Cleaning and Certifying Seed
Cleaning
Prior to use or storage, wildland-collected seed must generally be screened, stripped, or mechanically cleaned to remove impurities such as excess chaff, stems, leaves, trash, dirt, and seeds of non-target species. After cleaning, the quality and viability of the seed is tested using standards and rules approved by the Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA). Seed viability can be evaluated by standard germination tests that determine the percentage of viable seeds in a sample that have the potential to germinate and produce seedlings under favorable conditions.
One way to clean seed in Nevada is through the UNR Leger Lab Native Seed Bank. Created in 2017 to help fill the need for processing and storing native seed for restoration, the seed bank has equipment to condition, clean, test, and store native species. Since its inception, the UNR Seed Bank has processed over 50 different species and over 250 different seed lots. Federal agencies and Tribes can clean seed through the Bend Seed Extractory.
Tools for Cleaning Seed
Mechanical Seed Cleaning and Handling PDF (usda.gov)
The Westrup Brush Machine can be used as a first step in cleaning seed ( Uses of the Westrup Brush Machine.pdf)
Drying and Cleaning Seed (Tallgrass Prairie Center) - Drying and Cleaning seed.pdf
Quality of Seed (Tallgrass Prairie Center) - Source and Quality.pdf
Certifying
In Nevada, the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) offers support to seed producers and other business entities by offering seed certification services. Seed certification is an optional service provided to seed growers which designates a seed crop as genetically stable and pure. Each crop category has specific standards that it needs to adhere to in order to be deemed eligible for certification. These standards may include features such as adequate ground preparation, varietal purity, disease tolerances, and planting stock eligibility. NDA is the official seed certifying agency in Nevada and is accredited through the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA).
Learn how to certify seed in Nevada.
This fact sheet describes the steps to collecting source-identified wildland seed in Nevada.
Learn about the AOSCA seed certification process.
This fact sheet describes the need for native plant source information and the AOSCA Seed Certification Process.