(a) Filing application.

1. (1)

   1. (A) Growers desiring to produce certified seed sweet potatoes must file application on forms furnished by the State Plant Board, along with the necessary fees, by June 15 of each year.
   2. (B) Applications for the certification of sweet potato plants must be filed at least thirty (30) days prior to the bedding of the seed, along with the necessary fees.
2. (2) Application forms will be furnished for this purpose.

3. (3) Applicants must agree to:

   1. (A) Get prior approval of bedding sites;
   2. (B) Bed only Arkansas certified seed; and
   3. (C) Sell only Arkansas certified plants.

(b) Inspections.

1. (1)

   1. (A) Fields for the production of certified seed shall be inspected twice during the growing season by board inspectors to determine freedom from:

(i) Diseases;

1. (ii) Insects; and

   1. (iii) Noxious weeds.
   2. (B) To qualify, fields must be in a reasonably good state of cultivation and free enough from weeds and grass so that a complete observation of the sweet potatoes can be made at each inspection.
   3. (C) Also, fields must be apparently free of disease, insects, and noxious weeds as declared in 2 CAR § 50-101 that might be disseminated with the seed.
2. (2) At least one (1) or more inspections of plant beds shall be made during the selling season, and to qualify plants must be reasonably free of diseases, insects, and noxious weeds as declared in 2 CAR § 50-101, that may be disseminated with the plants.

3. (3)

   1. (A) At least one (1) storage or bin inspection shall be made on seed potatoes for certification.
   2. (B) Potatoes shall be so stored that they are accessible for a complete inspection, and no chance of contamination by other potatoes.

   3. (C) If potatoes are found to be free of disease and insects and have qualified in other respects they are eligible for certifications.

      1. (c) Grade standards.
4. (1) Seed sweet potatoes which are sold as certified shall meet the following standards.

5. (2) They must be:

   1. (A) Smooth, free from:

      1. (i) Dirt;
      2. (ii) Breaks;
      3. (iii) Cracks;
      4. (iv) Serious crooks;
      5. (v) Bruises;
      6. (vi) Decay;
      7. (vii) Decayed spots;
      8. (viii) Disease sign; and
      9. (ix) Insect damage or signs;
   2. (B) From one inch (1”) to three and one-half inches (3 1/2”) in diameter, and at least three inches (3”) and not over nine inches (9”) long, and not over five percent (5%) may be round, or oval shaped, unless the buyer specifies "field run" in which case any potatoes over one-half inch (1/2”) in diameter may be included; and

   3. (C) Packed in new containers.

      1. (d) (d) Records. Applicants shall keep a complete set of records in regard to sales and, upon request, records shall be made available to the board.