How to use Seeds Online
Who can use Seeds Online?
Test result information may be accessed by registered users (via a Username and Password) or by public users who can go straight to the public results site.
Registered users
A registered user must be a current client of Seed Services Australia in one of the following categories:
- The grower of the seed line
- The processor of the seed line
- The cultivar owner of the seed line
- The grower's marketing co-operative
Registered users can only view test results in which they have a direct (usually financial) interest.
Authorised personnel of Primary Industries & Resources SA are registered users of Seeds Online.
Public users
A public user is anyone that accesses the Seeds Online public search site. The public site will only allow access to test results where the user can enter a valid line number and corresponding cultivar name.
Information will only be displayed if:
- the test is complete
- for certified seed; the line has 'passed' certification
- the 'owner' of the test results has allowed public access
Who is the 'owner' of the test results?
For commercial samples the owner of a test result is the applicant in whose name the sample is submitted, that is, the paying client.
For certified samples the owner is either a proprietary seed company, in the case of proprietary or licensed cultivars; or the seed grower in the case of publicly bred cultivars.
What type of information is displayed?
Registered users can access more comprehensive information than public users. The main differences for registered users are:
- progressive (interim) test results are shown as they become available, including due dates for first and final germination counts.
- additional information about the seed line such as quantity of seed, grower, and seed processor is displayed.
Updated test results
Test result information is updated throughout the day at around 11.30am, 2.30pm, 4.30pm and 6.30pm.
CONTACTS
For information or queries about using Seeds Online please contact Seed Services Australia by e-mail on pirsa.seeds@saugov.sa.gov.au or by telephone on (08) 8303 9549.
User Registration Request
Who is eligible to become a registered user?
Registered User status will only be granted to current clients of Seed Services Australia.
Complete this form to become a registered user, or to update your registered user details.
Complete the User Registration Request form in electronic format and submit to Seed Services Australia by return e-mail. All fields shown as mandatory must be completed. If a mandatory field is left blank the application form will not transmit and an error message will display advising which field is incomplete. If the client information submitted in electronic form is inconsistent with other information held by Seed Services Australia the applicant will be contacted by our office.
Verification of Registered User Requests
Registration requests are manually vetted by PIRSA. In some cases Seed Services Australia may contact the applicant for verification.
Once verified, applicants are provided with a valid username and password, in writing. Most applications will be processed within five working days provided no verification or other problems arise.
Public Results Search
Search for publicly available test results
To display test result information as a public user, enter the seed line number (also referred to as the seed lot number) followed in the next field by the cultivar name. Entry of the first three characters (usually letters but not always) of the cultivar name is sufficient to make a match.
The public results search is limited to one test result at a time. Return to the search screen for each separate search enquiry.
When are test results available to the public?
Information will only be displayed if:
- the test is complete
- for certified seed; the line has 'passed' certification
- the 'owner' of the test results has allowed public access
Can more than one result show for one seed line?
More than one test result may be displayed. This occurs when more than one sample has been submitted for a seed line number.
For example, a retest germination test could be submitted months, or possibly years, after the original test. The completion dates of the tests will indicate the most recent test result.
Retrieving information in a certificate format
Click on the line number to display the full analytical information.
No data found
If a valid seed line number and cultivar name does not return a successful test result display, it may be because:
- The seed sample was not tested by SA Seed Services
- The test has not been completed
- The seed line has failed final certification standards
- The owner of the seed sample has disallowed public release of the test results
- The information used for the search is inaccurate
Public Results Display:-
Analytical results
Analytical results displayed as the result of a public search are identical to those displayed for a Registered User search and include the full purity (eg; pure seed %, inert matter % and other seeds %) and germination information about the seed line (eg; normal seedlings %, hard seed %, fresh ungerminated seeds %, abnormal seedlings % and dead seed %).
Other seeds are reported by both botanical and common species names; as well as the number found per unit mass. Weed species classified as Prohibited under South Australian law or the SA Seed Certification Scheme will be signified by a P followed in brackets by either an "s" (state legislation) or a "c" (certification scheme) as is appropriate.
Also displayed is a description of any inert matter found; plus any remarks relating to the test result.
Other information
In addition to test result data the following public information is shown:
- Cultivar name (confirms search entry data)
- Seed line number (confirms search entry data)
- Certificate name (certified, commercial, OIC, etc)
- Common species name to which the cultivar belongs
- Class of the seed line (if certified)
- Cultivar owner (if a proprietary or licensed cultivar)
- Completed test date
The date and time (Australian Central Time) of the search is displayed at the foot of the test result screen and appears when results are printed.
Previous screen
Click the Previous Screen button to return to the public search screen.
Help
Click Help button to go to help page
Registered User Login
To login as a registered user:
Enter Username and Password (as provided by Seed Services Australia) and then click Login.
You are then presented with the Registered User Home menu.
Security
Keep your Username and Password in a secure place.
Seed Services Australia will under no circumstances accept any liability, or financial loss, arising from the misuse of a Username and Password by a person or persons known or unknown to the Registered User.
If you think your Username and Password is being mis-used contact Seed Services Australia immediately.
If you misplace or forget your Username and/or Password contact our office. Issue of new Usernames or Passwords may take up to two weeks.
Registered User Home menu
Results Search & Display
One of two ways to view test results. Using this search option will allow you to view all test results that satisfy the seach criteria you enter.
Modify Public Access to Test Results
The second way to view test results. Using this search option will allow you to view up to 100 test results that satisfy the search criteria you enter. Use this page to change public access to any test result (where you are authorised to do so).
Download Test Results
Enter search criteria to download test result information into an electronic file (in CSV file format). This file can then be used to load test data into other software applications (eg Microsoft Excel) or customised databases.
About Seeds Online
General information about the purpose of the site and how to access test results online
Seeds Online Help
General help information for most topic areas and functions.
Download LMF028
Use this form to request an Accredited Sampler or Seed Services Australia to sample seed for the issue of an Orange International Certificate (OIC).
Download LMF029
Use this form to request Seed Services Australia to issue an Orange or Blue International Certificate (OIC, BIC) from an original seed certification test result.
Registered User Results Search and Display
Access to test results
For any user a search will only return results that the user is authorised to view.
If you cannot access a result that you believe should be available, or conversely, if you inadvertently access results that you should not be able to see, please contact Seed Services Australia.
All search fields are case insensitive
This means that entering TRIFECTA, Trifecta or trifecta, will each return the same results.
Leaving search fields blank
If no search criteria is entered, a search will return all test results for that user. As the database holds test results for samples received since 1995, this could involve many records and could take considerable time.
Search for a specific test result
Search for one specific test result at a time by entering either the seed line number or lab number into the appropriate search field.
Enter search.
Partial key entry
Almost all search fields recognise partial key entry - a minimum of three characters is required.
For example, if searching for Trifecta lucerne results you need only enter 'tri' in the cultivar name field. If the species common name field is left blank, test results for all cultivars beginning with 'tri' will be listed. If you have had Trident wheat tested in the same date period this test result will also be listed. To view only Trifecta lucerne results you could enter either the complete cultivar name, or enter 'tri' as the cultivar name and 'luc' in the species common name field.
To display all results for one species
To display all records for all cultivars of a particular species, leave the cultivar name field blank and enter the species common name.
Date settings
Either or both of the date fields may be left blank. If the 'to' date is left blank all results after the 'from' date will be retrieved. If the 'from' date is left blank then all results prior to the 'to' date will be retrieved. If both dates are left blank all results (that you are authorised to see) in the database will be retrieved (from 1995). This could take a considerable time so refine your search to minimise waiting time.
Flexibility of the search screen
Explore different ways of searching for the test results to work out the most efficient method for your requirements.
Moving around the search results table
To locate and view a specific test result use the scroll bar on the right hand side of the browser screen.
To move to the top of the table; hold CTRL and press Home
To move to the bottom of the table: hold CTRL and press End
Tracking sample status
The status of all samples submitted for testing is shown in the search results. Sample status will be one of the following:
- received
- under test
- completed
- not final
- accepted
- rejected
- provisionally rejected
- preliminary result - certification not final
The status of samples 'under test' is further defined by the results available to be viewed, which for a sample being tested for purity and germination may be:
- no results - purity analysis not completed
- purity results, due date for germinations
- purity results, first germination count, due date for final germination
Certificate display
Clicking on the seed line underlined in the left hand column will retrieve the full analytical result in certificate format for that record.
Can't find a sample or test result?
Check the following possible causes:
- Date range. The date range specified must include the date on which the sample was received for testing. If you have no idea when the sample was submitted, try deleting the date in the 'Received Date From:' field, then enter the line number. This will result in a search of all records in the database.
- Incorrect information in one or more search fields. Check that you have the correct information.
- Sample was not submitted to Seed Services Australia. Make sure that the sample was not sent elsewhere for testing.
- You are not authorised to view the results for that sample. Are you the cultivar owner, grower, seed processor or other authorised user?
More than one test result for one seed line
A search for a specific seed line may result in more than one test result being displayed in the summary table list for that line number. This occurs when more than one sample is submitted under one line number. For example, a retest germination test could be submitted months, or possibly years, after the original test. The completion dates of the tests will indicate the most recent test result.
Public access
A ticked box in the Public access column means that any person can access the purity and germination result only for that sample, via the public user screen. To do so they would need to know the complete line number and cultivar name.
How do I change the public access to a test result?
Use the Modify Public Access to Search Results option on the Registered User Menu to display the test results for which you want to change public access. See appropriate Help section for more details.
Public Access & how do I change the Public Access?
Modify Public Access to Test Results
This option works provides exactly the same information as the Results Search and Display, with two main differences:
- this search page will find a maximum of 100 results
- this search page allows authorised users to change the Public Access of the test results found
Only the owner of the test results can change the public access. For commercial samples the owner of a test result is the applicant in whose name the sample is submitted, that is, the paying client. For certified samples the owner is either a proprietary seed company, in the case of proprietary of licensed cultivars, or the seed grower in the case of publicly bred cultivars.
Public access
A ticked box in the Public access column means that any person can access the purity and germination result only for that sample, via the public user screen. To do so they would need to know the complete line number and cultivar name.
Public access - Default settings
The default settings for public access to test results are:
certified - accepted: public access is set to yes
certified - rejected: public access is set to no
certified - provisionally rejected: public access is set to no
preliminary result (certification not final) - public access is set to no
commercial tests: public access is set to no
incomplete tests: public access is set to no
Who can change the public access to a test result?
Only the owner of the test result can change the public access for that test result.
For commercial samples the owner of a test result is the applicant in whose name the sample is submitted, that is, the paying client.
For certified samples the owner is either a proprietary seed company, in the case of proprietary or licensed cultivars; or the seed grower in the case of publicly bred cultivars.
To modify public access
Click in the public access box to add or remove the tick (yes). Then click the Save Public Access Change button located at the bottom of the summary results table.
Public access is not available for incomplete tests regardless of whether the public access box is ticked or not.
Confirming the public access status of a test
A change in the public access flag can be confirmed by entering the public user site and trying to retrieve the test result.
Registered User Certificate Display
Certificate display
Clicking on the underlined seed line in the left hand column will retrieve the full analytical result in certificate format for that record.
The analytical results include the full purity (eg; pure seed %, inert matter % and other seeds %) and germination information about the seed line (eg; normal seedlings %, hard seed %, fresh ungerminated seeds %, abnormal seedlings % and dead seed %).
Information about other seeds found is reported, as well as a description of inert matter found or general remarks about the seed line or test result.
In addition to analytical results the following information is displayed:
'Public' information:
- Cultivar name (confirms search entry data)
- Seed line number (confirms search entry data)
- Certificate name (certified, commercial, OIC, etc)
- Common species name to which the cultivar belongs
- Class of the seed line (if certified)
- Cultivar owner (if a proprietary or licensed cultivar)
- Completed test date
'Restricted' information (available only to authorised users):
- The Lab Number
- The Certificate Number
- The name of the Seed Processor
- The name of the Seed Grower
- The Seed Grower's Registered Area Number and Paddock Letter
- The Total Weight of the seed line (including the number of sacks)
- The Label Pre-Fix and Label Numbers used
- The Sample Status (ie received, under test or completed)
- The Certification Result (ie Accepted, Rejected, Provisionally Rejected or Preliminary Result - Certification Not Final)
Registered User Results Download
This option allows a Registered User to download data for test result records to which they have access.
The result is a file with the data in CSV format, which can be up-loaded into a user's local software or database systems. Although a CSV file can be viewed using Microsoft Excel, and other applications, it is not intended to be used in that way. It has been provided primarily to allow IT or production management staff in external organisations to transfer records into their own systems. To obtain a detailed specification of the file format email Seed Services Australia at Pirsa.Seeds@saugov.sa.gov.au and a PDF format document will be returned by email.
Selecting records to download
Records can be selected in the same way as is done for searching, but with one difference. The Seed Services Australia database system records the date and time at which each sample is transferred to the Seeds Online system. Samples whose testing is incomplete will continue to be transmitted from the internal seeds database system to the Seeds Online system until they are complete. In this case the date and time of transmission will change as each new transmission occurs. Once complete the date and time marker will no longer change.
In order to only download new or changed records, enter the date of your last download in the 'Changed since date' field.
Once the selection is complete the user is asked to nominate a file name and directory for the download file.
Last Updated: October 31, 2007