Weed Seed Free Forage Program

The North Dakota Weed Seed Free Forage Program is a voluntary program in which producers may choose to have forage acreage inspected in order to use or sell forage as certified weed seed free forage or mulch. The forage acreage must be inspected no more than 10 days before harvest and meet standards set forth by the North American Weed Management Association (NAWMA). Noxious weeds actively producing viable seed cannot be present in certified forage. The goal of this program is to mitigate the risk of spreading NAWMA and North Dakota noxious weeds by recreationalists and other land users.

Currently, North Dakota’s State Parks, National Parks, as well as U.S. Forest Service lands, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Military Reservations, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife lands all require the use of certified forage.  In addition, certified mulch may be required in bid contracts for projects such as road building and maintenance, erosion control, wind tower construction sites and pipeline projects.

ND Weed Seed Forage Inspector Reference Sheet

Inspection Process

Program Summary

North American Weed Management Association (NAWMA)

North American Noxious Weed List + North Dakota Noxious Weeds

Example of a Certification Tag

Current Weed Seed Free Forage Inspectors

ND Weed Seed-Free Forage Program Brochure

Weed Seed Free Forage Certification Request to Inspect

Certified Weed Seed Free Forage Available for Sale