Section R. 285.628.11 - Grades and sizes; adoption of standards by referenceRule 11.
(1) Grades and sizes of foundation and certified classes of seed shall conform to the current United States standards for grades of seed potatoes effective March 6, 1987. These standards are adopted in these rules by reference and are available from the Superintendent of Documents, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, at no cost, or from the Michigan Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, Michigan 48909, at no cost.(2) Blue tag grade seed potatoes shall be in compliance with the requirements of the United States no. 1 seed potato grade. The size shall be not less than 1 1/2 inches and not more than 3 1/4 inches in diameter or more than 12 ounces in weight, unless otherwise specified. If stones are present, they shall be duly noted on the grade inspection report.(3) Yellow tag grade seed potatoes shall be in compliance with the blue tag United States no. 1 seed potato grade standards, except that, to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, both of the following tolerances are permitted: (a) The allowance for sprouts may be exceeded after March 15.(b) Twenty percent or less of the potatoes in any seed lot shall fail to meet the remaining requirements of this grade if neither of the following tolerances is exceeded: (i) Twelve percent for external or internal defects based on the following allowances:(A) Six percent for damage, including not more than 2 3% for serious damage due to dry or moist-type fusarium tuber rot.(B) Six percent for serious damage due to other defects.(C) Total serious damage shall not be more than 6%.(ii) One percent for frozen, soft rot, or wet breakdown.(4) All sellers and purchasers of a given lot of red tag grade seed potatoes shall jointly agree as to size and defects, except that neither of the following tolerances shall be exceeded: (a) Six percent for damage due to dry or moist-type fusarium tuber rot, including not more than 4% for serious damage due to dry or moist-type fusarium tuber rot.(b) One percent for frozen, soft rot, or wet breakdown.(5) A purple tag shall be used for nuclear seed stock. All sellers and purchasers of a given lot of nuclear seed stock shall jointly agree as to size and condition.Mich. Admin. Code R. 285.628.11
1979 AC; 1980 AACS; 1990 AACS; 1994 AACS