Seed Count
AOSA and ISTA have a section on the seed count test in their main Rules. According to AOSA, Volume 1, an official seed count can be done on corn, soybean wheat, field bean and rice seeds using a mechanical seed counter. The Non-Mechanical Seed Count procedure is also are described in the AOSA Rules.
Seed Count
Test Details
Seeds for a seed count should be sent in a moisture-proof bag. The seed count is done on the Pure Seed portion from a Purity test. Mechanical seed counters are calibrated by using a known control sample of the same species that is to be counted.
Iowa State University Laboratory Seed Testing Price List
Prices effective September 2022.
- Treating seeds cost per sample will be less depending on the number of samples.
- Testing by ISTA or Canada Rules (M&P) may require an extra charge.
| Crop** | Standard Germination | Purity Test | Noxious Exam | Tetrazolium (TZ) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corn | $16 | $18 | $18 | $38 |
| Soybeans | $16 | $18 | $18 | $32 |
| Industrial Hemp | $25*** | $18 | $12 | Hourly |
| Cereals, Millet, Sorghum, Buckwheat, Flax, Sunflower, Cotton | $18 | $14 | $12 | $34 |
| Small-Seeded Legumes | $20 | $17 | $12 | $40 |
| Vegetables 1, Flowers 1 | $20 | $17 | $12 | $40 |
| Vegetable 2, Flowers 2, Herbs, & small-seeded species | $25 | $17 | $12 | $40 |
| Grasses: Category 1 | $25 | $25 | $21 | $40 |
| Grasses: Category 2 | $35 | Hourly | Hourly | Hourly |
| Grasses: Category 3 | $35 | $27 | $21 | Hourly |
| GRASS MIXTURES | $35/species | Hourly | Hourly | Hourly |
| Tree, Shrub, Weeds | $35 | Hourly | Hourly | Hourly |
** Mixtures, dirty, and/or low quality samples are subject to a $50.00/hour charge.
*** Significant ungerminated seeds at the end of a germ test are subject to an hourly charge.
Other Tests
| Test | Price |
|---|---|
| Sand Germination | $22 |
| Iowa Tray Cold Test | $17 |
| Accelerated Aging | $17 |
| Saturated Cold Test | $27 |
| Oven Moisture | $18 |
| Instrument Moisture | $10 |
| Bleach Test | $18 |
| Fast Green Test | $24 |
| Seed Count | $10 |
| Test Weight | $10 |
| Seed Treatment | $10 |
| Hourly Charge | $60 |
Other tests available on request – see below for misc. pricing / notes.
SMALL-SEEDED LEGUMES:
- Alfalfa, Clover, Prairie Clover, Sweet Clovers, Crownvetch, Guar, Lespedeza, Trefoil,Vetch, Hairy Vetch
GRASS CATEGORIES:
- Category 1: Brome grass, Fescue, Orchardgrass, Ryegrass (without fluorescence test)
- Category 2: Indiangrass, Prairie Cordgrass, Indian Ricegrass, Alkali Grass, Prairie Dropseed, Sand Dropseed, Lovegrass, Switchgrass, Bluestems, Reed Canarygrass, Gramas, Buffalograss, Creeping Foxtail Wheatgrass spp., Sporobulus spp., Stipa spp., Sugarcane, Teff, Three-awns
- Category 3: Bentgrass, Bluegrass, Buffalograss, Redtop, Timothy, Bluejoint, Juncus spp., Junegrass, Purpletop, Pennisetum
VEGETABLE CATEGORIES:
- Category 1: Vegetable species not in Category 2
- Category 2: Beet, Sugar Beet, Swiss Chard, Carrot, Celery, Chickpea, Lentil, Lettuce, Parsnip, Pepper, New Zealand Spinach, Peanut
FLOWER CATEGORIES:
- Category 1: Flower species not in Category 2
- Category 2: Alyssum, Begonia, Geranium, Hollyhock, Ipomoea, Lathyrus, Lobelia, Lupine, Malva, Petunia , Gentiana, Birdhouse Gourds, Partridge Pea, Sidalcea, Penstemon
How is testing invoiced and paid for?
- The report of analysis has the fee listed as well as test results, but payment is not made from the report. A billing statement will be sent at the end of the month, but payment isn’t made from this either. Finally, Iowa State University Accounts Receivable will mail an invoice and payment is made from that invoice.
- Payment is normally made by check as we don’t accept credit cards.