8 CCR 1206-3-2.00 - PROCEDURES FOR CERTIFICATION OF WEED FREE CROPS

a. A request for certification of forage crops shall be made to the Department. Said request may be made by phone or in writing.

b. An inspection request form shall be completed by the producer prior to inspection.

c. The Department shall arrange for an inspector.

d. The forage crop shall be inspected in the field(s) of origin. The field shall include the surrounding ditches, fence rows, roads, easements, rights of way, or buffer zones surrounding the field.

e. Forage which contains any weed(s) designated on the regional list may be certified if the following requirements are met:

1. The field upon which the forage was produced has been treated to prevent seed formation prior to bud stage or boot stage to the degree that there is no danger of dissemination of the seed or any injurious portion thereof from such weeds; and

2. Any propagative plant parts including weed seed, live roots, rhizomes, or stolons of the weeds are not present in the forage to be harvested.

f. A certificate of inspection shall be completed for each field/lot. The certificate of inspection shall document whether the requirements stated in Section 2.00 , immediately above, have been met based upon a reasonable and prudent visual inspection.

2.01 INSPECTION PROCEDURES

a. There shall be a minimum of two entry points per field.

b. There shall be a minimum of one entry point per each 10 acres.

c. Each point of entry shall be at least 150 feet into the field, and each additional 150 feet traveled shall constitute an entry point. Travel shall be uninterrupted, proceeding through the field being inspected.

d. The entire field border shall be walked or driven.

e. Fields shall be inspected within 10 days prior to harvest.

g. An inspector may not inspect fields of which said inspector has ownership or financial interest.

2.02 PROCEDURES FOR TRACKING AND IDENTIFYING CERTIFIED FORAGE

a. The producer shall inform the Colorado Department of Agriculture of the bale count and estimated total weight of the forage harvested from each inspected field.

b. Repealed.

c. If required by the purchaser or the producer, or if the forage is destined to be processed into cubes or pellets, a transit document, whether the original or a photocopy thereof, shall accompany all inspected forage offered for sale or sold. The transit document shall contain the inspection certificate number, the producer's name, and the quantity purchased in number of bales and estimated weight. If the forage is to be processed into cubes or pellets, the transit certificate shall also contain the name, address and phone number of the processor. The purchaser, or the processor of cubes or pellets, shall complete the transit document and return it to the Department.

d. All inspected forage bales shall be identified by a marking system, whether colored twine or marked wire.

e. Processors of bagged and bulk pellets and cubes shall comply with the following:

(1) All bags of pellets or cubes from certified forage shall have sewn into the bag a tag which is provided by the Department, identifying it as being made from certified forage. The processor may obtain the tags by delivering to the Department transit certificates, as required in Subsection 2.02.c above.

(2) All bulk sales of pellets or cubes from certified forage shall be accompanied by the transit certificate(s). As bulk sales of pellets or cubes are made, the processor shall record on an inventory sheet when the sale occurred and what quantities were sold. When inventory sheets are completed, or at least annually, the original documents shall be sent to the Department.

(3) The processor shall collect and maintain all twine or marked wire, as described in Subsection 2.02.d above, from all certified forage utilized to process cubes or pellets. The twine and wire shall be maintained by the processor for a maximum of one year from the date of processing, or such lesser time as directed by the Department. At the end of one year from the date of processing, if there is no outstanding request by the Department to inspect the twine or wire, the processor may dispose of the collected twine and wire.

Notes

8 CCR 1206-3-2.00