La. Admin. Code tit. 7 § XIII-723
Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024
Section XIII-723 - Turf and Pasture Grass Certification StandardsA. Classes of Seed. The word seed shall be understood to include all propagated materials in this Section. 1. Foundation shall be the vegetative increase of Breeder seed.2. Registered shall be the vegetative increase of Foundation seed.3. Certified shall be the vegetative increase of Registered seed.B. A grower may increase their acreage of Registered class of seed on their own farm on a limited basis with the approval of LDAF.C. Land Requirements 1. Sod and Sprigs (pre-planting inspections) a. A field to be eligible for the production of all certified classes of sod shall be left undisturbed for a minimum of four weeks prior to planting and found to be free of noxious and objectionable weeds.b. A recommended soil fumigation may be applied by a licensed applicator, followed by an inspection by LDAF a minimum of four weeks after the application, to ensure no emergence of noxious and objectionable weeds prior to planting.D. Field Inspections. Turf Grasses and Pasture Grasses entered into the certification program shall be inspected at least three times a year: first (April-May); second (August-September); third (December-January) to ensure the quality of the grasses has met or exceeded the minimum standards set forth in these regulations. If a field is found to be deficient in meeting the standards then the producer has the option of spot roguing the undesirable, if LDAF deems possible, and call for a re-inspection of the crop.E. Field Standards Factor | Foundation | Registered | Certified |
Turf Grasses (Sprigs and Sod) |
Other Varieties | None | None | 1 Plant/ 1000 sq. ft. |
Other Crops | None | None | 1 Plant/ 1000 sq. ft. |
Noxious and Objectionable Weeds | None | None | None |
Harmful Diseases | None | None | None |
Isolation | 6 ft. | 6 ft. | 6 ft. |
Pasture Grass (Sprigs) |
Other Varieties | None | 1 Plant/ 1000 sq.ft. | 3 Plants/ 1000 sq.ft. |
Other Crops | None | None | 3 Plants/ 1000 sq. ft. |
Noxious and Objectionable Weeds | None | None | None |
Harmful Diseases | None | None | None |
Isolation | 30 ft. | 30 ft. | 30 ft. |
1. Other varieties consist of other strains of the species that can be differentiated from the variety or varieties that are being inspected.2. Noxious and objectionable weeds. Noxious and objectionable weeds are with the inclusions of, but not limited to, the following plants: Virginia button weed (Diodia virginiana); dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum); crabgrass (Digitaria spp.); goosegrass (Eleusine indica); bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum); torpedograss (Panicum repens); Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus, C. rotundus).3. Harmful Diseases. Harmful diseases are diseases that seriously affect the quality of grasses and are transmitted by planting stock.4. Isolation. Isolation shall be a barren strip or an approved crop to maintain purity without the risk of contamination.F. Planting Stock Standards Factor | Foundation | Registered | Certified |
Turf Grass |
Pure Live Plants | 90.00% | 90.00% | 90.00% |
Noxious and Objectionable Weeds | None | None | None |
Other Varieties | None | 0.05% | 0.05% |
Other Crop | None | None | 0.05% |
Harmful Diseases | None | None | None |
Pasture Grass |
Pure Live Sprigs containing roots (minimum by count) | 90.00% | 90.00% | 90.00% |
Other Live Plants (maximum by count) | 2.00% | 2.00% | 2.00% |
Noxious Weeds | None | None | None |
G. Reporting System 1. Issuing Certificates a. The grower will be issued numbered certificates of certification and tags by LDAF upon request that must accompany each load of certified grass sold. b. The grower is responsible for completing the forms and returning the appropriate copies to LDAF within 10 working days of issuance.2. Tagging System a. Upon meeting the standards set forth in these regulations the certified crop must have attached to the invoice two tags: i. one from the seed certification division; andii. one from the horticulture division of LDAF.b. This two-tag system shall distinguish the crop to have met or exceeded the requirements set by both divisions of LDAF.La. Admin. Code tit. 7, § XIII-723
Promulgated by the Department of Agriculture, Seed Commission, LR 9:204 (April 1983), amended by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Office of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Seed Commission, LR 12:825 (December 1986), LR 16:847 (October 1990), repromulgated by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Office of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Chemistry and Seed Commission, LR 39:2721 (October 2013), amended LR 40:755 (April 2014), repromulgated LR 40:992 (May 2014), Amended LR 441854 (10/1/2018).AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 3:1433.