Updated_NAISMA_WFF_Standards_02-01-16.pdf

NORTH AMERICAN INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (NAISMA)

NORTH AMERICAN WEED FREE FORAGE

MINIMUM CERTIFICATION STANDARDS

Revised 1/24/97, 9/16/97, 8/9/99, 10/30/02, 10/20/03, 9/21/04, 1/05/05, 10/18/06, 3/31/15, 02/01/16

INTRODUCTION

There is a growing demand in North America for the use of certified weed free forage and mulch as a preventative program in integrated weed management systems to limit the spread of noxious weeds.

The standards are designed to provide some assurance to all participants that forage certified through this program meets a minimum acceptable standard;

to provide continuity between the various provinces and states in the program;

to limit the spread of noxious weeds.

Participating jurisdictions may wish to add to these standards within their specific state or province, but must meet the minimum standards outlined in this document in order to be recognized by

NAISMA. Disclaimer: North American Forage Certification Standards may not meet the forage quality standards adopted by the Hay Marketing Task Force of the American Forage and Grassland Council.

DEFINITIONS Revised 1/24/97, 10/30/02, 5/15/08, 3/31/15

Certification Markings

NAISMA approved tags, purple and yellow twine, and galvanized wire.

Cubed hay

Harvested with equipment which forms the hay into small compact self-binding units. These are not considered pellets as defined in this document, and therefore the field of origin must be certified.

Designated authority

Representative of that state or province's department of agriculture

Manager of a state, provincial, or local government responsible for managing legislated weed species within their jurisdiction (ex: Weed Supervisor, Weed Superintendent, Ag. Fieldman)

University Extension Agent

An individual designated as an inspector under that state or province's weed control legislation.

This individual must be trained and certified in accordance with the state/provincial standard operating procedures for weed inspection as well as NAISMA's weed free forage standards.

Forage (hay, straw, mulch)

Any crop, including alfalfa, grass, small grains, straw, and similar crops and commodities, that is grown, harvested, and sold for livestock forage, bedding material, or mulch or related uses and the byproducts of those crops or commodities that have been processed into pellets, cubes, or related products.

Noxious Weeds

Those plant species, including any weed seed or propagative plant parts, designated by the North

American Weed Free Forage Committee in Appendix A, as well as weeds listed under weed control legislation within the state or province of the forage's origin.

Pellets

Agglomerated feed formed by compacting and forcing through die openings by a mechanical process.

If heat is not used in the process, the field of origin must be certified.

Propagules

Any part of a plant capable of enabling it to reproduce (may include seeds, roots, and/or stolons).

NAISMA MINIMUM WEED FREE FORAGE STANDARDS (revised 3/31/15)

• Forage shall be free of noxious weeds as defined in these minimum standards.

• Forage shall be inspected in the state/province of origin by the designated authority.

• Forage shall also be inspected in the field of origin by the designated authority per Appendix E.

• Forage which contains any noxious weeds may still be certified if the field upon which the forage was produced is treated to prevent noxious weed seed or other propagule viability according to agricultural practices acceptable to, and to the satisfaction of, the designated authority.

• Pellets as defined in these standards may also be certified if they are declared free of viable noxious weed seeds or other propagules by a test conducted by a state/provincial seed testing laboratory approved by the designated authority.

• Cubed hay as defined in these standards may also be certified if field of origin has been certified by the designated authority according to these standards.

• An Inspection Certificate as per Appendix B shall document the above requirements are met.

• Interstate shipment of NAISMA Certified Weed Free Forage shall be accompanied by NAISMA

Certification Marking as outlined in Appendix D, and an original printed or digital copy of the

Transit Certificate issued by the designated authority as outlined in Appendix C.

List of Appendices Referenced Above

Follow On Subsequent Pages

Appendix A: North American Designated Noxious Weed List and Procedures for Amendment

Appendix B: Inspection Certificate Standards

Appendix C: Transit Certificate Standards

Appendix D: Certification Markings

Appendix E: Field Inspection Standards

Appendix A: North American Designated Noxious Weed

Revised: 01/24/97, 04/20/97, 09/16/97, 10/30/02, 10/05/05, 10/09/09, 03/31/15, 02/01/16

Absinth wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)

Austrian fieldcress (Rorippa austriaca)

Black henbane (Hyoscyamus niger)

Buffalobur (Solanum rostratum)

Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense)

Common burdock (Arctium minus)

Common crupina (Crupina vulgaris)

Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)

Common teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)

Cutleaf teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus)

Dam e’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis)

Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica)

Diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa)

Dyers woad (Isatis tinctoria)

Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)

Field scabious (Knautia arvensis)

Hoary Alyssum (Berteroa incana)

Hoary cress (Cardaria spp.)

Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense)

Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale)

Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense)

Jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica)

Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula)

Meadow knapweed (Centaurea pratensis)

Medusahead (Taeniatherum caputmedusae)

Musk thistle (Carduus nutans)

Orange hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum)

Oxeye daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum)

Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium)

Perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis)

Plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides)

Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum)

Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris)

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria )

Quackgrass (Agropyron repens)

Rush skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea)

Russian knapweed (Centaurea repens)

Scentless chamomile (Matricaria perforata or M. milaceum)

Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium)

Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata)

Spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa)

Squarrose knapweed (Centaurea virgata)

St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum)

Sulfur cinquefoil (Potentilia recta)

Tall buttercup (Ranunculus acris)

Tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)

Vipers Bugloss/Blueweed (Echium vulgare)

Wild oats (Avena fatua)

Wild proso millet (Panicum miliaceum)

Yellow hawkweed (Hieracium pratense)

Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis)

Yellow toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)

Procedure for species considered for addition or deletion to Appendix A: North American

Designated Noxious Weed List.

1. Petition must be sent to the NAISMA Weed Free Forage (WFF) Committee from a designated authority as defined in these standards formally requesting a species be added or removed from listing to Appendix A: North American Designated Noxious Weed List.

2. Petition shall contain a risk assessment of species proposed to be added with information on its potential and/or actual impacts to natural resources at a state/provincial and/or regional level.

3. Petition shall contain a risk assessment of species proposed for deletion with information on why the species is no longer considered a potential and/or actual threat to natural resources at a state/provincial and/or regional level.

4. Petitioner shall send the formal petition to add or delete a species to the NAISMA WFF Committee

Chair at least 90 days before the committee meets at NAISMA's Annual General Meeting (AGM), generally held annually in September.

5. NAISMA WFF Committee Chair will send the petition to committee members at least 60 days in advance of NAISMA's AGM.

6. NAISMA WFF Committee will formulate a recommendation to support or deny the petition to the

NAISMA Board of Directors (BOD) for their consideration prior to NAISMA's AGM.

7. If the NAISMA BOD supports the Weed Free Forage Committee recommendation on the petition, it will be presented at NAISMA's AGM for approval/rejection by NAISMA's membership.

8. Appendix A will be modified as necessary after the above procedures have been carried out.

Appendix B: Inspection Certificate Standards Revised 1/24/97, 10/30/02, 3/31/15

Certificate of Inspection Minimum Requirements:

• State/provincial/local designated authority contact information.

• Inspection Certificate numbering system.

• Forage producer contact information.

• Legal description of property being inspected.

• Number of acres or hectares inspected.

• Size of package or bale.

• Number or tonnage of bales or packages.

• Type of forage.

• "Meets North American Standards" statement.

• Inspection date.

• Designated authority's inspector signature.

• Comments section.

Appendix C: Transit Certificate Standards Revised 1/24/97, 10/20/03, 3/31/15

Transit Certificate Minimum Requirements:

• State/provincial/local designated authority contact information.

• Transit Certificate numbering system.

• Transporter contact information.

• Consignee contact information.

• Specific destination.

• Reference to Inspection Certification Number (Appendix B)

• Type of Certification Marking used (Appendix D)

• Size of package or bale.

• Number or tonnage of bales or packages.

• Type of forage.

• Issue date.

• Issuer signature, title, and contact information.

• Comments section

• "Only Original Print / Digital Copy Approved By Designated Authority Accepted" Statement

Appendix D: Certification Marking Revised 1/24/97, 10/30/02, 10/20/03, 5/15/08, 3/31/15

• Special purple and yellow colored twine as approved by NAWMA.

• Galvanized baling wire.

• Forage Tag Minimum Requirements:

o The words "North American Weed Free Forage Certification Program".

o A number system (for tracking purposes).

o State or Province of issue.

o State or Province contact information (designated authority).

o A statement that the product is "Certified to the North American Standards".

Appendix E: Field Inspection Standards - Revised 1/24/97, 3/31/15, 2/1/16

Minimum Guidelines for Field Inspections:

• Fields shall be inspected within a maximum of 10 days prior to cutting / harvesting

• Fields must be inspected again if circumstances prevent harvest of the forage for a period greater than 10 days from the first inspection.

• There shall be a minimum of two entry points per field.

• There shall be a minimum of one entry point per each 10 acres (4 hectares).

• Each point of entry shall be at least 150 feet (45 metres) into the field, and each additional 150 feet (45 metres) traveled shall constitute an entry point.

• Travel shall be uninterrupted, proceeding through the field being inspected.

• Field border shall be inspected, including surrounding ditches, fence rows, roads, easements, rights-of-way, and/or a buffer zone surrounding field as determined by the designated authority.

• The storage area for the forage shall also be inspected and meet these standards.

• An inspector may not inspect fields of which said inspector has ownership or financial interest.

For Additional Information, Please Contact

The North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA)

Via Our Website:

www.naisma.org http://www.naisma.org/