NAISMA 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.
The benefit to you is that Certified forage products can be fed in protected National lands without the risk of spreading unwanted noxious weeds, which squeeze out other naturally occurring vegetation. Certified Noxious Weed Free products are required by Federal and State authorities in protected areas. Each states requirement on Noxious Weed Free Forage differs, so please check with your state's Department of Agriculture for specific details.
Certification Process:
- Producers contact their local Department of Agriculture inspector prior to the forage harvest.
- A certified inspector checks the forage for noxious weeds; once the field is inspected it must be harvested within 10 days.
- The inspector files the “Certificate of Inspection” with the State Department of Agriculture. Once the certificate has been registered, the forage can then be labeled according to State labeling requirements. Standlee compressed bales will have a yellow band with the letters NWFFS (Noxious Weed Free Forage Straw) and bagged products will have the Idaho State Department of Agriculture logo and certification number on the lower center of the front of the bag.
- Forage inspections have zero tolerance for State identified noxious 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.
Standlee has several of its fields inspected yearly and certified to be free of noxious weeds by the State of Idaho Department of Agriculture. Select Standlee Premium Western Forage® products are Certified Noxious Weed Free in compliance with the NAISMA program. Standlee Premium Western Forage® certified bagged products include Alfalfa Cubes and Timothy Grass Pellets. Standlee also has certified compressed bales of Alfalfa, Timothy Grass and Straw, as well as certified Grab & Go® compressed bales of Alfalfa and Straw. Is Your Forage Forest Friendly?
