Cotton Seed Distributors Ltd (CSD) has long been a trusted name in the cotton industry, renowned for our genuine commitment to quality. We uphold traditional values while embracing cutting-edge techniques, all in the pursuit of providing growers with the finest quality cotton planting seed in the world. One of the cornerstones of this commitment is our comprehensive germination testing process, which extends beyond production and includes retesting carryover seed submitted by agents on behalf of growers.

 

Germination Testing Expertise: A Brief Overview

Germination testing is an integral part of our quality assurance strategy, ensuring that cotton growers receive the highest-quality seed for their crops. While seed quality is paramount, our germination testing is not limited to production alone. We extend a germination testing service for FREE to allow agents to submit samples of grower’s carryover seed for retesting to ensure optimal results for growers.

 

Carryover testing: A Key Component

When leftover seed has been stored on-farm between seasons, germination quality can be affected if it has not been stored correctly.  This could be due to a number of factors such as temperature, moisture and insect damage. It is important that growers submit representative samples of any carryover seed for testing to ensure that it will provide the desired results. Carryover seed must be submitted by agents on behalf of growers for retesting.

To date this year, we have already tested 860 samples, with more still trickling in. 570 of these samples have undergone retesting, with a significant proportion of these not passing the required standards following this second test. These numbers indicate the significance of retesting seed quality to ensure that growers are putting quality seed into the ground to ensure they obtain the optimal results they desire.

 

Challenges and Commitment

Despite the challenges faced this year, CSD remains committed to providing our growers with a free carryover seed testing service. This year, increased demand caused samples to take longer than usual to fit into our planning schedule. Overall, the process was extended due to the increased workload.

CSD maintains its commitment to swift communication of results to our customers. When samples meet our quality threshold, results are published within two business days after the seven-day test and sent promptly to the grower’s agent. Agents are integral to this process because they both take and submit the sample for testing as well as communicating the results to growers.

For samples falling below the threshold, seeds are subjected to another seven-day testing cycle, with a two to three-day gap between the initial and secondary tests. Consequently, the overall timeline from sample arrival at CSD to the results reaching growers could be three to four weeks.

While most samples received this season were sufficient in size, roughly one-quarter contained an insufficient number of seeds for testing. Meanwhile, a minor number of samples exhibited signs of overtreatment, necessitating additional data collection and investigation to ensure the safety of staff testing this seed.

Completing paperwork correctly and thoroughly remains crucial, as it streamlines the testing process. Testing cannot commence until all the necessary information is in hand. This includes the identification of storage conditions. In the case where multiple samples from the same AUS Lot that have been stored similarly are submitted only one composite sample is tested.

 

The CSD Team: Traditional Values and Cutting-Edge Expertise

Behind our germination testing success stands a team that embodies the core values of CSD. With twelve dedicated employees, including full-time staff members Brett (Quality, Research & International Lead), Olivia (Laboratory Supervisor), Pille and Faith (Laboratory Assistants), and Hannah (Research Manager), as well as up to eight casual Lab Assistants, our team works tirelessly to ensure all tests are completed promptly and accurately. Typically, from May to August the CSD Quality & Research Center works 24/7 to ensure testing is carried out in a timely manner.

 

Hot Tips for Growers

To empower growers, here are some hot tips for ensuring the accuracy of germination testing results:

• All carryover seed must be submitted by your agents for testing.
• Following the correct sampling process is crucial, ensuring there is enough seed collected and the seed is representative of the seed lot being tested.
• Carefully considering the timing for submitting samples for testing, four to five months is an appropriate lead time.
• Ensure all paperwork is completed fully and accurately, as testing cannot commence without this.

 

Cotton Seed Distributors’ dedication to quality assurance is second to none. Our genuine commitment to quality has withstood the many challenges that have been presented to us over the years and will continue to do so into the future. Despite the unique hurdles faced this season, CSD continues to provide growers with cotton seed that has undergone rigorous and meticulous testing, ensuring a successful cotton crop. Growers can rest easy, knowing that the seed they receive from CSD has been subjected to a stringent testing process, bolstered by our commitment to producing the best cotton seed varieties in the world.