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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Plant and Seed Analysis (PSA) Laboratory provides seed testing services for both the MDA Seed Regulatory Program and private industry. The MDA-PSA lab and the Seed Regulatory Program operate as separate entities but work closely together to ensure the quality of seed offered for sale in Minnesota.
History
In 1913 the Pure Seeds Act was enacted, and the MN Agricultural Experiment Station was tasked with inspecting, sampling, and analyzing seeds. A Minnesota State Seed Laboratory was established in 1927 under the MN Agricultural Experiment Station until 1951 when the lab was transferred to the MDA. The major revision to the Minnesota Seed Law in 1983 allowed the State Seed lab to become part of the MDA’s Laboratory Services Division where it continues to reside.
Although many technical details have evolved since MDA-PSA-Lab’s creation, its role in ensuring seed quality and consumer protections remain in place. The MDA-PSA Lab provides the MDA Seed Regulatory Program with testing services needed to uphold these regulations while also providing ordinary citizens cost-effective testing to maintain compliance through our Seed Service program.
Seed Labeling and Legal Requirements
All seed that is sold in Minnesota (PDF) must be properly labeled to comply with the Minnesota Seed Law (Minnesota Statutes, sections 21.80-21.92) and the Federal Seed Act. These laws ensure transparency for consumers through truth-in-labeling principles and promote fair competition among seed sellers by establishing minimum quality standards. The person or firm that labels seed must be aware of all applicable laws and regulations including the Plant Variety Protection Act.
Seed Testing and Accreditation
The information provided on the label informs the consumer about the contents and quality of seed. These label details should reflect lab tests, which are also either required or recommended to be verified by testing seed lots. Seed testing should be conducted by laboratories accredited by the Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) or Society of Commercial Seed Technologists (SCST), which establish industry-recognized testing protocols. The MDA Seed Lab is an accredited AOSA member.
The MDA-PSA lab performs a variety of tests to confirm seed quality and composition. Core tests include purity, germination, and noxious weed screening. The lab also offers specialized testing, such as molecular identification of Palmer amaranth for internal regulatory purposes. Additional tests, including tetrazolium and seed counts, are also available.
