Appendix 4

Appendix 4
North American Weed Free Forage
Certification Standards
INTRODUCTION
These standards were formerly known as “Regional Weed FreeForage Certification Standards”.
There is a growing demand in North America for the use at certi-fied weed free forage and mulch as a preventive program inIntegrated Weed Management Systems to limit the spread ofnoxious weeds. The goal of this standard is to provide a guidelineto set minimum requirements for uniform participation of thevarious provinces and states in the program.
The states and provinces Alberta (AB), Idaho (ID), Montana (MT),Nevada (NV), Oregon (OR), South Dakota (SD), Washington(WA), Wyoming (WY), Colorado (CO), Nebraska (NE), NorthDakota (ND), Kansas (KS), and Utah (UT), have agreed to thefollowing standards.
I. STANDARDS
to provide some assurance to all participants that foragecertified through this program meets a minimum acceptablestandard.
to provide continuity between the various provinces andstates in the program to limit the spread of noxious weeds through forage andmulch Forage shall be free of those noxious weeds or undesirable plantspecies identified in Appendix 4-A.
Forage shall be inspected in the State/Province oforigin by proper officials or authority.
Forage shall also be inspected in the field of origin(field shall include surrounding ditches, fence rows,roads, easement rights-of-way, or a buffer zone sur-rounding the field.) Field shall be inspected prior to cutting or harvesting bythe proper officials or authority Forage which contains any noxious weeds, or undesir-able plant species, as identified in Appendix 4-A, maybe certified if the following requirements are met.
a.
Field upon which the forage was produced wastreated to prevent seed formation or seed ripen-ing to the degree that there is no danger of 113 — North American Weed Free Forage Certification Standards
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dissemination of the seed, or any injurious portionthereof from such noxious weeds, or undesirableplant species, or the propagating parts of theplant are not capable of producing a-new plant.
Noxious weed(s) or undesirable plant specieswas treated not later than rosette to bud stage, orboot stage for perennial grass species classifiedas weeds, prior to cutting or harvesting.
Treatment method can include but is not limitedto: 1) burning, 2) mowing, cutting or rogueing, 3)mechanical methods,. or 4) chemicals.
An inspection certificate (Appendix 4-B) shall documentthat the above requirements have been met (1.4)based upon a reasonable and prudent visual inspectionas outlined in Appendix .
Interstate shipment of forage shall be accompanied bya transit certificate (Appendix 4-C) and/or certificationmarking (Appendix 4-D) issued by proper officials orauthority in the state/province of origin. Shipments intorestricted areas not accompanied by the proper transitcertificate or certification marking may be rejected. (Astandardized regional certification marking templatehas been developed. (Appendix 4-D) Use of thestandard regional marking template is recommended.
A certification marking system will ultimately be devel-oped by the proper officials or authority in the state/province of origin.) Pellets and pelleted milled feeds may be certifiedin the field or may be certified based on officialtesting by a state/province seed lab for weedseed viability. Proof of results shall be submittedto the State/Province Department of Agriculture.
If a transit certificate is required, only an original transitcertificate will be acceptable. Using a transit certificateor certification marking for forage from fields other thanthe one specified shall constitute a violation of theNorth American Weed-Free Forage Standards andlocal authorities may take actions.
Disclaimer: North American Weed Free Forage CertificationStandards (formerly known as Regional Weed Free Forage Certifi-cation Standards) may not meet the forage quality standards 114 — North American Weed Free Forage Certification Standards
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adopted by the Hay Marketing Task Force of the American Forageand Grassland Council.
Attached as part of the regional forage certification standards isthe Regional Designated Noxious Weed list (Appendix 4-A). Foradditional information, contact the North American Weed Man-agement Association, Phone: 970-229-0352; Fax: 970-223-3779.
Regional Designated Noxious Weed List orUndesirable Plant Species List Addition Or Deletion To The Regional Weed List 115 — North American Weed Free Forage Certification Standards
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Appendix 4-A
Designated Noxious Weed List
Regional Noxious
Undesirable Plant Species List
Weed List
Absinth wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) ND, WA, [P] [F]Bermdagrass (Cynodon dactylon) UT [P] [F]Black henbane (Hyoscyamus nicer) AB, ID, WA [A or B] [F]Buffalobur (Solanum rostratum) ID, OR, WA [A][N or F]Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) AB, ID, KS, MT, NE, ND, NV, OR, SD, Common burdock (Arctium minus) AB, WY [B) [F]Common crupina (Crupina vulgaris) ID, MT, OR, SD, WA [A] [F]Common St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum) MT, NV, OR, SD, WA Common tansy (Tanacetum vulgar) AB, WA, WY [P] [F]Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica) AB, ID, MT, NV, OR, SD. WA, Diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa) AB, CO, ID, MT, NV. OR, SD UT, Dyers woad (Isatis tinctoria) ID, MT, OR, UT, WA, WY [A or B or [P] [F]Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) AB, KS, ND, MT, OR, SD, UT, Hemp (marijuana) (Cannabis sativa) ND [A] [F]Hoary cress (Cardaria spp.) AB, ID, KS, MT, ND, NV, OR, SD, UT WA, Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense) NV [P] [N]Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale) WA, WY [B] [F]Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) ID, KS, NV, OR, SD, UT, WA [P] Jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica) ID, WA [A] [F]Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) AB, CO, ID, KS, MT, NE, ND, NV, OR, Matgrass (Nardus stricta) ID, OR [P] [F]Meadow knapweed (Centaurea pratensis) ID, OR, WA (P] [F]Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) NV, OR, UT [A) [F]Milium (Milium vernale) ID [A) [F]Musk thistle (Carduus nutans) AB, ID, KS, NE, ND, NV, OR, SD, UT, Orange hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum) MT, ID, WA [P] [F]Oxeye daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum) AB, WA, WY [P] [F]Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) ID, ND, OR, SD, UT WA, Perennial sorghum (Sorghum almum) UT [P] [F] 116 — North American Weed Free Forage Certification Standards
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Perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis) AB, ID, ND, NV, SD, WA, WY Plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides) NE, SD, WA, WY [A or B] [F]Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) ID, NV, OR, WA [B] [F]Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) ID, WA [A] [F]Purple loosestrife (Lythnlm salicaria) AB, ID, MT, OR, SD, WA, WY [P] Quackgrass (Agropyron repens) AB, KS, OR, UT, WY [P] [F]Rush skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea) ID, MT, OR, SD, WA [P] [F]Russian knapweed (Centaurea repens) AB, CO, ID, KS, MT, ND, NV, Scentless chamomile (Anthemis arvensis) AB [P] [F]Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) ID, WA [P] [F]Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium) ID, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY [B] [F]Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) KS [P] [F]Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium) ID, OR, WA [P] [N or F]Skeletonleaf bursage (Ambrosia tomentosa) ID, WA, WY [P] [N or F]Spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) AB, CO, ID, MT, ND, OR, SD Squarrose knapweed (Centaurea virgata) OR, UT [P] [F]Sulfur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) MT [P] [F]Syrian beancaper (zygophyllum fabago) ID, WA [P] [F]Tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) ID, OR, WA, MT [B or P] [F]Toothed spurge (Euphorbia dentata) ID [A] [N or F]Wild oats (Avena fatua) AB, WY [A] [F]Wild proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) OR, WY [A] [F]Yellow hawkweed (Hieracium pratense) ID, WA, MT [P] [F]Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) AB, ID, MT, NV, OR, SD, UT, Yellow toadflax (Linaria vulgaris) AB, ID, OR, SD, WA, WY [P] [F] Forage (feed, hay, straw or mulch) will be inspected in the field ororigin (field will include ditches, fence rows, roads, easement, right-of-way, or buffer zone, surrounding the field). Field will be inspectedfor the fifty-three (53) weed species listed above prior to cutting orharvesting. The number of weed species are subject to change dueto additional states or provinces joining the association or theaddition of other weed species added to State Noxious Weed lists.
[A] Annual[N] Native[B] Biennial[P] Perennial[F] Foreign Origin 117 — North American Weed Free Forage Certification Standards
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Certificate of Inspection Minimal Requirements: Appendix 4-B
Inspection Certificate
State agency information (address and phone number).
Standards
County agency information (address and phone number).
Inspection Certificate numbering system.
Producer name, address, and phone number).
Legal description of property being inspected or field num-ber.
“Meets Regional Standards” statement.
Appendix 4-C
Transit Certificate Minimal Requirements: Transit Certificate
State agency information (address and phone number).
Standards
County agency information (address an~d phone number).
Transit Certificate numbering system.
Transporter name, address, phone number.
Consignee name, address, phone number.
Reference to Inspection Certificate number.
Issuer signature, Title, and phone number.
Statement: “Only original copies are accepted”.
118 — North American Weed Free Forage Certification Standards
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Appendix 4-D
Forage Tag Template
The words - “North American (or Regional) Weed FreeForage Certification Program”.
A number system (for tracking purposes).
Province/state telephone number (responsible official).
A statement that the product is “Certified to the North Ameri-can (or Regional) Standards”.
or Minimum Guidelines For Field Inspections: Appendix 4-E
Field Inspection
The inspector will follow the following inspection procedures Standards
There shall be a minimum of two entry points per field There shall be minimum of one entry point per each 10acres.
Each point of entry shall be at least 150 feet into the field,and each additional 150 feet traveled shall constitute anentry point. Travel shall be uninterrupted, proceedingthrough the field being inspected.
The entire field border shall be walked or driven.
Fields shall be inspected within 10 days prior to harvest.
The storage area shall also be inspected and meet thestandards.
An inspector may not inspect fields of which said inspectorhas ownership or financial interest.
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Certification Markings - tags, blue and orange colored twine, Appendix 4-F
Definitions
Cubes - hay harvested with equipment which forms the hayinto small compact self-binding units. These are not consid-ered pellets as defined in this document and therefore thefield of origin must be certified.
Forage - hay, straw, mulch, cubes and pellets.
Noxious Weeds - those weeds including any weed seed orpropagative plant parts, designated by the Regional WeedFree Forage Committee Pellets - agglomerated feed formed by compacting andforcing through die openings by a mechanical process. Ifheat is not used in the process, the field of origin must becertified.
Representative of that State’s Dept. of Agriculture.
Weed Supervisor or Weed Superintendent.
An individual designated by that State’s law or regula-tions. This individual will be trained and certified inaccordance with the state’s/province’s standard operat-ing procedures.
Appendix 4-G
The following procedures should be followed for the addition ordeletion of species to the Regional Weed List.
Addition Or Deletion
To The Regional
Criteria for species considered for the regional list.
Weed List
Identified as a problem or potential problem by a state/province.
A petition be sent to the RWFF committee from a state/province Department of Agriculture or other authorityfor noxious weeds requesting listing to the RegionalWeed List.(Petition should contain a risk assessmentwith information on impacts to natural resources andforage resources at state/province and/or regionallevel).
Species considered for deletion should show why the species isno onger a problem using criteria of #2 above.
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Petitioner send copy of the request to add or delete aspecies to the RWFF Committee Chairman 90 daysbefore the RWFF Committee Meeting.
Request should include a risk assessment on impactsto natural resources and forage resources, a descrip-tion of the plant and 3 color slides (Kodachrome 64 ifpossible).
The RWFF Committee Chairman will mail informationpackets to committee members 60 days in advance ofthe committee meeting.
The proposed species should be listed in the NAWMAlogue and also on the NAWMA Home Page before thecommittee meeting.
121 — North American Weed Free Forage Certification Standards

Source: http://www.weedcenter.org/management/guidelines/Appn4.pdf