Seed analysis fact sheet for labels

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FRSA
SEED ANALYSIS FACT SHEET: SEED LABEL

A LABEL SHOULD CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

1. Name and address of seller (labeler).

2. Kind and variety (or variety not stated) of seed being sold.

3. Lot number or other lot identification.

4. Purity analysis in percentages: Pure seed %, Other Crop seed %, Weed seed %, Inert matter %. For mixtures the percentage of each component over 5% of the whole must be listed, and preferably all those under 5% listed by order of predominance by descending order. The total of these four (4) components must equal 100%

5. Noxious weed seed: “None Found” or a listing of restricted noxious weed seeds, if present, for the state where the seed is being sold or offered for sale. Colorado requires the label to show each kind of restricted noxious-weed seed present by name and number per pound.

6. Germination analysis in percentages: Germination %, Dormant %, Hard seed %, and TVS %.

7. Date of germination test.

8. Origin.

9. Seed treatments.

10. Other information: Disclaimers, Limited Warranties, etc.

SAMPLE GENERIC LABEL:


(1) XYZ Seed Company, 1000 Crop Seed Lane, Ft. Collins, CO
(2) Alfalfa, VNS    (6)    Germination: 92%
(3) Lot number: 1234    Hard seed:    5%
(4) Pure Seed:    99.00%    Dormant seed:    --
   Other Crop: 0.25% T.V.S.: 97%
   Weed Seed:    0.10% (7) Date Tested: 10/2000
   Inert material:    0.65% (8) Origin:    CO
(5) Noxious weed seed: dodder 1 per lb. (9) Seed Treatment: none

DEFINITIONS FOR UNDERSTANDING THE SEED LABEL:

NAME AND ADDRESS: The full name and address of the person labeling, selling, offering or transporting the seeds for sale shall appear upon the label (or the code designation used in lieu of the full name and address shall appear on the label in a clear and legible manner.)

KIND: The commonly accepted name of the kind or cultivar of seed to be considered pure seed, for example, wheat, oats, alfalfa, etc., and if seeds are mixed, the kind or cultivar of each seed making up five percent (5%) or more of the mixture shall be stated separately.

VARIETY: The variety name shall represent a subdivision of a kind, which is characterized by growth, plant, fruit, seed, or other characteristic by which it can be differentiated from other sorts of the same kind, for example, Ranger alfalfa, Oahe intermediate wheatgrass, Monida oat, Othello pinto bean, Buckskin winter wheat, etc. The label shall show the variety name or the words VARIETY NOT STATED (VNS).

PURE SEED: Pure seed shall include seeds of each kind and/or cultivar, or kind(s) and variety, under consideration, which are present in excess of 5% of the whole. The label shall show the percentage by weight of pure seed.

OTHER CROP SEED: Seeds of plants grown as crops (other than the kind(s) and/or cultivar(s) included in the pure seed) shall be considered other crop seeds, unless recognized as weed seeds by law, regulation, or by general usage. The label shall show the percentage by weight of other crop seed and shall include collectively all kinds, varieties, or types not named upon the label.

WEED SEED: Seeds, florets, bulblets, tubers or sporocarps of plants recognized as weeds by law, official regulation, or by general usage. The label shall show the percentage by weight of weed seeds.

INERT MATTER: Inert matter shall include seeds and seedlike structures from both crop and weed plants and other materials not included in pure seed, other crop seed, or weed seed. The label shall show the percentage by weight of inert matter.

GERMINATION (percentage): The maximum plant producing potential of a seed lot (i.e. the capability to germinate and produce a normal seedling under favorable conditions.)

DORMANT SEED (percentage): Viable seeds which fail to germinate when provided the specified germination conditions for the kind of seed in question. Dormant seeds have imbibed water and are swollen in size but have not germinated by the end of the test period. Many grasses and native species are known to have varying types and amounts of dormancy.

HARD SEED (percentage): Seeds that remain hard at the end of the prescribed test period because they have not absorbed water due to an impermeable seed coat. Hard seeds look just as they did when planted with no increase in size since they have not imbibed water. Certain families of seed species have hard seed. Legumes are best known for hard seeds. The label shall show the percentage of hard seed, if any is present, for any seed required to be labeled as to the percentage of germination and the percentage of hard seed. The Hard Seed Percentage shall not be included as part of the Germination Percentage.

TOTAL VIABLE SEED (TVS): Percentage estimate of the ultimate potential for germination. This is achieved by adding the percent germination and the percent hard seed or dormant seed.

Example for alfalfa: 92% germination + 5% hard seed = 97% TVS
   Example for grasses: 90% germination + 7% dormant seed = 97% TVS

Both dormant and hard seed are types of dormancy, but they are
physiologically quite different and should be distinguished from one another
on the seed tag.

PURE LIVE SEED (PLS): The percentage of seed in a seed lot that is both pure seed and viable (TVS).
PLS = Pure seed (%) x TVS (%)
   100

DATE OF TEST: The label shall show the month and year in which the germination test was completed.

INOCULATED SEED: Seed that has received a coating of a commercial preparation containing a microbial product.

TREATED SEED: Seed with a minimal covering of various materials whose primary objective is to reduce or control certain disease organisms, insects or other pests attacking the seed or seedlings growing therefrom and which contains identifying colorants or dyes.

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