Seed Regulations & Testing

The primary purpose of the Louisiana Seed Law is to protect seedsmen, farmers and individuals from purchasing poor quality or mislabeled seed. The law and regulations set requirements and standards for the sale of seed for planting purposes. Statewide enforcement is accomplished, whereby inspectors of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry (LDAF) pull random samples of seed being offered for sale. These samples are sent to the State Seed Testing Laboratory for analysis.

Enforcement action for the mislabeling of seed or seed lots that are out of tolerance for germination percentages or purity content will require a STOP-SALE ORDER issued by the Louisiana Seed Program.

Testing

The State Seed Testing Laboratory performs tests on three types of seed samples.
1. Regulatory or “Official” Samples. Samples taken by LDAF inspectors from unopened, labeled lots of seed being offered for sale. Tests for both purity content and germination percentages are performed.

2. Certified Samples. Samples taken from seed lots that have passed seed certification field inspection standards, specific for the crop kind and variety. These samples are also taken by LDAF inspectors.

3. Service Samples. Samples sent in by seedsmen, farmers and individuals requesting a seed test. These samples are not required to be taken by LDAF inspectors. Test results from these samples may be used to provide information for official labeling of seed. Requests can be made for a variety of seed tests including, but not limited to a complete analysis (purity and germination), germination only, purity only, vigor test, red rice exam and tetrazolium test. For more information see the list of services and fees for the available tests.

Seed Law (RS 3:1431-1449) (Website)

Seed, Rules & Regulations, State Register, Title 7, Part XIII, Subchapter A (Website)

Services & Fees

Labeling Requirements & Agricultural Standards (PDF, 31 KB)

Noxious Weed List

Germination Table (PDF, 40 KB)

Seed Sample Size Table (PDF, 41 KB)

Applications, Renewals, & Forms