Certified Weed Free Forage

What is certified weed-free forage?

It is hay or straw that was grown in fields that are free of any viable plant parts of any of the plant species listed on the Nevada Noxious Weed List or North American Invasive Species Management Association Noxious Weed List.

What forage products can be certified?

• Alfalfa hay
• Grass hay
• Alfalfa/grass mix hay
• Forage pellets and/or cubes
• Wheat or other grain hay
• Straw bales

How can you get your forage certified?

Certifications are obtained through the Nevada Department of Agriculture. Contact the Nevada Department of Agriculture at 775-353-3640 or WeedFree@agri.nv.gov to request an inspection or fill out a Weed Free Certification Inspection Request Form.

In order to be certified the products must pass an inspection in the field of origin no more than 10 days before being cut. An inspection must be conducted before each cutting in each field in order for products to keep certified weed-seed-free status. Nevada Department of Agriculture Inspectors will visually examine the field of origin, storage areas, and field borders including surrounding ditches, fence rows, roads, easements, rights-of-way, and/or a buffer zone surrounding the field as determined by the inspector. Inspectors must walk through and around each field before it is cut and visually verify the product meets one of the following forage certification standard gradings:

A) MEETS requirements of the NAISMA Certification standards. This material contains variable amounts of annual weeds and/or other weeds not listed as prohibited

B) MINIMUM requirements of the NAISMA Certification standards are met. This forage contains variable amounts of prohibited species which were immature, (nonviable seed) when harvested, or were treated to prevent seed formation. These plant parts, although not desirable in the forage products, are not considered able to begin a new infestation. 

C) FAILED. This material does not meet the minimum requirements of the NAISMA weed free forage standard. 

How do you know forage products are certified weed-free?

All producers whose products are certified to the NAISMA standards by the Nevada Department of Agriculture are given a Certificate of Inspection. Anyone interested in purchasing the certified weed free forage products can ask a producer to see these forms. These forms indicate if any noxious weeds or undesirable plants were found in or around the field of origin and specify the certification grading of the products. 

Forage products in the form of bales are also baled with special Certified Weed-Free Program twine. As of right now, the twine color is orange and blue. All baled certified weed free hay or straw are required to have at least one string of certified twine per bale.