Loading...
HSChapter 12
U.S. imports of alfalfa (lucerne) seeds for sowing (HS 120921) totaled $3.2M in April 2026, traded with 4 countries.
Alfalfa (Lucerne) Seeds for Sowing imports of $3.2M in April 2026 ran 15% below the year-to-date monthly average of $3.8M.
Last updated: April 2026 dataCertified and non-certified alfalfa seed — also widely traded as lucerne seed — occupies two distinct US tariff lines (1209210020 and 1209210040), with certification status driving both classification and phytosanitary documentation requirements. USDA APHIS enforces quarantine inspection at entry, and importers must present phytosanitary certificates attesting to freedom from regulated pests and noxious weed seed contamination. Canada is the dominant supplier, with Australia and Italy also contributing meaningfully to US import volumes. Seed lot purity and germination standards set by the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) are often referenced in commercial contracts alongside HTS classification.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
Certified alfalfa seed (1209210020) has been officially inspected and labeled by an accredited seed certifying agency meeting AOSCA or equivalent standards, while non-certified seed (1209210040) covers all other alfalfa seed for sowing. The distinction affects not only the tariff line but also the documentation required at entry and the seed's marketability to buyers who specify certified-only lots.
A phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection organization of the exporting country is required. USDA APHIS may also require additional declarations or treatments if the seed originates from a region with regulated pests such as alfalfa weevil or specific noxious weed species. Consult a licensed customs broker or APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine for current admissibility requirements.
Monthly import values over time
Supplier Network
Get discovered by U.S. importers searching for HS 120921 — Alfalfa (Lucerne) Seeds for Sowing. Be the first supplier listed.
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1209210040 | ALFALFA (LUCERNE) SEED FOR SOWING EXCEPT CERTIFIED | $1.8M | -- |
| 1209210020 | ALFALFA (LUCERNE) SEED FOR SOWING, CERTIFIED | $1.4M | 0.00% |
ALFALFA (LUCERNE) SEED FOR SOWING EXCEPT CERTIFIED
ALFALFA (LUCERNE) SEED FOR SOWING, CERTIFIED
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1209210020 | ALFALFA (LUCERNE) SEED FOR SOWING, CERTIFIED | $1.7M |
| 1209210040 | ALFALFA (LUCERNE) SEED FOR SOWING EXCEPT CERTIFIED | $565K |
ALFALFA (LUCERNE) SEED FOR SOWING, CERTIFIED
302.6K kg
ALFALFA (LUCERNE) SEED FOR SOWING EXCEPT CERTIFIED
84.1K kg
PLANTS & PARTS ETC FOR MEDICAMENTS ETC NESOI
HS 121190
VEGETABLE SEEDS FOR SOWING
HS 120991
SOYBEANS, NESOI
HS 120190
LOW ERUCIC ACID RAPE/COLZA SEEDS W/NOT BROKEN
HS 120510
OIL SEEDS & OLEAGINOUS FRUITS W/NT BROKEN, NESOI
HS 120799
SUNFLOWER SEEDS, WHETHER OR NOT BROKEN
HS 120600
| State | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | $1.6M | $206K | -$1.4M |
| California | $10K | $1.2M | +$1.2M |
| South Dakota | $427K | -- | -$427K |
| Port | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWEETGRASS, MT | $1.3M | $63K | -$1.3M |
| PEMBINA, ND | $697K | -- | -$697K |
| LONG BEACH, CA | -- | $631K | +$631K |