Noxious Weed Free
Certification Program Standards
Noxious Weed Free
Certification Program Standards
INTRODUCTION
There is a growing demand in North America for the use of certified noxious weed seed free forage and mulch as a preventative program to limit the spread of noxious weeds. This voluntary certification program is designed to assure that forage (hay, cubes and pellets) and straw sold with proper certification identification meets minimum standards designed to limit the spread of noxious weeds. Buyers are provided assurance that forage and mulch certified through this program meets these minimum standards.
The Indiana Crop Improvement Association (ICIA) is the designated official seed certifying agency in the State of Indiana - authorized to certify seeds, plants or plants parts. ICIA has also been designated as the official Noxious Weed Free Forage and Mulch Certification Agency for Indiana by the Director of Purdue Agricultural Research Programs in consultation with the Office of the Indiana State Chemist and Seed Commissioner.
These certification standards comply with the Regional Weed Free Forage Certification Standards developed by the Regional Weed Free Forage Committee of the North American Weed Management Association. The Regional Weed Free Forage Committee has established minimum standards to allow uniform participation by states and provinces in the program. Forage and mulch certified under the ICIA certification program with proper certification markings attached will be eligible to be shipped into restricted areas in the United States and Canada where only forage and mulch certified under the Regional Forage Certification Standards can be used.
The standards are designed:
· to provide some assurance to all participants that forage or straw certified through this program meets a minimum acceptable standard
· to provide continuity between the various states and provinces in this program
· to limit the spread of noxious weed through forage and mulch
The various field and storage site inspections that are an integral part of this program minimize the opportunity for the certified products to contain noxious weed seeds. However, the production and distribution of certified material depends on the integrity of those participating in the program. ICIA makes no warranty of any kind, express or implied, including the warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. There are no warranties that extend beyond the description of the face thereof.
APPLICATION FOR FIELD AND STORAGE SITE INSPECTION
Applicants desiring to have their forage and/or mulch certified must apply to the Indiana Crop Improvement Association on the application form supplied by the Association. Forms are available upon request from the ICIA office at 7700 Stockwell Road, Lafayette, Indiana, 47909; by calling 866-899-2518; or by email at icia@indianacrop.org.
Mulch field inspection applications must be received no later than May 15th. Forage field inspection applications must be received 4 weeks prior to cutting. Late applications may result in the field inspection not being made. If such inspections can be arranged, a late application fee will be assessed.
A field is defined as the area occupied by one crop, covered by one inspection report and not divided by streams, public roads, other crops, or other barriers that materially increase the difficulty of inspection. If the certified forage or mulch field is also being inspected for certified seed production, indicate the corresponding seed production field number(s) on the application form.
A storage site is defined as any location where harvested certified forage or mulch will be stored pending sale.
GENERAL STANDARDS
Fields and storage sites shall be free of those noxious weeds and undesirable plant species identified in Appendix A.
1. In Indiana, forage, mulch and storage sites shall be inspected by ICIA.
2. Forage and mulch shall be inspected in the field of origin. The field shall include the surrounding ditches, fence rows, roads, easements, grass waterways, or a buffer zone surrounding the field.
3. The field and storage sites must be inspected by ICIA prior to cutting or harvesting.
4. Fields and storage sites which contain noxious weeds or undesirable plant species (as identified in Appendix A) may be certified if the following requirements are met:
a. The noxious weeds and undesirable plant species in the field in which the forage or mulch is being produced were treated to prevent seed formation or seed ripening to the degree that there is no danger of dissemination of the seed or the propagating parts of the plant capable of producing a new plant.
b. The noxious weeds and undesirable plant species were treated not later than the rosette to bud stage (or boot stage for grass species classified as weeds) prior to cutting or harvesting.
c. The treatment method can include but is not limited to:
· Burning
· Mowing or cutting
· Roguing
· Chemicals
d. If noxious weeds have not been treated and are present in areas adjacent to the field, an isolation/buffer strip must be established between the crop to be harvested and the area infested with noxious weeds. This strip must be no less than 10 feet wide. The strip can be established by mowing or cultivation.
5. Pellets and pelleted milled feeds must be certified in the field of origin if heat is not used in the process. If heat is used in the processing, pellets and pelleted milled feeds may be certified based on official testing by the ICIA seed laboratory for weed seed viability. Samples must be taken in an ICIA approved manner.
6. An Inspection Certificate shall be issued by ICIA indicating that the above requirements have been met based upon field inspection.
FIELD INSPECTIONS
To be eligible for forage or mulch certification, fields must be inspected by a representative of ICIA before harvest. A crop that is harvested prior to inspection is not eligible for certification. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the crop has been inspected before harvest.
Field inspection is a thorough examination of the forage or mulch production site to confirm compliance with the certification standards. A visual inspection of the field and entire field border will be made by the inspector. ICIA’s inspection procedures will follow the guidelines established by the Regional Weed Free Forage Standards.
Minimum guidelines for field inspection:
1. There shall be a minimum of two entry points per field.
2. There shall be a minimum of one entry point per each 10 acres.
3. Each point of entry shall be at least 150 feet into the field, and each additional 150 feet shall constitute an entry point. Travel shall be uninterrupted, proceeding through the field being inspected.
4. The entire field border shall be walked or driven.
5. Field shall be inspected within 10 days prior to harvest.
6. An inspector may not inspect fields of which said inspector has ownership or financial interest.
Reinspection procedures:
The applicant may request a reinspection when a portion of field does not meet the certification standards - i.e. untreated noxious weeds in the field and/or lack of required isolation/buffer strips.
1. The applicant shall make the required correction(s) as indicated on the original inspection report.
2. The applicant shall contact the ICIA office requesting reinspection to verify the required corrections have been completed. A reinspection fee will be charged.
3. A new inspection certificate shall be issued by ICIA indicating the requirements have been met based upon the reinspection.
STORAGE SITE INSPECTIONS
1. All storage sites shall be inspected a minimum of 10 days prior to use.
2. The site must be free from noxious weed seeds and noxious weeds capable of producing seeds during the time the certified product will be stored.
3. Product stored at a site not inspected is not eligible for certification.
4. Product stored an inspected site not meeting the freedom from noxious weeds requirement is not eligible for certification.
CERTIFICATION LABELING
Certification tags will be issued for eligible forage or mulch by ICIA upon request by the applicant.
Certification tag minimum requirements:
1. The words “North American Weed Free Forage Certification Program”.
2. The statement “Certified to the North American Standards”.
3. State of issue – agency name and telephone number.
4. Producer number and lot number.
MAINTAINING IDENTITY OF HARVESTED FORAGE
The applicant must keep accurate records of the amount of forage or mulch harvested from each field including where the forage or mulch is stored after harvest. The following records must be maintained:
1. The number and average weight of bales harvested.
2. The exact location of the inspected site where bales are stored.
3. Date of harvest.
4. Field number(s) and location(s) of the field(s) where the product was produced.
5. Copies of all certification documents.
6. Current inventory records.
Records shall be made available upon request by ICIA.
INTERSTATE SHIPMENT
Interstate shipment of certified product may be accompanied by a transit certificate if required by the receiving party or another entity. Official transit certificates are available from ICIA and contain the information necessary to meet the North American Weed Management Association standards.
APPENDIX A
The following weeds have been designated as noxious or undesirable in the Regional Weed Free Forage Certification Standards (Indiana noxious weeds have been added to the listing):
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1. Absinth Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) 2. Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) 3. Buffalobur (Solanum rostratum) 4. Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) 5. Common burdock (Arctium minus) 6. Common crupina (Crupina vulgaris) 7. Common tansy (Tancetum vulgare) 8. Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica) 9. Diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa) 10. Dyers woad (Isatis tinctoria) 11. Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) 12. Hemp (marijuana) (Cannabis sativa) 13. Henbane, Black (Hyoscyanmus niger) 14. Hoary cress (Cardaria spp.) 15. Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense) 16. Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale L.) 17. Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) 18. Jointed Goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica) 19. Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) 20. Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria L.) 21. Matgrass (Nardus stricta)
22.
Meadow knapweed (Centaurea 23. Medusa head (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) 24. Milium (Milium vernale) 25. Musk thistle (Carduus nutans) 26. Orange hawkweed (Hieracium auranthiacum) 27. Oxeye daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum) 28. Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) 29. Perennial sorghum (Sorghum almum) 30. Perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis) 31. Plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides) 32. Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) 33. Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris 34. Quackgrass (Agropyron repens) |
35.
Rush skeletonweed (Chondrilla
juncea) |
APPENDIX B
APPLICANT'S RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Be a member of the Indiana Crop Improvement Association.
2. Complete the application for field and storage site inspection by May 15th for mulch or 4 weeks prior to cutting for forage. Include the following items:
a. A map indicating location of field.
b. A map indicating the location of storage area.
c. Indication of whether the field is being applied for under the seed certification or Quality Assurance programs.
d. The field and storage site inspection fee.
e. Approximate cutting date.
3. Prepare the field for inspection. Treat noxious weeds and undesirable plant species (see Appendix A) in and adjacent to the production field as described in the standards. If noxious weeds in adjacent areas are not treated, a 10 foot wide isolation/buffer strip must be established by mowing or cultivation.
4. All fields must be inspected prior to harvest by ICIA to qualify for certification. Notify ICIA if your fields are within a week of cutting and you do not have an inspection report indicating that the field has been inspected.
5. If the field meets certification standards, proceed to Step 6. If the field does not meet the standards, proceed to the Reinspection Procedures below.
6. Maintain the identity of all forage or mulch harvested from fields meeting the certification standards. The forage or mulch must be stored in an inspected storage site separate from uncertified forage or mulch. A written record of certified material stored at this site shall be maintained.
7. Request certification labels from the ICIA office. Report the number and size of the packages/bales from each eligible field at the time labels are being requested.
8. Attach the certification tags provided by ICIA to eligible forage.
THE INDIANA CROP IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION'S RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Supply each grower with instructions and materials for making applications for field and storage site inspection.
2. Inspect fields and storage areas in a timely manner upon receiving appropriate applications.
3. Issue labels for product that qualifies under the certification standards.
4. Issue transit certificates for eligible products upon request.
5. Publish a directory of producers of certified noxious weed seed free forage.
6. Maintain records including field applications, inspection reports and serial numbers of tags issued.