Pennsylvania Administrative Code

§ 113.3. Responsibility and applicability. (a) The Department will act as the official seed certifying agency in this Commonwealth. (b) In conducting the seed certification program, the Department and the Bureau of Plant Industry will cooperate with the Pennsylvania State Univers…

INSPECTIONS § 113.31. Handling of crop prior to inspection. (a) With respect to seed crops other than Prenuclear seed potatoes, the field shall be the unit for inspection and may not be divided for the purpose of inspection unless approved by the inspector. With respect to Prenuc…

§ 113.32. Procedure for inspections. (a) Field inspections. (1) Field inspections shall be made prior to harvest by trained inspectors. (2) An applicant may withdraw a part or all of his acreage prior to inspection but if notice of withdrawal is received too late to notify the in…

§ 113.34. Reinspection. A crop not meeting the appropriate field, greenhouse or laboratory inspection requirements in certain respects at the time of the initial inspection may be reinspected in accordance with the following: (1) A grower desiring reinspection shall make a reques…

§ 113.35. Extra inspections. (a) The certification office shall reserve the right to make extra inspections at any time it deems necessary to verify the variety, either in the field, bin or by special laboratory methods. (b) Advance notice may not be given to the grower when the …

§ 113.36. Inspection of equipment. (a) Harvesting and cleaning equipment used for Prenuclear seed potato class, Foundation seed class and Registered seed class shall be examined by an inspector. (b) Inspection may be required for the Certified class, depending upon circumstances …

§ 113.4. Classes and sources of seed. The following classes of seed are recognized for seed certification: (1) Prenuclear seed potato class. (2) Breeder class. (3) Foundation class. (4) Registered class. (5) Certified class. (6) Foundation G1-Foundation G7 seed potato classes. Au…

CONTAINERS, LABELS AND TAGS § 113.41. General requirements. (a) Certified seed shall be marketed only in new, uncontaminated containers. (b) Certified labels shall be placed on small packets in such a way as to serve as a seal. (c) Certified pressure sensitive labels may also be …

§ 113.42. Color code for tags. (a) Agricultural seed. (1) White tags shall designate the Foundation class of seed. (2) Lilac tags shall designate the Registered class of seed. (3) Blue tags shall designate the Certified class of seed. (4) Green tags shall designate the Quality As…

§ 113.43. Two-tag system. (a) The two-tag system shall be used in this Commonwealth. (b) Prenuclear seed potato, Foundation, Registered and Certified tags supplied by the Department imply that the lot of seed so tagged has met the requirements for the seed class for which it was …

§ 113.44. Attachment of tags and labels. (a) Official certification tags and labels may be purchased from the certification office and affixed to seed containers by the applicant or a representative of the Department. (b) Tags may be sewn into the top of the bag so that all infor…

§ 113.5. Exemptions. (a) Certain lots of seed which may be desirable for the advancement of crop improvement, but which would be lost if regular certification standards were applied, are eligible for exemption as provided in this section. (b) Seed failing to meet certification st…

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS § 113.51. Handling and blending of seed—conditioner’s responsibilities. (a) Prenuclear seed potato, Foundation, Registered and Certified classes of seed shall be handled to maintain the varietal purity and lot identification. (b) Seeding equipment, grain boxe…

§ 113.52. Transfer of bulk seed. To complete seed certification the following procedure shall be followed: (1) Seed transferred in bulk shall be handled so as to maintain its identity and to prevent contamination. (2) The applicant shall have the responsibility to file with the c…

§ 113.53. Seed testing. (a) A representative sample of the entire lot of seed, as it is to be offered for sale, will be drawn by a representative of the certification office and sent to the Department Seed Laboratory. (b) Seed samples will be drawn, tested and analyzed in accorda…

§ 113.54. Final approval. A seed may not be officially certified until all fees have been paid in full and other required information, such as satisfactory laboratory reports and tag assignments, have been received and a ‘‘Certification Approved’’ letter issued. Source The provis…

§ 113.55. Interagency certification. Interagency certification may be accomplished at the request of a seedsman and with the cooperation of another state’s certifying agency. (1) Eligible lots of seed shall meet the genetic and mechanical standards for Pennsylvania certified seed…

§ 113.56. Compliance with Federal or State laws. Responsibility for legal obligations, other than those concerned with certification, arising from the sale of shipment of lots of seed, sod or other propagating materials which have been certified shall rest with the grower or subs…

§ 113.57. Revocation of certification. (a) Certification service shall be revoked for any grower who: (1) Misuses certification tags or labels. (2) Misrepresents his seed stock in any way. (3) Violates any of the provisions of this chapter. (4) Fails to pay all fees. (b) Future c…

§ 113.6. Limitations of generations for certified seed. The number of generations through which a variety may be multiplied shall be limited to that specified by the originating breeder or owner and may not exceed two generations beyond the Foundation seed class with the followin…

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS § 115.151. Identity. A single cross shall consist of the first generation of a hybrid between two certified inbred lines.

§ 115.152. Substitution of fertility-restoring line. A fertility-restoring line may be substituted for its normal counterpart in a Foundation single cross, provided that the restoring line has been back-crossed for no less than five generations to its normal counterpart and the p…

§ 115.153. Substitution of male sterile line. A male sterile line (cytoplasmic) may be substituted for its fertile counterpart as one parent of a Foundation single cross, provided that the male sterile line has been back crossed for no less than five generations to its fertile co…

§ 115.154. Seed shortages; substitution of seed. In cases of serious shortages of seed stock, second generation seed may be accepted for certification as Foundation hybrids, with the specific approval of the Pennsylvania Agriculture Experiment Station. The second generation seed …

FIELD STANDARDS § 115.161. Land requirements. Single cross plots should not be planted on land that has grown corn the preceding season.

§ 115.162. Isolation requirements. (a) Single crossing plots of field corn which are not hand-bagged shall be made in a plot isolated at least 660 feet from other corn, and 1,320 feet from corn of other color and sweet or popcorn. (b) If sweet corn or popcorn plots are found with…

§ 115.163. Inspection requirements. Tassels shall be removed so that no more than .5% of the plants in the seed parent rows shed pollen on any one inspection, or not more than .75% as the total of any three inspections, have shed pollen while more than 3% of the seed parent plant…

§ 115.164. Mixture requirements. Apparent mixtures shall be properly rogued from the pollen (male) parent before the seed (female) parent silks. The seed parent shall be carefully rogued throughout the growing and harvesting season. To be acceptable, plots shall show less than .1…

STAND REQUIREMENTS § 115.171. Planting ratio. Single crossing plots shall be planted in a ratio not to exceed two seed parent rows to one pollen parent row. Plots may not be less than .5 acre.

§ 115.172. Pollen-shedding plants. There shall be 1,000 pollen plants per acre capable of shedding pollen during the pollination period. If the stand of plants is reduced below this ratio, any seed accepted for certification shall be produced on hand-pollination plants.

§ 115.173. Destruction of noncertified plants. Portions of single-cross plots not meeting certification requirements shall be destroyed before field inspection is completed if the balance of the plot is to qualify for certification.

SEED STANDARDS § 115.181. Seed house inspection. (a) Ear inspection shall be made after the seed is harvested, dried, culled, ear picked (ready for shelling). If found to contain more than .1% off-type ears, or any kernels pollinated by other corn, the lot of seed may not be cons…

§ 115.182. Drying, purity and germination. Seed of single-crosses shall be harvested and dried to 14% moisture or less as soon as possible after the corn is mature with a minimum purity of 99% and a germination of 90% or more. Source The provisions of this § 115.182 amended Septe…

§ 115.192. Certification requirements. Only one variety of a species may be grown per farm for certification. The minimum acreage per field shall be 3 acres.

§ 115.193. Equipment care. Combines, threshers and cleaners shall be thoroughly cleaned, inside and out, and inspected before use on any grass crop.

§ 115.194. Areas of adaptation. Where an area of adaptation for the production of seed of a specific variety is defined, Foundation seed production may be limited to that area. Certified seed may be produced outside the area of adaptation for seed production. Areas of adaptation …

FIELD STANDARDS § 115.201. Land requirements. (a) A field, to be eligible for the production of certified seed, may not have grown or been seeded to the same species during the previous 3 years except to Foundation or Certified seed of the same variety. (b) An animal manure may n…

§ 115.202. Isolation requirements. For a seed field to be eligible for production of Certified seed it shall be isolated from other strains of the same species which flower at the same time, by a minimum of 330 feet. Source The provisions of this § 115.202 amended September 26, 1…

SEED STANDARDS—DEERTONGUE GRASS § 115.211. Seed standards. The following seed standards apply: Certified Class Pure Seed (minimum) 97% Other crop seed 2% *Weed seeds 1% Inert matter (maximum) 3% Germination (minimum) 70% * A maximum of nine restricted noxious weed seeds per pound…

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS § 115.221. Definitions. The term, ‘‘legume crops,’’ as used in this subchapter, refers to legumes, such as crownvetch and flatpea. Source The provisions of this § 115.221 amended September 26, 1975, effective September 27, 1975, 5 Pa.B. 2522; amended April 6,…

§ 115.222. Requirements for certification. Only one variety of a species may be grown per farm for certification. The minimum acreage per field shall be 3 acres.

§ 115.223. Equipment requirements. Combines, threshers or cleaners shall be thoroughly cleaned, inside and out, and inspected before use on any forage crop seed.

§ 115.224. Areas of adaption. Where an area of adaptation for the production of seed of a specific variety is defined, Foundation seed production may be limited to that area. Certified seed may be produced outside the area of adaptation for seed production. Areas of adaptation sh…

FIELD STANDARDS § 115.231. Land requirements. (a) Crownvetch and flatpea to be certified in either class, shall be seeded on land on which no plants of the species have ever been planted, insofar as it is possible to ascertain. (b) Animal manure may not be applied during the prod…

§ 115.232. Isolation requirements. (a) For a seed field to be eligible for production of Foundation or Certified seed it shall be isolated from other strains of the same species which flower at the same time, in accordance with the following requirements: Class Fields Less ThanFi…

§ 115.233. Number of seed harvest years. The production of Foundation or Certified seed of crownvetch and flatpea shall have no time limit as long as requirements for stand and volunteer plants are maintained. Source The provisions of this § 115.233 amended September 26, 1975, ef…

§ 115.234. Stand requirements. (a) Not less than 80% of the original stand shall be permitted. (b) For Penngift crownvetch and Lathco flatpea the sequence of generations shall be Breeder seed, Foundation seed and Certified seed. Source The provisions of this § 115.234 amended Sep…