A system, method, and apparatus for automatically gathering seed-specific data for an agricultural crop. Simulated seeds with contactless machine-readable data are co-mingled with actual seeds. Whether in stored form prior to planting, during planting, or after planting with the actual seed in the ground, appropriate readers can quickly and accurately read the seed-specific data for a variety of purposes. That can include simply confirming that the actual seed at least in proximity to a simulated seed is of a particular hybrid or variety. It could also include other seed-specific data such as time and date of planning, seed production company, seed-specific usage restrictions, etc. The data can be utilized by other systems. One example would be a precision agricultural system.
