Seed Certification Standards in California

WHITECLOVER

Trifolium repens

GENERAL STANDARDS -- The standards on this sheet are in part condensed and apply to white clover. For greater detail and additional provisions, see the General Standards.

PLANTING STOCK -- In most varieties Breeder seed must be planted to produce Foundation seed, Foundation seed must be planted to produce Registered seed, and Registered seed must be planted to produce Certified seed. In varieties where there is no Registered class, Foundation seed must be planted to produce Certified seed.

APPLICATION -- Application forms are available at the county Farm Advisor's office. Applications should be filled out and submitted to the Farm Advisor's office or directly to the CCIA office as soon as possible after planting and no later than eight (8) weeks after planting. A renewal application form should be used after the first year and should be submitted not later than April 1. Application must be made each year, whether seed production is intended that year or not, if certification is apt to be desired in a later year.

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FIELD ELIGIBILITY -- Foundation seed can only be produced on land on which no white clover has been grown. The reproduction of Registered seed must be on land which has not been seeded to or grown white clover for the previous five (5) years. Certified seed can only be produced on land which no white clover has been grown or seeded the previous two (2) years. During any period out of white clover every effort must be made to encourage germination of clover seed left in the soil and destroy the resulting volunteer plants. There can be no prohibited noxious weeds in the field. All fields or portions of fields intended for certification must have a definite boundary such as a fence, ditch, roadway, levee, or barren strip at least ten (10) feet wide.

ISOLATION -- Fields or portions of fields for certification must be isolated from blossoming white clover other than the same variety as follows: Foundation -- 900 feet; Registered -- 450 feet; Certified -- 165 feet. If for isolation reasons a portion of a field cannot be certified, there must be a definite, clearly visible boundary, such as a fence or barren strip, setting off that portion.

AGE OF STAND -- Foundation or Registered seed production is limited to stands not exceeding two (2) years of age. These fields can then be reclassified to the next lower class for the next two (2) years. A stand exceeding four (4) years of age will not be eligible to produce any class of certified seed. Production of the Certified class of seed is limited to stands not exceeding four (4) years of age. If, during that period, reseeding is necessary to maintain stands, it must be done with Registered or Foundation seed.

FIELD INSPECTION -- Each field intended for certification must be inspected prior to harvest. At least one inspection shall be made preferably during the mid-bloom stage and, in some cases, earlier and later inspections may be made.

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Off-types -- Every field should be rogued to remove any plants of another crop or variety, including volunteers. Varieties cannot always be differentiated at field inspection. When differences can be distinguished, the maximum mixture of other varieties, off-types and inseparable other crops permitted is as follows:

Inseparable other clover species (and Trefoil), may not exceed two (2) plants per 100.

Weeds --Fields must be free of any prohibited noxious weeds. Restricted noxious weeds, and common weeds difficult to separate must be controlled.

Fields may be refused certification due to unsatisfactory appearance caused by weeds, poor growth, poor stand, disease, insect damage, and any other condition which prevents accurate inspection or creates doubt as to identity of the variety.

A field inspection report will be sent to the applicant. If the field is approved, a certification number will be assigned. This number must be on all containers of seed before they leave the field. It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure his field has been inspected before it is harvested.

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HARVESTING -- Harvesting is subject to the supervision of the County Agricultural Commissioner who must be contacted prior to harvest. Any seed moved out of the county for conditioning must be accompanied by an Intercounty or Interstate Permit issued by the Commissioner.

CONDITIONING AND SAMPLING -- Conditioning of seed for certification may be done only in facilities approved for this purpose by the California Crop Improvement Association. It is the responsibility of the applicant to determine if the plant is eligible before delivering seed for conditioning. Conditioning, sampling, reconditioning, and blending must be supervised by the County Agricultural Commissioner. Conditioning equipment must be free from contaminating seed to the satisfaction of the supervising inspector.

SEED INSPECTION - All seed must be sampled and tested after conditioning and the seed lot must meet or exceed seed certification standards for that crop. A seed lab using the Association of Official Seed Analyst “Rules for Testing” must test the sample. A Registered Seed Technologist must sign each lab analysis. In addition to AOSA rules, specific seed testing may be required to meet CCIA seed certification standards.

The sample size for a lot of certified White Clover is one (1) pound. In some instances, varietal identity cannot be determined by visual seed inspections. Seed must be well screened and graded, bright in color, of good appearance and meet the following standards:

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FINAL CERTIFICATION AND TAGGING -- If the seed sample meets all standards a seed inspection report is issued. Before certification is complete, however, each container must have an official tag or label attached. Certified seed may be sold to a grower in bulk without tagging if a properly filled out Bulk Sale Certificate accompanies the shipment. The tags and Bulk Sale Certificates are issued by the California Crop Improvement Association to the County Agricultural Commissioner who supervises their attachment.

cloverwt Sept 2003

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