All the final production will be subjected to stringent testing for quality such as:

• Germination
• Moisture
• Purity: physical and genetic
• Purity: grow trials in trial field
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Our operators have frequently attended both domestic and abroad courses to stay in touch with the latest technology and methods. The services we offer include various cleaning processes, drying, color scanning, treatment, polishing, sizing, bagging seed and custom canning of seeds.

Throughout the cleaning process seeds are kept in easily recognizable containers with both readable and bar coded identification affixed to them, which allows us to meet the high demands of our customers with timely delivery.

Laboratory services

The lab is equipped with modern testing apparatuses necessary to perform tests on seeds of all kind of horticultural and agricultural crops.

The lab is staffed with experienced technical analysts using specialized technology and growth substrates. All analyses performed are based on the principles of accuracy and reproducibility described by the International Seed Testing Associated (ISTA) rules.

Sampling

As this is the first step in seed testing, it is essential to obtain a sample of correct size to meet testing requirements and which is representative of the whole seed lot. Our qualified samplers ensure that the test results reflect the quality of the whole seed lot.

Analytical purity

Normal seeds of the desired species are separated from the various impurities (such as weeds, other crop seeds and inert matter) and weighed to determine the %purity of the sample. Identification is made of other crop and weed seeds found and reported. Special care is given to harmful impurities such as noxious weeds.

Moisture content

The official method for moisture determination is by oven drying using specific temperatures and periods of drying (according to ISTA rules). Moisture content is represented as a % of the sample weight.

Germination

The quality of seed is determined largely by the way in which it germinates. A grower wants all seeds he has bought to germinate: all at the same time and all at the same rate.

Whether this is possible depends on germination energy, germination speed and germination vigor of the seed. Topsource sows samples of all batches and records their germination behavior. If germination energy, germination speed and germination vigor do not come up to expectations, the batch is rejected. Causes of bad germination could be:

• the seeds are dormant
• the seeds are still immature
• the seeds have come from a bad production

Dormancy and immaturity may well be overcome and the batch may still be sold. Badly produced seed is destroyed immediately, however, and all efforts – from growing to final testing – will have been for nothing.

Up to date Reporting

Up to date reporting by our production team is entered into an integrated computer system on a regular basis which will supply our clients with digital photographs and crop status reports of all their production fields, expected yields will be updated at the time of each inspection.