Agricultural Marketing Service
   
 
Seed Regulatory and Testing
 
Seed Service Testing  
The Seed Regulatory and Testing Division (SRTD) tests agricultural and vegetable seeds to bring about efficient, orderly marketing and to assist in the development of new or expanding markets. The test results are reported in a Federal Seed Analysis Certificate. Many importing countries require this certification of U.S. seed and grain. The SRTD is accredited by the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) and recognized as an unbiased authority for conducting tests on export samples. The SRTD has also achieved ISTA accreditation in seed health and variety testing and accelerated aging.

 
Voluntary testing services are available to anyone for a fee. Customers submitting seed samples may request any of the following tests:

 
  • purity,
  • germination,
  • noxious-weed seeds,
  • moisture content
  • conductivity
  • bioassay,
  • seed count
  • pathogens
  • variety testing by laboratory, field, or greenhouse methods
  • accelerated aging
  • Canadian Seed Grading

 
More information is available on sample sizes to be submitted and other information that must be included with the submitted sample (see Seed Service Fees under Resources). Charges for pathology and variety testing will reflect the actual hours required to complete the test; please contact us for an estimation of the time requirements and charges for specific tests (704) 810-8870.

 

 
Seed Regulatory and Testing Division
LPS, AMS, U.S. Department of Agriculture
801 Summit Crossing Place, Suite C
Gastonia, North Carolina 28054-2193

 
Resources
 
  Seed Service Fees  
 
  Agricultural Marketing Act 7 CFR 75  
 
  List of Authorized USDA SAC Samplers - PDF file  
 
Contact Us
 
  Contact the Seed Division  
 
  Return to Main Seed Page  
 
Media Help
 
  Download Adobe Acrobat  
 
 
  Last Modified Date: 05/17/2014