I. Application of
General Certification Standards
A.
The General Certification Standards are basic and together with the
following specific standards constitute the certification standards for
turfgrass.
B.
The terms turf, sod, sprigs, plugs, etc. are
defined as vegetatively propagated planting materials. They may replace the
word seed used in the general standards. For purposes of these
standards, the term sod will be used to designate the various
vegetatively propagated planting materials.
C.
The General Standards are modified as follows:
1.
Foundation Sod may be planted to produce Registered Sod or Certified
Sod.
2.
Registered Sod may be planted to produce Certified Sod.
3.
For Certified Sod produced from seeded types, only Foundation seed may
be used to produce Certified Sod. After
removal of the sod crop the field will be re-established from seed and treated
as a new field.
4.
Life of Stand: The life of the stand for vegetatively propagated stands
will continue as long as the varietal and mechanical purity for the class is
maintained unless a shortened life is stipulated by the breeder at the time of
varietal release. The stand life of sod produced from seeded turf types shall
be limited to one lifting of the sod.
II.
Planting Stock Standards
|
Pure living sprigs
(minimum by count)
.90.0% Other living plants
(maximum by count)
....1.0% Total objectionable
weeds (maximum) Ή
None |
1 Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) and
nutgrass (Cyperus rotundus).
III. Land Requirements
A.
A field to be eligible for the production of Foundation planting stock
must have been free of other strains of the same species and perennial grass
species for two consecutive years preceding the year that it is to be planted.
B.
A field to be eligible for the production of certified (all classes)
planting stock must have been thoroughly inspected at a time prior to
planting, when objectionable plants can be determined, and must have been
found to be free of noxious weeds and other strains of the same species.
Further, the field being inspected must not have been tilled or
otherwise molested prior to the inspection in such a way as to obscure
objectionable plants.
C.
A field producing certified sod from foundation seeded type varieties
may be replanted in the current crop year and/or consecutive years if it is
planted to the same variety and after eradication of the previous crop (same
variety).
IV. Field Inspection
A.
Handling the
crop after planting and prior to inspection:
A field must be rogued and/or
sprayed as needed to remove (1) other varieties, (2) other grasses, (3)
objectionable and noxious weeds, and (4) common weeds in excess of agency
standards.
B.
Number of inspections:
1.
Pre-plant See II B.
2.
Foundation, Registered, Certified.
a.
A minimum of two field inspections per year required when sod is to be
harvested. First inspection should be 4-6 weeks after planting.
b.
A field inspection prior to each harvest when seed is to be harvested.
c.
One annual field inspection for maintenance of purity when no certified
crop is harvested (May or October).
V. Field Standards
A.
General
1.
Unit of Certification
A field or a portion of a field may be certified.
2.
Isolation requirements:
a.
Plantings of vegetatively propagated turf grasses and seeded type turf
grasses for the production of sod must be isolated from any other variety and
other perennial grasses by an artificial barrier and/or strip at least six (6)
feet wide to prevent mixing during the growing season and harvesting
operation.
b.
Plantings of turf grasses where seed is to be harvested shall meet
isolation requirements of Grass Seed Certification Standards.
B.
Specific Requirements
|
Factor |
Maximum permitted in each class |
||
|
Foundation |
Registered |
Certified |
|
|
*Other Varieties |
1
per acre |
2
per acre |
5
per acre |
|
**Other
Crops |
None |
None |
None |
|
Noxious/Objectionable Weeds |
None |
None |
None |
|
Other
living plants (max per acre) |
100 |
200 |
400 |
*Other varieties shall consist of all other
varieties of the kind being produced.
**Other crops shall consist of all other kinds
and varieties of perennial grasses.
Should other varieties, other crops and or
noxious weeds be found in excess of standard during field inspections
roguing and eradication by spot spraying will be permitted to bring turf in
line with standards.
VI. Sod Standards
*Noxious Weeds
None
**Objectionable Weeds
None
*See General Certification Standards for list of Noxious Weeds
(section XLI O&P).
**Objectionable Weeds: Perennial sedges other than nutsedge (grass)
and Dichrondra spp. and
Dioda spp.
1.
An official
certificate or tag must accompany each shipment of certified sprigs, sod,
plugs or turf.
2.
An official tag
must be attached to each bag of certified seed.
3.
A complete
record on the amount of certified sod sales will be maintained and made
available to the official certifying agency. The record will include (a) class
of certified sod sold (Foundation, Registered or Certified), (b) kind and
variety, (c) field number, (d) date of harvest, (e) amount of sod shipped
(square feet, cubic feet, bushels, etc).
4.
Records
required for Grass Seed Certification Standards will also apply for
these turfgrass standards.
Information
and Fees for Turfgrass Inspections
1.
Required Inspections (see standards for details)
A.
Normal
Certification
1.
Preplant
One required before planting.
2.
Annual Two
per year required when sod is harvested. One before each harvest when seed is
harvested.
3.
Maintenance of
Purity One per year required when sod or seed is not harvested.
B.
Special
Certification Modified standards as agreed upon. These must be equal to or
more stringent than OCIA normal standards.
2.
Dates
A.
The deadline
for filing applications for field inspections is MARCH 1 of each year.
Only one application per year required for each variety/certification
class/land section combination. An application cannot contain more than one
variety, one certification class and fields within more than one section.
B.
Preferred
inspection dated
1.
Preplant
October in year prior to planting.
2.
Annual May,
October.
3.
Maintenance of
purity July.
3.
Mileage
A.
No mileage will
be charged when applications are submitted prior to MARCH 1.
B.
A round-trip
fee at the current IRS rate per mile will be charged when applications are
late.
4.
Annual
Application Fee (per applicant)
A.
$1000.00/year
for normal certification
B.
$2000.00/year
for special certification
5.
Inspection Fees
(each inspection/each field)
A.
Normal
Certification Fee - $20.00/acre of part of acre up to 20 acres then
$10.00/acre over 20.
6.
Special
Certification Inspection fees are same as for normal certification
7.
Fees for
additional requirements will be agreed upon prior to acceptance of modified
standards.