4.5.305    STANDARD RANGE OF TOLERANCES FOR NOXIOUS WEED SEEDS

(1)  The tolerance for noxious weed seeds in noxious weed seed free forage is zero for the weeds defined in 7-22-2101(7)  (a)  (i)  , MCA.

(a)  For field forage this means that an agent found no noxious weed plants with viable weed seeds present in the field unit at the time of inspection; or that an agent found no noxious weed plants capable of producing viable weed seeds present in the field unit at the time of inspection when following the standard inspection procedures.

(b)  For pellets this means that the pellets are free of viable noxious weed seeds or the pellets are greater than 99% free of viable noxious weed seeds.

(c)  For cubes and related materials this means that the field forage used to produce the cubes or related materials meet the standards expressed in (1)  (a)  above.

(d)  For grain concentrates cleaned and sampled by a department-approved process, this means presence of noxious weed seeds was not detected.

(2)  For purposes of these rules, the department's certification represents the condition of the field forage at the time of certification. Further cautionary restrictions with respect to pelleting, cubing or related processes, storage and transportation are imposed in these rules to help preserve that certification. However, the rules do not intend or provide for any further visual or other inspection of the certified forage after the point of initial certification, other than that which may occur as a result of enforcement or other related activity.

History: 80-7-909, MCA; IMP, 80-7-903, 80-7-905, MCA; NEW, 1996 MAR p. 1361, Eff. 5/24/96; AMD, 2004 MAR p. 311, Eff. 2/13/04.