Seed Certification Standards in California WILD RICE Zizania sp. GENERAL STANDARDS -- The standards on this sheet are in part condensed and apply to wild rice. 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. 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 one (1) generation. NOTE: Growers must inspect all planting equipment including aircraft, loaders, etc., prior to planting. A statement that this inspection was completed must accompany the application. APPLICATION -- Application forms are available at the county Farm Advisor's office or from CCIA. 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. ˆˆ TOP OF PAGE ˆˆ FIELD ELIGIBILITY -- Fields for certification must not have grown wild rice for the previous two years or must not have grown wild rice the previous year, using the following procedure: 1. Cultivate field after harvest.
2. Flood field in spring of first year.
3. Dry field in summer of first year and cultivate.
4. Cultivate field again in fall.
5. Flood field in spring of second year.
6. Dry up field in May of second year, cultivate and plant to certified seed. ISOLATION --. Fields or portions of fields producing wild rice must be isolated from all other wild rice, including uncertified fields of the same variety, by a distance of at least 660’ for the Certified class and 1320’ for the Foundation and Registered classes. NOTE: All fields must be clearly marked by red, or equally vivid, colored flags at least three (3) feet square. These flags must be placed at each corner of the field and at intervals of not more than 1/4 mile on each side of the field prior to planting, and in any case before APRIL 15. ˆˆ TOP OF PAGE ˆˆ FIELD INSPECTION -- Each field intended for certification must be inspected prior to harvest. At least one inspection shall be made usually about the time the grain is maturing and, in some cases, earlier and later inspections may be made. Off-types -- Every field should be rogued to remove any plants of another crop or variety. Varieties cannot always be differentiated at field inspection. When differences can be distinguished, the maximum mixture of other varieties permitted is 1:50. Weeds --Fields must be free of any prohibited noxious weeds. Restricted noxious weeds, and common weeds difficult to separate must be controlled. No red rice is permitted. 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. ˆˆ TOP OF PAGE ˆˆ 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 Permit or Interstate Transfer 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 Wild Rice is one and one half (1 1/2) 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: ˆˆ TOP OF PAGE ˆˆ Pure Seed | N.S. | Inert Matter | N.S. | Other Crop Seed and Other Varieties* | 0.2% | Weed Seed | N.S. | Red Rice | None | Noxious Weed Seed | None | Germination | N.S. | N.S. - no standards 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. Wild Rice Sept, 2003 ˆˆ TOP OF PAGE ˆˆ | 