WAC 16-302-560   Miscellaneous field and seed inspection standards for buckwheat, chickpea, field pea, lentil, millet, soybean, sorghum, small grain seed certification.  (1) Field inspection standards for buckwheat, chickpea, field pea, lentil, millet, soybean, sorghum, small grain seed entered in the certification program are:

     (a) For field pea and chickpea (garbanzo bean) - when seed crop is in full bloom and at maturity;

     (b) For lentil - when seed crop is in full bloom and at maturity;

     (c) For soybean - when seed crop is in full bloom and/or of mature color;

     (d) For open pollinated sorghum - when seed crop is in full bloom, and optionally again when seed crop begins to show mature color;

     (e) For hybrid sorghum - two inspections during bloom and one inspection after seed begins to show mature color;

     (f) For small grains - when seed crop is fully headed and of mature color;

     (g) For millet - one inspection during bloom and one inspection after seed begins to show mature color; and

     (h) For buckwheat - one inspection when seed crop is in full bloom.

     (2) Any condition or practice which permits or causes contamination of the seed crop, such as failure to prevent seed formation of prohibited noxious weeds, or excess weeds including excessive objectionable or restricted noxious weeds, or mechanical field mixing, is cause for rejection upon inspection. Fields rejected for jointed goatgrass at first inspection are not eligible for reinspection and must remain ineligible for any production of certified classes of small grain seed until a reclamation procedure, as specified in subsection (3) of this section has been completed. Fields rejected for other causes will remain eligible for reinspection.

     (3) The jointed goatgrass reclamation procedure includes the following:

     (a) Each grower must develop a reclamation plan for his/her affected fields. The plan must be based on the most current recommendations of Pacific Northwest scientists and Washington State University cooperative extension as well as good management practices. The plan may include use of certified seed, spring cropping practices, and late tilling and planting. No particular program is specified or endorsed and compliance with a program does not assure eligibility for the production of certified classes of small grain seed. Eligibility is based solely upon results of field inspections as provided in (b) through (e) of this subsection.

     (b) The rehabilitation and inspection program duration is three years for irrigated land and five years for dryland without production of certified small grain seed and the first year of certified seed production thereafter.

     (c) Annual inspections of the affected fields are conducted by the certifying agency during the prescribed rehabilitation period at such time that the jointed goatgrass would be most visible.

     (d) Following the prescribed period of rehabilitation and during the first certified seed production year, a minimum of three field inspections are conducted by the certifying agency.

     (e) If jointed goatgrass is found during any inspection as provided in (c) and (d) of this subsection, the rehabilitation program is determined unsuccessful or the field is declared ineligible and the rehabilitation and inspection program for that field must begin again at year one of the procedure.

     (4) Field run lots of seed of the same variety may be commingled to facilitate storage and conditioning.

     (5) No prohibited noxious weed seeds are permitted upon inspection for seed standards.

     (6) Germination minimum refers to germination when sampled.

     (7) If chemically controllable seed-borne diseases are noted upon inspection for field standards and seed standards for small grains, treatment of seed is required.

     (8) Wild oat, isolated patches and borders must be removed or clearly marked so as to avoid harvesting with the rest of the field. If rejected, a reinspection is necessary to assure clean-up efforts are satisfactory. Spot checks are conducted on fields where heavy patches or contaminated borders were noted. Harvesting these areas with the rest of the field is cause for rejection of the entire field.

     (9) The official laboratory providing seed analysis for the purpose of certification is the department.

     (10) For all fields planted with varieties that contain the CLEARFIELD trait as defined in the variety description, documentation will be required to be submitted with the certification application verifying that the production field meets all production guidelines and was sprayed with the appropriate herbicide. CLEARFIELD is a trait that makes a plant resistant to the Imazamox herbicide.



[Statutory Authority: Chapters 15.49 and 34.05 RCW. 10-08-028, § 16-302-560, filed 3/31/10, effective 5/1/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 15.49.005, 15.49.081, 15.49.310, 15.49.370(3) and chapter 17.24 RCW. 00-24-077, § 16-302-560, filed 12/4/00, effective 1/4/01.]