GradingStandards.docx

Attachment 4

EXHIBIT A

2024-2026 Bessey Nursery Grading and Pruning Standards and Allowances and Tolerances Handout The Bessey Nursery is committed to shipping seedlings that are ready to plant. This means that within reasonable tolerances listed below, only seedlings that meet Bessey Nursery quality standards and the customer's specifications will be shipped. Unless otherwise specified by the COR or Inspector, the following standards will be used.

Each seedling will be graded to ensure that it meets acceptable standards. Any seedlings not meeting standards will be discarded on the floor for removal.

A1. Grading Standards:

a. Shoot Height: Seedling height will be measured from the cotyledon scar to the tip of the terminal bud. Height will be measured in cm. The grading height for each lot will be specified by the COR or Inspector on the grading belt white board.

b. Diameter (Caliper): The caliper will be measured directly below the cotyledon scar on the stem of the seedling. Caliper will be measured in millimeters. The grading caliper for each lot will be specified by the COR or Inspector on the grading belt white board.

c. Root Length, Mass and Composition: Root length measurement will be in inches and from the cotyledon scar to the bottom of the root mass of the suspended seedling(s). For all species and age classes, 11 inches is the standard length, + or - 1 inch, measured from the cotyledon scar to the bottom of the root mass, unless otherwise instructed by the COR or inspector.

d. Color: Conifer seedlings should be blue-green to yellow-green in color. Depending on age and species, variations in green may occur and reasonable tolerances will be allowed.

e. Form: General form for acceptable seedlings will be free of kinked root systems and abnormal stem swelling. Due to some genetic characteristics and traits, acceptable form characteristics for one seedling source may be unacceptable for another.

f. Shoot/Root Ratio: If tree has half the root mass of the top (or better), the seedling is shippable. Cotyledon scar will divide the shoot and root systems.

A2. Grading Conditions (Defects or CULLS) that are NOT Acceptable

a. Buds: Any broken terminal bud on the dominant leader is a cull .

b. Physical Damage: any injury to the main stem and/or terminal root makes a seedling a cull.

c. Tops:

1. Multiple tops may be acceptable for all species depending on customers.

2. If over 50 percent of the needles have dropped or are brown or red due to sunburn, botrytis mold or other causal agents for all species, it is a cull.

3. "Bottlebrushed" (short needled) seedling is a cull.

4. Diseased tops: Contact COR or inspector immediately to determine whether seedling can be accepted or must be culled.

5. Any seedling which is dead is considered a cull, and must be discarded.

6. Forked trees are culls.

d. Roots:

1. Roots field pruned too short (less than 6 inches) during lifting are culls, unless instructed otherwise. Consult with COR or Inspector, if questions arise.

2. Loops, knots, twists, crooks or discernable creases in roots: Cull.

3. "J" or "L" shaped roots: Cull if greater than 45 degree angle and 5 cm from vertical.

4. Split roots: Cull. This includes terminal root and main side roots if the split occurs above where the pruning length will occur.

5. Stripped roots: If the cambium is pulled off, it is a cull. This is not the same as the outer cortex sluffing off. Check with Inspector or COR, if questionable.

6. Little or no fine roots or root hairs: Cull. For 2-0 stock, each lateral root should have 80 percent coverage of root hairs. For 1-0 stock, each lateral root should have 50 percent coverage of root hairs. Adjustments may have to be made, based on seedlinglot characteristics.

7. Roots pruned in packing shed: +or - 1 inch allowance from root pruning target length for that lot. Anything less than or greater than the 1 inch allowance is subject to rework, and/or penalty.

8. Diseased roots: Contact COR or inspector immediately to determine whether seedling can be accepted or must be culled.

A3.Allowances and Tolerances:

a. Allowance for sorting judgement: An allowance of one half cm. in height and one half millimeter in caliper will be given if the seedling is a healthy tree with good color, root system, needles and buds. For example, if the seedling height specification is 6 cm. and a seedling is measured at 5 1/2 cm. and is a healthy, well balanced seedling; then it will be considered as "marginally acceptable". If that seedling has poor color, marginal root system or other poor quality characteristics, it will be counted as a cull. There will be no tolerance allowed for seedlings meeting size specifications which are discarded on the floor as a cull. For example, if the seedling height specification is 6 cm. and a seedling is measured at 6 cm or greater, and is a healthy, well balanced seedling, then it is considered acceptable. If that seedling contains other "culling" factors, such a poor color or damage, it will be considered a cull, regardless of size.