Metrc (Minnesota) Bulletin MN_IB_0067 announces a Metrc item category update effective 07/15/2026 that adds two dedicated seed categories: SEEDS (BULK) and SEEDS (PACKAGED). This article explains what changed, how each category works, and what the update means for everyday seed packaging, planting, inventory accuracy, and labeling workflows.
Bulletin details (MN_IB_0067)
Bulletin number: MN_IB_0067
Distribution date: 07/06/2026
Effective date: 07/15/2026
Subject: Seeds Item Category Update
Contact point: Metrc Support
Reason: To notify the industry of the addition of item categories for seeds.
What’s changing in Metrc on 07/15/2026
Beginning 07/15/2026, Minnesota Metrc license holders will have access to two seed-specific item categories. The goal is to let operators track and package seeds in a way that matches how they are actually handled in the facility (by weight or by count).
• SEEDS (BULK)
• SEEDS (PACKAGED)
SEEDS (BULK): packaging seeds by weight
SEEDS (BULK) is intended for seed inventory that is packaged and managed by weight. In practice, this supports workflows where seeds are portioned, stored, or transferred using a weight-based quantity rather than a per-seed count.
For operators, the key compliance concept is alignment: choose SEEDS (BULK) when your physical handling method and your records are weight-based, so Metrc package quantities and any subsequent adjustments reconcile cleanly during audits.
SEEDS (PACKAGED): packaging seeds by count (“each”)
SEEDS (PACKAGED) is intended for seed inventory that is packaged by quantity of each (a count of seeds). Metrc’s bulletin notes that using an “each” or count-based method can allow a business to use one seed per planting event, rather than weighing seed batches when planting.
Operationally, this category is designed to reduce friction in cultivation workflows where seeds are naturally consumed one at a time (or in a planned count) and where counting is more accurate and easier to verify than weighing very small quantities.
Practical implications for day-to-day cannabis operations
Cleaner cultivation workflow documentation: If you plant from a counted package (SEEDS (PACKAGED)), your planting activity can be documented as a straightforward reduction by number of seeds used, rather than converting tiny weights into operational decisions.
Better inventory accuracy and fewer rounding issues: Bulk-by-weight tracking can create rounding or scale-precision challenges when very small quantities are handled repeatedly. Count-based packaging can reduce those errors when your real-world process is “seed-by-seed.”
More consistent transfers and purchasing records: These categories help align the unit of measure you receive from a vendor (count vs weight) with the unit you track in Metrc. Selecting the correct seed category helps minimize reconciliation issues when packages are received, repackaged, or transferred.
Audit defensibility: Regulators and internal auditors typically look for consistency between physical inventory, SOPs, and system-of-record entries. This update gives Minnesota operators clearer options to match the system category to the actual method of storage and use.
Metrc data entry considerations for seeds
Use the category that matches the package’s unit of measure: After 07/15/2026, avoid forcing seed inventory into a non-seed category just to make a workflow “fit.” Instead, choose SEEDS (BULK) for weight-based packages and SEEDS (PACKAGED) for count-based packages so the package quantity in Metrc mirrors reality.
Plan for how packages will be consumed: Before you create a package, consider how it will be used. If the seeds will be used one-per-planting (or by a planned count), packaging as SEEDS (PACKAGED) can reduce unnecessary weighing steps and make inventory decreases easier to document.
Adjustments should match real operational events: When seed inventory changes due to planting, loss, or other operational reasons, document the change using the appropriate Metrc action and state-allowed adjustment reason so the change is traceable and supportable.
Labeling and Metrc Retail ID support with Distru
Even though this bulletin is focused on item categories, the practical outcome is that your package labels and internal identifiers should stay aligned with how the item is tracked in Metrc (including the correct item category, quantity, and unit of measure). Misalignment between what’s on a label and what’s in Metrc is a common root cause of compliance findings.
DistruLabels (100% free): DistruLabels is a 100% free tool for creating compliant packaging and retail labels, and it helps teams stay consistent with Metrc Retail ID compliance by producing properly formatted labels that support traceability through retail workflows.
DistruERP: For larger operations that need end-to-end supply chain management beyond labeling, DistruERP is Distru’s comprehensive Cannabis ERP platform designed to support broader inventory, order, fulfillment, and compliance workflows at scale.
Metrc Support, training, and resources
Metrc Support portal: For help related to the new seed categories (or any Metrc workflow), use the Metrc support portal at https://support.metrc.com.
First-time portal access: If you are accessing the portal for the first time, you will typically need a username (established when logging in), the respective state selection, the facility license number, and a valid email to set a password.
Metrc Learn training: Metrc Learn provides interactive training on system functionality. Access it at https://learn.metrc.com or from within Metrc via the Support menu by selecting Sign up for Training.
Metrc Expert knowledge base: Within the Metrc system, use the Metrc Expert knowledge base (accessible from the widget icon in the lower right corner) for step-by-step guides and answers.
