To the hay industry, “Certified” means that a forage product is free of any noxious weeds. A number of certified noxious weed-seed-free hay programs are based on weed-free forage standards set by the North American Weed Management Association. NAWMA provides a list of noxious weeds found in North America and many states start with that list and add other noxious weeds found in their states as qualifying factors. Many states accept these minimum standards.
Certification Process:
• Producers contact their area representative prior to forage harvest
• A certified representative checks the forage, which must be harvested within 10 days of inspection.
• The representative files a “Certificate of Inspection”. The forage then can be marked with the special bale banding or the Idaho Department of Agriculture’s logo and the name NWFFS.
• Forage inspections have zero tolerance for listed weed species.
The weed free forage program was initiated to meet the demand for weed free products and prevent the spread of invasive plant species throughout North America. Certain state and federal government agencies have forage restrictions on where noxious weed free forages are required.
Purchasing noxious weed free products helps prevent the spread of noxious weeds. It helps protect natural resources and natural pristine areas. Each states requirement on Noxious Weed Free Forage differs, so please check with your states Department of Agriculture for specific details.
The Standlee Hay Company has its fields inspected yearly and certified to be free of any noxious weeds. All of Standlee Hay Company’s bagged forage products are certified noxious weed free through the state of Idaho and in compliance with the North American Weed Free program and NAWMA.
To ensure your Standlee Hay product is certified noxious weed free, make sure the bands on the bales of hay are yellow with the Idaho Department of Agriculture Logo and the letters NWFFS. Our bagged products have the Idaho Department of Agriculture logo in the upper left hand corner. This is the only labeling required when heading to areas restricted to use noxious weed free forage or straw.
Certified Noxious Weed Free does not mean that the forage is weed free, it means that it is free of noxious weeds.