WSR 06-15-139

PERMANENT RULES

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


[ Filed July 19, 2006, 11:25 a.m. , effective August 19, 2006 ]


     Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

     Purpose: This rule-making order requires that all seed lots of blue fescue under the seed certification program be subjected to an "ammonia test" in order to determine if a lot is contaminated with another visually indistinguishable Festuca species. This will subject blue fescue to the same seed-testing standards of other fine-leaved fescues in relation to the seed certification standards.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 16-302-385.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 15.49.310.

     Other Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 06-11-048 on May 23, 2006.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: July 19, 2006.

Robert W. Gore

for Valoria Loveland

Director

OTS-8730.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-08-044, filed 3/31/04, effective 5/1/04)

WAC 16-302-385   Grass seed standards for certification.   The seed standards for grass shall be as follows:


SEED STANDARDS

CROP AND TYPE OF

REPRODUCTION AS PER

WAC 16-302-330

MINIMUM % GERM (d)(n) MINIMUM % PURE MAXIMUM % INERT MAXIMUM % WEEDS (b) MAXIMUM % OTHER CROPS MAXIMUM SEEDS OF OTHER CROP GRASS SPECIES
FNDT. REG. CERT. FNDT. REG. CERT. FNDT. REG. CERT. FNDT. REG. CERT. FNDT. (i) REG. (i) CERT. (a) FNDT. SEEDS/

LB.

REG. SEEDS/

LB.

CERT. %
BLUEGRASS

Big    

Canby         

Kentucky    

Canada, Upland

(A)

(A)

(A)

(A)

70

70

80

80

70

70

80

80

90

90

97

96

90

90

97

92

10

10

3

4

10

10

3

8

.05

.05

.05

.05

.3

.3

.3

.3

.1

.1

.1

.1

.5

.5

.5

.5

45 /lb.

45 /lb.

45 /lb.

45 /lb.

454 /lb.

454 /lb.

454 /lb.

907 /lb.

.25

.25

.25

.25

BROMEGRASS

Smooth & Meadow

Mountain & Sweet

(C) (C)

80

85

85

85

95

95

95

95

5

5

5

5

.05

.3

.3 (c)

.3 (c)

.1

.1

.5

1.0

9 /lb.

9 /lb.

91 /lb.

91 /lb.

.25

.25

DEERTONGUE (C) 50 50 97 95 3 5 .50 .5 (c) 1.0 1.0 1%
FESCUE

Tall & Meadow

Blue, Hard &

Sheep (m)

Turf Type (o)

Reclamation/Range

Type

Chewings Red,

Idaho and other

Fescue

(C)

(C)

(C)

80

80

80

80

85

85

85

90

95

95

95

95

97

97

92

97

5

5

5

5

3

3

8

3

.03

.03

.03

.03

.3 (c)

.3 (c)

.3 (c)

.3 (c)

.1

.1

.1

.1

.5

.5

.5

.5

18 /lb.

9 /lb.

9 /lb.

9 /lb.

91 /lb.

45 /lb.

45 /lb.

45 /lb.

.25

.25

.25

.25

ORCHARDGRASS (C) 80 85

80 for

85

penlate

90

& latar

15

10 .03 .3 (c) .1 .5 27 /lb. 91/lb. .25
RYEGRASS

Pennfine

(C)

85

80

90 (l)

85

96 (k)

96 (k)

97 (k)

97 (k)

4

4

3

3

.1

.1

.3 (c)

.3 (c)

.1

.1

.5

.5

9 /lb.

9 /lb.

45 /lb.

45 /lb.

.25

.25

TIMOTHY 80 85 97 97 3 3 .1 .3 .1 .5 9 /lb. 45 /lb. .25
WHEATGRASS (n)

Beardless

Bluebunch

Intermediate, Tall

Pubescent

Western, R/S

Streambank,

Thickspike

Slender

Crested & Siberian

(C)

(C) (C) (C)

(C)

(S)

(C)

80

80

80

80

80

80

80

85

85

85

85

85

85

85

90

90

95

95

90

90

90

90

90

95

95

90

95

95

10

10

5

5

10

10

10

10

10

5

5

10

5

5

.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

.3 (c)

.3 (c)

.3 (c)

.3 (c)

.3 (c)

.3 (c)

.3 (c)

.1 (e)

.1 (e)

.1 (e)

.1 (e)

.1 (e)

.1 (e)

.1 (e)

.5 (e)

.5 (e)

.5 (e)

.5 (e)

.5 (e)(p)

.5 (e)

.5 (e)

9 /lb.

9 /lb.

9 /lb.

9 /lb.

9 /lb.

9 /lb.

9 /lb.

45 /lb.

45 /lb.

45 /lb.

45 /lb.

45 /lb.

45 /lb.

45 /lb.

.25

.25

.25

.25

.25(p)

.25

.25

INDIAN

RICEGRASS

(S)

80 (j)

80 (j)

95

90

5

10

.3

.5

.5

1.0

9 /lb.

45 /lb.

.25

PUCCINELLIA (n)

distans

(C)

80

80

90

95

5

5

.3

.5

.5

1.0

45 /lb.

454 /lb.

.25

WILDRYE (n) (C) 80 80 90 90 10 10 .1 .3 (c) .1 .5 9 /lb. 45 /lb. .25
BENTGRASS (C) 85 85 98 98 2 2 .3 .4 (f) (g) .2 .6 (h)
REDTOP (C) 80 80 92 92 8 8 .3 .5 (f) .5 .2
Ann.

CANARYGRASS

GREEN (n)

NEEDLEGRASS

SWITCHGRASS

(C)

(C)

(C)

85

80

60

85

80

60

99

80

90

99

80

90

1

20

10

1

20

10

.1

.1

.5

.3

.3 (c)

1.5

1/lb.

.1

.1

3/lb.

.5

.25

-

-

-


     The following (a) - (o) are notes to the above table.

(a) Not to exceed .25% other grass species for blue tag seed.
(b) Grass seed must not contain more than 45/lb. for registered seed 91/lb. for certified seed, singly or collectively, of objectionable weed seeds. (See (f) of this subsection for certified bentgrass and redtop exemption.) Grass seed shall be free of the seed of prohibited noxious weeds.
(c) A tolerance of 0.5% may be allowed for samples containing weedy bromus spp provided the total of all other weed seeds does not exceed 0.3%.
(d) A standard tetrazolium (two hundred seed) test may be used in lieu of germination test. NOTE: State and federal seed laws require seed be labeled on a germination test.
(e) A tolerance of 0.8% may be allowed in registered and certified wheatgrass containing small grain seed provided the total of all other crop seed does not exceed 0.1% for registered class and 0.5% for certified class.
(f) Certified seed must not contain over 907 seeds per pound, singly or collectively, of the following weeds: Plantago spp., Big Mouse-ear Chickweed, Yarrow, Spotted Cat's Ear, and Dandelion.
(g) A maximum of .50% weed seed may be allowed in certified bentgrass containing silver hairgrass provided the total of all other weed seed does not exceed .40%.
(h) 1.50% other fine bentgrasses and .50% redtop may be allowed in certified bentgrass containing a minimum of 98.00% total bentgrass.
(i) A crop exam is required for all registered and foundation class grass seeds.
(j) Or 70% by Tz test.
(k) Maximum other ryegrass allowed as determined by fluorescence test: Foundation 0.1%, registered 1%, certified 2% for annual and 3% for perennial containing a minimum of 97% total ryegrass. Acceptable fluorescence levels for specific varieties available upon request.
(l) 85% minimum germination allowed on ryegrass varieties as designated by the breeder or variety owner. See list maintained by the seed program.
(m) An ammonia test is required on hard, blue and sheep fescue to determine presence of other Fescue sp. Other fine-leaved fescue found in the ammonia test will be included with other crop not other grass species.
(n) Total viability as allowed in WAC 16-302-170 can be substituted for germination percentage.
(o) Turf type fescues 97% pure seed. Range/reclamation types 92% pure seed. Varietal designation of turf or range/reclamation types are to be made by the breeder or variety owner. If no designation is made, the variety will be considered a turf type.
(p) 10% slender wheatgrass is allowed in the certified class of Critana, provided that the total of all other grass spp. does not exceed .25% and total other crop, including all other grass spp. does not exceed .50%.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.49.310, 15.49.370(3) and chapter 34.05 RCW. 04-08-044, § 16-302-385, filed 3/31/04, effective 5/1/04. Statutory Authority: Chapters 15.49 and 34.05 RCW. 03-18-072, § 16-302-385, filed 8/29/03, effective 9/29/03; 02-12-060, § 16-302-385, filed 5/30/02, effective 6/30/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 15.49.005, 15.49.081, 15.49.310, 15.49.370(3) and chapter 17.24 RCW. 00-24-077, § 16-302-385, filed 12/4/00, effective 1/4/01.]

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