Published by AASCO - Association of American Seed Control Officials
Copyright © 2011 - AASCO, All Rights Reserved

The AASCO Handbook on Seed Sampling presents methods, guidelines and equipment for both regulatory and industry applications to uniformly obtain representative seed samples for laboratory testing.  It also provides sampling procedures for the USA Accredited Seed Sampling Program (ASSP) for national and international certification and may be recognized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).  The intent is to provide a broadly adaptable format to all seed sampling situations so that the resultant laboratory analyses accurately reflect the quality of the seed lot and prevent potential trade barriers from variability in sampling. 

Topics covered include:

• Procedures for Sampling Seed with a Trier
• Selecting and Using a Trier - Compartmentaliized double-sleeve trier, open tube double-sleeve trier, open tube, single-sleeve trier, Nobbe trier, and inappropriate triers.
• Procedures for Sampling Seed without a Trier - Stream-sampling Method, Hand-sampling Method
• Special Sampling Considerations - Seed in Small Containers, Pelleted or Coated Seed, Combination Products, Mats or Tapes, Hermetically Sealed Containers
• Preparation of the Composite Sample
• Quality Assurance
• Safety and Health
• Sampling Mini-Bulk Containers
• Recommended Sample Size - Recommended Sample Size for Agricultural Seed, Sampling Small Containers or Packets of Grass, Vegetable or Flower Seed
• Equipment and Supplies
• Recommended References and On-line Resources
• Recommended Maximum Lot Size
• Recommended Forms to Record Seed Sampling

Have more questions about the Handbook on Seed Sampling?  Contact either:

Joe Garvey - Telephone: 717-787-5609, E-mail: jgarvey@state.pa.us
Larry Nees - Telephone: 765-494-1557, E-mail: neesl@purdue.edu