Seed Arbitration Board will report its findings and recommendations to the TDA Commissioner no later than 60 days after the date of the referral.  TDA then shall promptly transmit the report to all parties via certified mail.