Md. Code Regs. 15.01.17.21

Current through Register Vol. 52, No. 1, January 10, 2025

Section 15.01.17.21 - Sampling Guidelines

A. For purposes of determining the number of individual plants to select for sampling, the size of the growing area set forth in the chart below shall be followed. For sampling purposes, samples from separate lots shall be kept separate and may not be comingled.

Size of Lot	Minimum Quantity	Size of Lot	Minimum Quantity
<1000 sq. ft.	10	10- 14.99 acres	35
<0.99 acre	11	15 - 19.99 acres	40
1 - 1.99 acres	15	20- 24.99 acres	45
2- 2.99 acres	17	25 - 29.99 acres	50
3- 3.99 acres	19	30 - 39.99 acres	55
4- 4.99 acres	20	40- 49.99 acres	60
5- 5.99 acres	21	50- 50.99 acres	65
6- 6.99 acres	24	60- 60.99 acres	70
7- 7.99 acres	27	70- 74.99 acres	75
8 - 8.99 acres	30	75 + acres	1 per acre
9 - 9.99 acres	33

B. The authorized agent shall walk at right angles to the rows of plants, if possible, beginning at one point of the lot and walking towards another point on the opposite side of the lot. If the lot is too dense for this to be possible, the authorized agent shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that a sample is collected that represents a homogeneous composition of the lot by avoiding edges and thoroughfares.

C. While walking through the growing area, the authorized agent shall cut the number of inflorescences (the flower or bud of a plant) based on the acreage of the growing area at random but convenient distances, and avoid collecting sample specimens from the borders of the field/greenhouse.

D. The cut shall be obtained from the flowering tops of plants when flowering tops are present and shall be approximately 5 to 8 inches in length from the "main stem" (that includes the leaves and flowers), "terminal bud" (that occurs at the end of a stem), or "central cola" (cut stem that develops into a bud) of the flowering top of the plant.

Md. Code Regs. 15.01.17.21

Regulation .21 adopted effective 50:15 Md. R.683, eff. 8/7/2023