Soybean Seed Certification Standards

I.          Land Requirements

Soybeans shall be grown on land on which the previous crop was of another kind, or planted with a class of certified seed of the same variety or with a variety of a contrasting pubescence or hilum color.

II.         Field Inspection

At least one field inspection shall be made prior to harvest preferably after the leaves have dropped.

III.        Field Standards

A.        General

1.         Unit of Certification

The unit of certification shall be a field, but a portion of a field may be approved provided the discarded portion can be harvested separately and is eliminated from certification.

2.         Isolation

Soybean fields intended for certification shall be separated from any other variety or uncertified field of the same variety by a distance adequate to prevent mechanical mixture.

B.        Specific Requirements

Factor

Maximum permitted in each class

Foundation

Registered

Certified

Other varieties:Variety

1:1000

1:1000

1:500

Objectionable weeds ¹

None

None

None

 1Seeds of which cannot be readily separated from soybeans.

 IV.       Referee Sample

A two-pound sample of the seed as it is offered for sale shall be submitted to the Association for laboratory analysis.

V.        Seed Standards

Factor

Standards for each class

Foundation

Registered

Certified

Pure seed (minimum)

98.00%

98.00%

98.00%

Inert matter (maximum)

2.00%

2.00%

2.00%

Weed seed (maximum)

None

None

3 per lb

Prohibited weeds (maximum)¹

None

None

None

Other kinds (maximum)2

0.10%

0.10%

0.10%

Other varieties (maximum)3

0.10%

0.10%

0.20%

Germination

80.00%

80.00%

80.00%

1See Section XLI P, also, horsenettle (Solanum carolinense) and silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium), moonflower (Calonyction muricatum), balloonvine (Cardiosperm halicacabum), cocklebur (Xanthium spp.), and morningglory (Ipomoea spp.).

2Not to exceed 3 per pound in any class.  Corn or sunflower seed Foundation and Registered – none; Certified – 1 per pound.

3Off-colored beans due to environmental factors shall not be considered other varieties.