Understanding How to Read a Seed Tag

At Hancock Seed Company, we believe better results start with better understanding, and that begins with knowing exactly what’s in the bag you’re planting.

A seed tag might look a lot like the nutrition label on a box of cereal that we often overlook, but it actually tells the real story behind your seed. It’s your window into purity and performance. Whether you’re planting food plots, pastures, or lawns, learning how to read a seed tag helps you make confident decisions in the field.

What Is a Seed Tag?

A seed tag is a required label attached to every seed bag that provides detailed information about its contents. It’s designed to ensure transparency so you know exactly what you’re putting in the ground, not just what’s printed on the front of the bag.

Breaking Down the Seed Tag

While tags can vary slightly by species, most follow the same core structure. Here’s what matters most when evaluating seed quality.

Seed Name

This tells you exactly what species, blend, or mix you’re planting. It may also include a specific variety name if one is used. If one is not used, it may state ‘VNS’, which stands for Variety Not Stated. It indicates that the specific genetic cultivar or named variety of the seed is unknown, unclassified, or contains a mixed lot of multiple un-named varieties

Knowing what you’re planting matters because not all seed is created equal. Different varieties can impact establishment, growth rate, and long-term performance in the field.

Purity

Pure seed is the percentage of the bag that is actually the desired seed you’re paying for.

 - For example: Pure Seed: 95%

The higher this number, the more usable seed you’re getting per pound. At Hancock, we focus on delivering seed lots with strong purity because every pound should count in the field.

Inert Matter

This is everything in the bag that isn’t seed, such as:

• Hulls
• Stems
• Dust or broken seed
• Coating Material
• Fertilizer or Soil
• Inoculant

Lower inert matter means cleaner seed and more actual planting material going into your soil. In most cases, inert percentages are relatively low, which is good for the end user.

Coating material is generally a clay-based material that coats the seed and helps aid in moisture retention for germination. When the seed is coated, the inert matter can be higher.

Other Crop

This section identifies any additional crop species present in small amounts. While some blends are intentionally mixed, this category is especially important when you’re buying single-species seed. It tells you what else might show up in your stand.

Weed Seed

Weed seed percentage tells you how much unwanted seed is present in the lot.

At Hancock Seed Company, we know weeds don’t just compete with your crop; they cost you yield, time, and management headaches. That’s why lower weed seed levels are always better. In quality seed lots, this number is typically very low.

To put this in perspective: if a bag of seed has 0.04% weed seed, that equals roughly 4 weed seeds per 10,000 total seeds, a very small amount, but still an important quality indicator.

Noxious Weeds

This section identifies any regulated or harmful weed species. Depending on the state, these may be prohibited or restricted. High-quality seed should always have zero noxious weeds listed.

Germination Rate

Germination is one of the most important numbers on the tag. It tells you how much of your seed is expected to sprout under proper conditions.

 - Example: Germination: 85%

That means 85 out of every 100 seeds should successfully emerge. Higher germination leads to stronger establishment and more consistent stands.

Some seed tags also list Dormant Seed. Dormant seed is still living and viable but has a natural dormancy that prevents it from germinating immediately, even under favorable conditions. These seeds may germinate later as dormancy naturally breaks.

For this reason, you may also see Total Germination, which is the Germination percentage plus the Dormant Seed percentage. This represents the total percentage of viable seed in the lot.

Example:

• • Germination: 85%
  • Dormant Seed: 8%
  • Total Germination: 93%

In this example, 85% of the seed is expected to germinate under standard testing conditions, while an additional 8% is viable but dormant and may germinate later when dormancy is naturally overcome.

Test Date

Seed is a living product, and time matters. The test date shows when the seed was last evaluated for purity and germination.

Fresh testing means more reliable performance. Always pay attention here—older tests may not reflect current seed viability.

A seed tag test date is generally considered valid for 9–15 months depending on state seed laws. Practically speaking, seed more than 2–3 years past its test date may require adjustments or may not perform reliably.

Lot Number

Lot numbers provide traceability back to where and how the seed was produced. For us, this is a key part of accountability. It allows tracking of performance, maintenance of quality standards, and consistency from field to field.

Why This Matters in the Field

A seed tag isn’t just paperwork; it’s a performance indicator.

Two bags can look identical on the shelf but perform very differently once planted. Purity, germination, weed content, and freshness all directly impact:

• Establishment success
• Stand density
• Weed pressure
• Overall performance 

At Hancock Seed Company, we believe informed growers make better decisions, and better decisions lead to better stands.

Final Thoughts

When you understand a seed tag, you’re no longer guessing, you’re choosing with confidence.

That’s the goal: to take the mystery out of what you’re planting and replace it with clarity, transparency, and results you can see in the field.

If you ever have questions about reading a seed tag or comparing seed quality, our team is always here to help. Because at the end of the day, we’re not just selling seed, we’re helping you build better ground.