(1) The official blue tag shall be used to designate seed lots that are the equivalent of the U.S. No. 1 grade with the following exceptions:
- (a) size -- the minimum size shall be 1 1/2 ounces and the maximum size shall be 12 ounces.
- (b) combined total length of growth cracks may extend two-thirds length of tuber and/or the depth of one-fourth the diameter of the tuber.
- (c) cuts and bruises shall be scored when removal causes loss of more than 10% of the total weight of a tuber.
- (d) air cracks shall be scored only if the depth exceeds 1/2 inch.
- (e) sunburn (greening), hollow heart, hollow heart with discoloration, light brown discoloration or brown center shall be permissible.
- (f) stem-end discoloration -- serious discoloration extending beyond a depth of 1/2 inch shall be scored unless verified by a department approved pathologist as not being a disease symptom.
- (g) immaturity, as indicated by feathering of skin, shall not disqualify provided there is no undue loss of weight from wilting or shriveling of tubers.
- (h) sprouts - - not more than 10% of the lot may have sprouts more than 3/4 inch in length. Individual sprouts or clusters shall not be scored on appearance or length if within the 10% tolerance.
- (i) oversized, undersized, and sprouts shall be permissible provided the excess tolerance is indicated on the official grade certificate.
- (j) freezing injury other than the condition of being frozen or affected by soft rot or wet breakdown shall be scored when removal of the affected area causes a loss of more than 10% of the total weight of the tuber. The tolerance is 3% or less for freezing injury.
- (k) the tolerance is 1% or less for potatoes which are affected by late blight tuber rot, soft rot or wet breakdown.
Authorizing statute(s): 80-3-311, MCA
Implementing statute(s): 80-3-311, 80-3-312, MCA
History: NEW, 1985 MAR p. 1146, Eff. 8/16/85; AMD, 1986 MAR p. 245, Eff. 2/28/86; AMD, 1987 MAR p. 368, Eff. 4/17/87; AMD, 1988 MAR p. 2562, Eff. 12/9/88; AMD, 1999 MAR p. 1505, Eff. 7/2/99; AMD, 2011 MAR p. 232, Eff. 2/25/11; AMD, 2024 MAR p. 128, Eff. 1/27/24.