The goal of the North American Weed Free Forage (NAWFF) Program is to produce a marketable weed free forage and or mulch product that will limit the spread of noxious weeds. The minimum requirements set forth by the NAWFF Program are: (All NAWFF standards can be found on the internet at www.nawma.org or www.fcwp.org)
- Forage shall be free of the 54 weed species identified in the North American Noxious Weed List and those weeds declared noxious within the State/ Province of origin.
- Forage shall be inspected in the State/Province of origin by proper officials or authority.
- Forage shall also be inspected in the field of origin (field shall include surrounding ditches, fence rows, stack yards, roads, easements, rights-of-way, or a buffer zone surrounding the field).
- Field shall be inspected prior to cutting or harvesting by the proper officials or authority.
- Forage which contains any noxious weeds, or undesirable plant species, as identified in the North American Noxious Weed List, may be certified if the following requirements are met:
- Field upon which the forage was produced was treated to prevent seed formation or seed ripening to the degree that there is no danger of dissemination of the seed, or any injurious portion thereof from such noxious weeds, or undesirable plant species, or the propagating parts of the plants are not capable of producing a new plant.
- Noxious weeds or undesirable plant species were treated not later than rosette to bud stage or boot stage for grass species classified as weeds, prior to cutting or harvesting.
- Treatment method can include but is not limited to: (a) burning, (b) mowing, cutting or rouging, (c) mechanical methods or (d) chemicals.
- An inspection certificate shall document that the above requirements have been met based on a reasonable and prudent visual inspection as outlined in the North American Field Inspection Standards.
- Interstate shipment of forage shall be accompanied by an original transit certificate issued by proper officials or authority in the State/Province of origin. Shipments into restricted areas not accompanied by the proper transit certificate may be rejected.
- Pellets and pellet milled feeds may be certified in the field or may be certified based on official testing by a State/Province seed lab for weed seed viability. Proof of results shall be submitted to the State/Province Department of Agriculture.
- Using a transit certificate or certification markings for forage from fields other than the one specified shall constitute a violation of the North American Weed Free Forage Standards and local authorities may take actions.
- Disclaimer: North American Weed Free Forage Certification Standards may not meet the forage quality standards adopted by the Hay Marketing Task Force of the American Forage and Grassland Council.
In addition to the above minimum North American Weed Free Forage (NAWFF) standards, Fremont County Weed and Pest Control District will require that all participating producers must provide the following:
- A written and active weed control program for the producer’s designated fields.
- A written list from each participating producer describing each field they wish to have inspected for certification including:
- The producer’s designated identification name or number of field.
- The acreage of the field.
- Description of the type of forage, e.g., hay, straw, etc.
- 48-hour prior notification for scheduling of inspections prior to cutting or harvest.
- The written weed control plan and field descriptions hand delivered or mailed to the Fremont County Weed and Pest Office no later than June 1, 2010, and May 1 of the following participating growing seasons.
Fremont County Weed and Pest Control District
Attn: Bruce Hagstrom
1446 Cowboy Lane
Riverton, WY 82501
Developing a Weed Control Program (PDF)
2010 Weed-Free Forage Requirements (PDF)
Fremont County Weed and Pest can provide aerial photos of producer’s properties for weed control plans and field designations, also copies of “Developing a Weed Control Plan” are available at the Riverton office. If you need assistance with the weed control plan, please feel free to call me at 307-856-2192 or 307-850-7287.