Commercial seeds · Evidence before procurement
Seed cost per hectare: calculate it before comparing offers
Seed cost per hectare = seeds (or kg) needed per hectare × price per unit, after adjusting for germination and emergence. Compare offers on cost per established plant or per hectare, not on price per pack, and keep documented quality differences visible.
SeedMatchGroup editorial team · Published and source pages checked · Educational planning, not laboratory certification or a crop diagnosis.
Symptoms to record
- Offers quote different pack sizes or units.
- A cheaper lot has lower stated germination.
- Freight, treatment or documentation costs are excluded from some offers.
Diagnostic evidence path
1. Are units comparable?
Convert every offer to the same unit — seeds, kg or established plants per hectare.
2. Is germination included?
A lower-germination lot needs more seed for the same stand; include that in the comparison.
3. What is included?
Ask for treatment, packaging, freight, duties and certificates separately.
4. Is quality comparable?
Price differences may reflect variety, certification or test results; do not compare unlike lots on price alone.
Worked example — stated assumptions
Hypothetical: offer A costs 100 per 1,000 seeds at 90% germination; offer B costs 85 per 1,000 seeds at 75%. For 30,000 established plants (ignoring other losses), A needs 33,334 seeds = 3,333.40 and B needs 40,000 seeds = 3,400. The cheaper pack costs more per stand. Prices are illustrative, not market quotes.
Open the seed cost calculator →Compare two seed offers per established plant
Formula: seeds/kg = 1,000,000 ÷ thousand-seed weight; established plants/kg = seeds/kg × germination × purity × emergence; kg/ha = target plants ÷ established plants/kg. Example values are hypothetical.
- 1. Compare
- 2. Project needs
- 3. Send privately
| Result | Lot A | Lot B |
|---|---|---|
| Established plants per kg | 176,400 | 142,500 |
| Seed needed (kg/ha) | 2.83 | 3.51 |
| Seed cost per ha | 340.14 | 350.88 |
| Cost per 1,000 established plants | 0.68 | 0.702 |
On these inputs, Lot A costs less per hectare. This compares price and stated lot quality only — not variety fit, disease resistance or documentation.
Related guides and tools
When expert help is needed
Ask the sourcing specialist to normalise offers to one specification. SeedMatchGroup does not publish supplier prices.
Buyer questions
Is the cheapest pack the cheapest seed?
Not necessarily; germination and losses change the cost per established plant.
Should freight be included?
Yes, compare landed cost under the same delivery terms.
Can I see supplier prices here?
No. Prices come from reviewed offers for your specification.
From observation to a private seed request
Free planning arithmetic. Starting values are hypothetical, not a recommended stand or lot acceptance threshold. Nothing is saved or sent until you submit a brief.
Review official crop data, seed-lot evidence and import references before preparing your request →
Target plants ÷ (germination fraction × post-germination establishment fraction × applicable purity fraction). Confirm the unit basis; do not double-count physical purity or field losses. Zero germination cannot be compensated by ordering more.
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Sources and methodology
ISTA informs the distinction between standardized testing and observations; OECD explains varietal certification; Minnesota Extension illustrates why seeding rates depend on production context. Examples here are hypothetical arithmetic, not borrowed crop recommendations. Check the current scheme and local requirements with qualified professionals.