Section 20 031 004 - CERTIFIED SEED AND CERTIFIED FOUNDATION POTATO INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION RULES Certificates will be issued to growers of fields which have been regularly enrolled with the Vermont Department of Agriculture, have been inspected at least twice during the growing season by authorized inspectors of the
(a) Enrollment shall include submitting to the Department of Agriculture for the Central Test Plot, a sample consisting of 200 tubers from each lot of seed which is to be planted for certification. Provided, that where two or more growers use seed from the same lot, only one sample need be submitted; but growers not submitting samples shall file statements on proper forms as to the origin of seed and by whom sample has been submitted. Samples shipped after date prescribed by the Department may be accepted only at discretion of officials in charge of the plot. In cases of incomplete entry under 1 (a), but where other requirements are met, provisional certification may be made subject to satisfactory readings in sample submitted for winter test at discretion of the Commissioner of Agriculture.
APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE RECEIVED FOR FIELDS NOT REPRESENTED IN THE CENTRAL TEST PLOT, OR AS PROVIDED IN (a).
(b) From the same lot of seed from which each enrolled field is planted there shall also be planted a test plot consisting of 200 units. Such test plot may be a section of the field it represents or a separate seed plot. Such unit plots are not be be rogued before official inspection.(c) The presence of more than an average of five percent of leaf roll or seven percent of mosaic in the sample grown in the Central Test Plot and the unit sections or plots specified in 1 (b) will disqualify the fields represented. Unit plots on different farms but grown from the same stock may be averaged for this purpose.(d) If disease count in a sample in the Central Test Plot is such that disqualification must result from that alone, the inspection fee will be $ 1.00. If disqualification results only from an average of the sample in the Central Test Plot and the units in the field as per 1(b), the minimum acreage charge shall apply.(e) The fee for first inspection is due with application. The fee for second inspection is due when field has passed 1st inspection.(f) In case part only of a grower's acreage is disqualified, the same rate per acre will apply on the part entitled to second inspection, as would be the case had all passed first inspection, provided this is not less than minimum fee. Fractional acreage amounting to one-fourth or less is not to be taken into account. Fractional acreage amounting to between one-fourth and one-half acre will be accounted one-half acre. 2. FIELD INSPECTION The following general requirements for field certification shall apply: (a) Time of Inspection (1) As early as possible to identify diseases.(2) From the time of blossoming to just before the vines mature.(b) Isolation: Fields entered for certification which are within 200 feet of potatoes showing more than a total of 10% of the virus disease will be disqualified. Where two fields are within 200 feet of each other and one shows more than the permitted tolerance of virus disease, but not over 10 per cent, the potatoes from the ten rows nearest the field showing disease in excess of the tolerance must be harvested separately and will not be certified.
(c) Rouging: Fields entered for certification may be rogued at any time. All diseased plants found must be removed from the field. Tubes fromdiseased plants, if of grade size, must likewise be removed.(d) Cultural Conditions: Fields showing poor cultural conditions may be disqualified. These conditions include failure to control weeds, insects or blights, or the presence of plants lacking vigor from any cause.(e) Disease Tolerances: Fields which are found to have disease or mixture counts in excess of the following tolerances will be disqualified. FIELD INSPECTION TOLERENCES |
| 1st Inspection | 2nd |
Inspection | | |
Leaf Roll | 3.0% | 1.0% |
Mosaic | 3.0 | 2.0 |
Spindle Tuber | 2.0 | 1.0 |
Other Virus | 1.0 | 0.5 |
Total Virus | 5.0 | 3.0 |
Black Leg | Discretion of Inspection Staff |
Wilt (Except bacterial wilt) | 2.0 | 1.0 |
Total of Above Diseases | 6.0 | 4.0 |
Varietal Mixture | 1.0 | 0.5 |
Bacterial Wilt, Ring Rot | No tolerance |
3. VERMONT CERTIFIED FOUNDATION SEED POTATOES In addition to meeting all all the requirements of certified seed, must be entered in a Florida test approved by the Vermont Department of Agriculture and have an official Florida reading of not more than 1% total virus diseases.
No potatoes grown on a farm or stored in a warehouse whether ring rot has been found the current season will be eligible for Certified Foundation tags.
4. GRADES FOR CERTIFIED AND CERTIFIED FOUNDATION SEED POTATOES The grower is required to sort all potatoes sold as certified under the inspection of this Department and under the following standards for Vermont Certified Seed Grade and Vermont Certified Foundation Seed Grades.
The grades herein established shall conform to the designated "U.S." grades, as promulgated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture effective July 15, 1958, except that sunburn will be permitted in each grade, and notolerance will be allowed for ring rot, and, unless otherwise stated, nopotato shall be more than 3 1/4" in diameter, nor exceed 12 oz. in weight.
(a) Vermont blue tag seed shall be Certified Seed that meets the requirements of U.S. # 1 grade.(b) Vermont blue and white tag seed shall be Certified Foundation seed that meets the requirements of the U.S. # 1 grade. NOTE: These grades apply only to potatoes in containers which are tagged to indicate that they have passed the field inspection requirements of the Vermont Department of Agriculture.
5. RE-INSPECTION All lots of seed which have been inspected and tagged are subject to reinspection at any time before leaving the state.
6. SHIPPING TAGS Application for certified seed potato shipping tags must be made to the Department of Agriculture, and such tags will be issued only for those lots of seed from certified fields which are inspected and passed previous to shipment by an authorized inspector of the Department.
Remittance covering cost of tags should accompany the order.NOTE: Special requirements for Vermont "Foundation" seed potato production will be furnished on request.
20-004 Code Vt. R. 20-031-004-X