2VAC10-10-190. Turfgrass sod certification standards.

A. General standards.

1. The general standards as adopted in this chapter are basic and apply to turfgrass sod.

2. Only fields planted with foundation, registered or certified seed that meet sod seed requirements will be eligible for certification.

3. Only those varieties, kinds or mixtures of kinds of varieties recommended by the Virginia Tech Extension Division will be eligible for certification.

B. Land requirements.

1. All fields for the production of certified sod shall be inspected prior to planting unless they have been producing certified sod.

2. Have field boundaries designated at the time of inspection.

3. Fields will need to be free of prohibited noxious weeds as defined by the state sod law.

4. File with the Virginia Crop Improvement Association the number of acres and kinds of mixtures for all fields intended for certification the year the field is established.

5. An aerial photo of the farm or other suitable farm plans shall be filed with the Virginia Crop Improvement Association.

C. Field standards.

1. Field inspection. At least one annual field inspection shall be made prior to lifting and subsequent inspections may be made as needed at the discretion of the inspector. Fields will have to be in a certifiable condition at the time of lifting.

2. Management. A field for the production of certified sod shall show evidence of good management including weed control, fertilization and proper clipping. Virginia Tech publication MA-130 will be used as a guide for the management program.

3. Isolation. A certified turf field shall be separated from other sod by a strip at least 10 feet wide and maintained free of objectionable weeds. The field shall have good general appearance, and poor appearance will be sufficient reason for rejecting the field for certification. Certification can be revoked where certified standards are not maintained.

D. Specific requirements.

1. Standards for other varieties or off-type plants of the same species; other turfgrass species, other crops, and weeds recognizable are as indicated in the following table.

Turfgrasses Eligible for Certification
		Ky. Bluegrass and/ or Creeping Red Fescue Mixture	Tall Fescue and Bluegrass
		Plants per 1,000 square feet
Ryegrass		0	0
Bentgrass		0	0
Bermudagrass		.5	--
Tall fescue		.5	--
Total perennial grasses (Such as orchardgrass and timothy)		.5	20
Weeds
	Unacceptable (a)	0	0
	Objectionable (b)	10	10
(a) Quackgrass, poison ivy or oak and Johnsongrass.
(b) Hard to control weeds should not exceed 10/1,000 sq. ft. Broad leaved weeds that are rather easily controlled should be no more than 3/1,000 sq. ft.

2. Labeling requirements. All certified sod shall have an official certification label accompanying each load and the label shall be attached to a dated invoice or labeling information.

3. Records. Records shall be kept on the number and date of issuance of certification labels.

Statutory Authority

§§ 3.2-4024 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR172-01-01 § 9, eff. April 1980.

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