1. A. LDAF shall issue numbered certified bulk sales certificates or tags when requested to do so by a grower who has met the requirements and standards set forth in this Section. The numbered certified certificates or tags shall accompany each shipment of certified seed or vegetatively propagated material.

2. B. Definitions. The following words and terms when used in this Section, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

   1. Generation 1 (G1)the vegetative increase of tested class G0.
   2. Generation 2 (G2)the seed production or vegetative increase of tested class G1.
   3. Generation 3 (G3)the seed production of tested class G1 or G2.
   4. Tested Germplasmthe progeny of plants whose parentage has been tested and has proven genetic superiority or possess distinctive traits for which the heritability is stable.

3. C. Production Requirements. To be eligible for the production of all certified classes, production ponds and containers/tanks shall be left undisturbed for a minimum of four weeks prior to planting, and found to be free of smooth cordgrass and noxious and objectionable weeds.

   1. 1. Pond Requirements of Vegetatively Propagated Stock

      1. a. Ponds shall be contained by levees.
      2. b. Only one variety shall be grown per pond.
      3. c. Ponds of different varieties must be separated by the minimum isolation distance at all points.
      4. d. Ponds must have individual water supplies and water drainage capabilities for each produced variety.
      5. e. All seed heads shall be routinely removed from plants after flowering begins to ensure viable seed are not produced.
      6. f. Vegetative production ponds of the “certified class” only may be located within natural tidal influenced areas.

   2. 2. Container/Tank Requirements of Vegetatively Propagated Plant Stock

      1. a. Soil used for container/tank production shall:

         1. i. come from an area that has not produced smooth cordgrass for a minimum of one year; and
         2. ii. be free of visible smooth cordgrass rhizomes and stems prior to transplanting.
      2. b. Only one variety shall be grown per container/tank.
      3. c. Different varieties shall be grown in separate tanks and shall have individual water supplies and drainage capabilities.
      4. d. All seed heads shall be routinely removed from plants after flowering begins to ensure viable seed are not produced.

   3. 3. Seed Production Pond Requirements

      1. a. Ponds shall be contained by levees.
      2. b. Ponds containing different varieties must be separated by the minimum isolation distance at all points.

4. D. Grower Inspections

   1. 1. Production ponds, tanks, and containers shall be routinely inspected by the grower to ensure that all requirements of this Section are being met.

5. E. LDAF Inspections. Production ponds and containers/tanks shall be made accessible for inspection by the grower.

   1. 1. Production ponds and containers/tanks shall be inspected by LDAF within four weeks prior to transplanting to ensure production ponds and containers/tanks are free of volunteer smooth cordgrass plants and noxious and objectionable weeds. All ponds and containers/tanks shall be non-flooded at time of pre-plant inspection.
   2. 2. Shall be inspected by LDAF a minimum of once a year, after transplanting, to ensure that all requirements of this Section are being met.
   3. 3. Additional inspections may be performed at the discretion of LDAF at any time without prior notice.

6. F. Field Standards Production Ponds/Containers/Tanks

   Factor	Foundation and Tested G1 Germplasm	Registered and Tested G2 Germplasm	Certified and Tested G3 Germplasm	Seed Production Fields (All Generations)
   Maximum Unit Life (1)	4 years	6 years	Unlimited	5 years
   Land Requirements	1 year	1 year	1 year	1 year
   Isolation:
   Pond Production	20 ft.	20 ft.	20 ft.	1200 ft.
   Tank Production	One variety per tank	One variety per tank	One variety per tank	N/A
   Container Production	Different varieties must be separated and clearly identified	Different varieties must be separated and clearly identified	Different varieties must be separated and clearly identified	N/A
   Plant Variants:
   Visual Inspections	3 plants per 5,400 ft2	5 plants per 5,400 ft2	10 plants per 5,400 ft2	10 plants per 5,400 ft2
   Harmful Diseases (2)	None	None	None	None
   Noxious or Objectionable Weeds (3)	None	None	≤ 5 plants per 5,400 ft2	≤ 5 plants per 5,400 ft2
   Other crops (4)	None	None	≤ 5 plants per 5,400 ft2	≤ 5 plants per 5,400 ft2

   (1) Production unit life from date of transplant. No maximum age for a certified class production unit so long as the unit continues to meet all requirements of this Section.

   (2) Diseases determined in accordance with the Louisiana Ag Experiment Station and LDAF to seriously affect the quality of seed or vegetatively propagated stock

   (3) Including, but not limited to the following weed species: Salvinia spp. (Salvinia), Cyperus spp. (Sedge), Eleocharis spp. (Spike rush), Phragmites australis (Roseau cane), Typha spp. (Cattail)

   (4) Including, but not limited to the following crop species: Spartina patens (Marshhay cordgrass), Spartina cynosuroides (Big cordgrass), Spartina spartinae (Gulf cordgrass), Distichlis spicata (Saltgrass), Schoenoplectus californicus (California bulrush), Paspalum vaginatum (Seashore paspalum)

7. G. Seed Standards

   1. 1. All generations of seed shall contain a pure seed content, excluding coating material, of not less than 90 percent.
   2. 2. All seed packages shall be labeled in such a manner as to meet the minimum seed labeling requirement of the seed law, this Part, and the Federal Seed Act and accompanying rules and regulations.

Authority Note

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 3:1433.

Historical Note

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Office of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Seed Commission, LR 37:2983 (October 2011), LR 39:1761 (July 2013), repromulgated by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Office of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Chemistry and Seed Commission, LR 39:2720 (October 2013), amended LR 40:753 (April 2014), LR 41:912 (May 2015).