Section R. 285.623.209 - Perennial cross-pollinated grasses (timothy, reed canarygrass, and orchardgrass)Rule 209.
(1) Timothy, reed canarygrass, and orchardgrass seed for the production of foundation seed shall be planted where the same species has not been seeded or grown for at least 5 years.(2) To be eligible for the production of timothy, reed canarygrass, and orchardgrass certified seed, a field shall not have grown or been seeded to the same species during the previous 2 calendar years unless either the crop was of the same variety and the same or a higher seed class and passed field inspection for certification or had been summer fallowed for 2 full seasons before seeding to another variety. Fall seeding is permitted in the second year.(3) The certifying agency will determine the length of time that fields will be eligible for certification.(4) Fields shall be rogued before harvest to remove off-type plants and other grasses or weeds which have seed that cannot be removed by mechanical means.(5) Field standards for timothy, reed canarygrass, and orchardgrass seed are as follows: | Factor | Foundation | Classes of Seed Certified |
| Other varieties 1 | none | 1:50 |
| Isolation (feet)2 | 1,320 | 1653 |
1 Maximum permitted ratio of plants.
2 When different classes of seed of the same variety are being grown on the same or adjacent farms, the isolation requirements may be reduced to 25.0% of these distances.
3
(a) For fields that are certifiable except for isolation, the field boundary may be established by placing permanent 5-foot posts, 90 feet from the offending field, on either edge of the field. The crop between the newly established boundary lines and the offending field may be removed after flowering as a separate field. The crop may be harvested as uncertified seed.(b) When 2 fields are separated by a natural or permanent barrier, such as a township, county, state, or federal highway, drainage ditch, or tree or shrub row, the isolation may consist of a 15-foot strip next to the barrier that can be either destroyed by mowing after bloom, but before harvest, or harvested as uncertified seed. The barrier shall be free of headed plants of the crop being inspected. (6) Seed standards for timothy seed are as follows: | Factor | Foundation | Classes of Seed Certified |
| Pure seed (minimum) | 99.0% | 99.0% |
| Total weed seeds (maximum) | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| Other crop seeds (maximum) | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| Other varieties (maximum) | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| Other grasses (maximum) | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Inert matter (maximum) | 1.0% | 1.0% |
| Prohibited weed seeds | none | none |
| Restricted weed seeds (maximum) | 9 per pound | 9 per pound |
| Germination (minimum) | | 80.0% |
(7) Seed standards for reed canarygrass seed are as follows: | Factor | Foundation | Classes of Seed Certified |
| Pure seed (minimum) | 96.0% | 96.0% |
| Total weed seeds (maximum) | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Other varieties (maximum) | 0.1% | 2.0% |
| Other crop seeds (maximum) | 0.2% | 2.0% |
| Inert matter (maximum) | 4.0% | 4.0% |
| Prohibited weed seeds | none | none |
| Restricted weed seeds (maximum) | 9 per pound | 9 per pound |
| Germination (minimum) | | 75.0% |
(8) Seed standards for orchardgrass seed are as follows: | Factor | Foundation | Classes of Seed Certified |
| Pure seed (minimum) | 90.0% | 90.0% |
| Total weed seed (maximum) | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Other varieties (maximum) | 0.1% | 2.0% |
| Other crop seeds (maximum) | 0.2% | 1.0% |
| Inert matter (maximum) | 10.0% | 10.0% |
| Prohibited weed seeds | none | none |
| Restricted weed seeds (maximum) | 9 per pound | 9 per pound |
| Germination (minimum) | | 85.0% |
Mich. Admin. Code R. 285.623.209