The seed standards for grass shall be as follows:
(1) Not to exceed 0.25 percent other grass species for Certified seed.
(2) Grass seed shall be free of the seed of prohibited noxious weeds.
(3) Grass seed must not contain more than 45 per pound (45/lb) for Registered seed, 91 per pound (91/lb) for Certified seed, singly or collectively, of objectionable weed seeds. (See footnote (v) below for Certified bentgrass and redtop exception.)
(4) A standard tetrazolium (200 seed) test may be used in lieu of germination test.
Note: | State and federal seed laws require seed be labeled on a germination test. |
(5) Total viability as allowed in WAC 16-302-170 can be substituted for germination percentage.
(6) A crop exam is required for all Registered and Foundation class grass seeds.
CROP SEED STANDARDS AND TYPE OF REPRODUCTION AS PER WAC 16-302-330
Type of Reproduction by Crop Kind: (A) Apomictic (C) Cross pollinated (S) Highly self fertile
NS = No Standard
FND = Foundation Class
REG = Registered Class
CERT = Certified Class
MINIMUM % GERMINATION (xiii)(ii) | MINIMUM % PURE SEED | MAXIMUM % INERT MATTER | MAXIMUM % WEEDS (xii)(ii) | MAXIMUM % OTHER CROPS | MAXIMUM SEEDS OF OTHER CROP GRASS SPECIES (not including other crop) not to exceed | |||||||||
CROP | REP | FND/ REG | CERT | FND/ REG | CERT | FND/ REG | CERT | FND/ REG | CERT | FND REG (xiv) | CERT | FND SEED/ LB | REG SEED/ LB | CERT % |
Bluegrass, Big | A | 70.00 | 70.00 | 90.00 | 90.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 0.05 | 0.30 | 0.10 | 0.50 | 45/LB | 454/LB | 0.25 |
Bluegrass, Canby | A | 70.00 | 70.00 | 90.00 | 90.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 0.05 | 0.30 | 0.10 | 0.50 | 45/LB | 454/LB | 0.25 |
Bluegrass, Kentucky | A | 80.00 | 80.00 | 97.00 | 97.00 | 3.00 | 3.00 | 0.05 | 0.30 | 0.10 | 0.50 | 45/LB | 454/LB | 0.25 |
Bluegrass, Canada | A | 80.00 | 80.00 | 96.00 | 92.00 | 4.00 | 8.00 | 0.05 | 0.30 | 0.10 | 0.50 | 45/LB | 907/LB | 0.25 |
Bluegrass, Upland | A | 80.00 | 80.00 | 96.00 | 92.00 | 4.00 | 8.00 | 0.05 | 0.30 | 0.10 | 0.50 | 45/LB | 907/LB | 0.25 |
Bluegrass, Rough | A | 75.00 | 75.00 | 95.00 | 95.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.10 | 0.50 | 45/LB | 454/LB | 0.25 |
Bromegrass, Smooth | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 95.00 | 95.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 0.05 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 0.50 | 9/LB | 91/LB | 0.25 |
Bromegrass, Meadow | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 95.00 | 95.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 0.05 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 0.50 | 9/LB | 91/LB | 0.25 |
Bromegrass, California | C | 85.00 | 85.00 | 95.00 | 95.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 0.30 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 1.00 | 9/LB | 91/LB | 0.25 |
Bromegrass, Mountain | C | 85.00 | 85.00 | 95.00 | 95.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 0.30 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 1.00 | 9/LB | 91/LB | 0.25 |
Bromegrass, Sweet | C | 85.00 | 85.00 | 95.00 | 95.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 0.30 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 1.00 | 9/LB | 91/LB | 0.25 |
Deertongue | C | 50.00 | 50.00 | 97.00 | 95.00 | 3.00 | 5.00 | 0.50 | 0.50 (i) | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00% | NS- | NS- |
Fescue, Tall | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 95.00 | 97.00 | 5.00 | 3.00 | 0.03 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 0.50 | 18/LB | 91/LB | 0.25 |
Fescue, Meadow | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 95.00 | 97.00 | 5.00 | 3.00 | 0.03 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 0.50 | 18/LB | 91/LB | 0.25 |
Fescue, Hard (Festuca trachyphylla and ovina)(ix) | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 95.00 | 97.00 | 5.00 | 3.00 | 0.03 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 0.50 | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Fescue, Sheep (Festuca ovina)(ix) | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 95.00 | 97.00 | 5.00 | 3.00 | 0.03 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 0.50 | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Fescue, Turf type (x) | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 95.00 | 97.00 | 5.00 | 3.00 | 0.03 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 0.50 | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Fescue, reclamation/Range type (x) | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 95.00 | 92.00 | 5.00 | 8.00 | 0.03 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 0.50 | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Fescue, Chewings (Festuca rubra)(ix) | C | 80.00 | 90.00 | 95.00 | 97.00 | 5.00 | 3.00 | 0.03 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 0.50 | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Fescue, Creeping (Festuca rubra)(ix) | C | 80.00 | 90.00 | 95.00 | 97.00 | 5.00 | 3.00 | 0.03 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 0.50 | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Fescue, Idaho | C | 80.00 | 90.00 | 95.00 | 97.00 | 5.00 | 3.00 | 0.03 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 0.50 | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Other fescue | C | 80.00 | 90.00 | 95.00 | 97.00 | 5.00 | 3.00 | 0.03 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 0.50 | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Festulolium (align with OSCS) | C | 75.00 | 75.00 | 98.00 | 98.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 0.15 | 0.50 (i) | 0.10 | 0.50 | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Orchardgrass | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 92.00 | 92.00 | 8.00 | 8.00 | 0.03 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 0.50 | 27/LB | 91/LB | 0.25 |
Orchardgrass, Pennlate | C | 80.00 | 80.00 | 92.00 | 92.00 | 8.00 | 8.00 | 0.03 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 0.50 | 27/LB | 91/LB | 0.25 |
Orchardgrass, Latar | C | 80.00 | 80.00 | 92.00 | 92.00 | 8.00 | 8.00 | 0.03 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 0.50 | 27/LB | 91/LB | 0.25 |
Ryegrass, annual | C | 85.00 | 90.00 (viii) | 96.00 (vii) | 97.00 (vii) | 4.00 | 3.00 | 0.10 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 0.50 | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Ryegrass, intermediate (align with OSCS) | C | 90.00 (viii) | 90.00 (viii) | 97.00 | 97.00 | 3.00 | 3.00 | 0.10 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 0.50 | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Ryegrass, perennial | C | 85.00 | 90.00 (viii) | 97.00 (vii) | 96.00 (vii) | 4.00 | 3.00 | 0.10 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 0.50 | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Timothy | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 97.00 | 97.00 | 3.00 | 3.00 | 0.10 | 0.30 | 0.10 | 0.50 | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Wheatgrass, Beardless | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 90.00 | 90.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 0.10 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 (ii) | 0.50 (ii) | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Wheatgrass, Bluebunch | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 90.00 | 90.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 0.10 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 (ii) | 0.50 (ii) | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Wheatgrass, Snake river | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 90.00 | 90.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 0.10 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 (ii) | 0.50 (ii) | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Wheatgrass, Intermediate | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 95.00 | 95.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 0.10 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 (ii) | 0.50 (ii) | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Wheatgrass, Tall | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 95.00 | 95.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 0.10 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 (ii) | 0.50 (ii) | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Wheatgrass, Pubescent | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 95.00 | 95.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 0.10 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 (ii) | 0.50 (ii) | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Wheatgrass, Western | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 90.00 | 90.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 0.10 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 (ii) | 0.50 (ii) | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Wheatgrass, R/S | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 90.00 | 90.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 0.10 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 (ii) | 0.50 (ii) | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Wheatgrass, Streambank | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 90.00 | 90.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 0.10 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 (ii) | 0.50 (ii) | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Wheatgrass, Thickspike (xi) | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 90.00 | 90.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 0.10 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 (ii) | 0.50 (ii)(xi) | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Wheatgrass, Slender | S | 80.00 | 85.00 | 90.00 | 95.00 | 10.00 | 5.00 | 0.10 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 (ii) | 0.50 (ii) | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Wheatgrass, Crested | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 90.00 | 95.00 | 10.00 | 5.00 | 0.10 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 (ii) | 0.50 (ii) | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Wheatgrass, Siberian | C | 80.00 | 85.00 | 90.00 | 95.00 | 10.00 | 5.00 | 0.10 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 (ii) | 0.50 (ii) | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Indian ricegrass | S | 80.00 (vi) | 80.00 (vi) | 95.00 | 90.00 | 5.00 | 10.00 | 0.30 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 1.00 | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Alkaligrass (Puccinellia distans) | C | 80.00 | 80.00 | 90.00 | 95.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 0.30 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 1.00 | 45/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Wildrye | C | 80.00 | 80.00 | 90.00 | 90.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 0.10 | 0.30 (i) | 0.10 | 0.50 | 9/LB | 45/LB | 0.25 |
Bentgrass | C | 85.00 | 85.00 | 98.00 | 98.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 0.30 | 0.40 (iii) (iv) | 0.20 | 0.60 (v) | NS | NS | NS |
Redtop | C | 80.00 | 80.00 | 92.00 | 92.00 | 8.00 | 8.00 | 0.30 | 0.50 (iii) | 0.50 | 0.20 | NS | NS | NS |
Annual Canarygrass | C | 85.00 | 85.00 | 99.00 | 99.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 0.10 | 0.30 | 1/LB | 3/LB | NS | NS | NS |
Slender hairgrass | C | 75.00 | 70.00 | 92.00 | 90.00 | 8.00 | 10.00 | 0.30 | 0.60 | 0.10 | 0.50 | NS | NS | NS |
Tufted hairgrass | C | 75.00 | 70.00 | 92.00 | 90.00 | 8.00 | 10.00 | 0.30 | 0.60 | 0.10 | 0.50 | NS | NS | NS |
Bermudagrass (align with OSCO) | C | 80.00 | 80.00 | 97.00 | 97.00 | 3.00 | 3.00 | NS | 0.20 | 0.01 | 0.25 | NS | NS | NS |
Green needlegrass | C | 80.00 | 80.00 | 80.00 | 80.00 | 20.00 | 20.00 | 0.10 | 0.30 | 0.10 | 0.50 | NS | NS | NS |
Switchgrass | C | 60.00 | 60.00 | 90.00 | 90.00 | 10.00 | 1.00 | 0.50 | 1.50 | 0.10 | 0.25 | NS | NS | NS |
The following (i) through (xv) are notes to the above table. | |
(i) | A tolerance of 0.50% may be allowed for samples containing weedy Bromus spp., provided the total of all other weeds does not exceed 0.30%. |
(ii) | A tolerance of 0.80% may be allowed in Registered and Certified wheatgrass containing small grain seed provided the total of all other crop seed does not exceed 0.10% for Registered class and 0.50% for Certified class. |
(iii) | Certified seed must not contain over 907 seeds per pound, singly or collectively, of the following weeds: Plantago spp., big mouse-ear chickweed, yarrow, spotted cat's ear, and dandelion. |
(iv) | A maximum of 0.50% weed seed may be allowed in Certified bentgrass containing silver hairgrass provided the total of all other weed seed does not exceed 0.40%. |
(v) | 1.50% other fine bentgrasses and 0.50% redtop may be allowed in Certified bentgrass containing a minimum of 98.00% total bentgrass. |
(vi) | Or 70.00% by TZ test. |
(vii) | Maximum other ryegrass allowed as determined by fluorescence test and/or genetic testing with 97.00% minimum total ryegrass. |
Foundation | Registered | Certified | Fluorescence for Perennial ryegrass containing a minimum of 97.00% total ryegrass | |
0.10% | 1.00% | 2.00% | 3.00% (Acceptable fluorescence levels for specific varieties available upon request) |
(viii) | 85.00% minimum germination allowed on ryegrass varieties as designated by the breeder or variety owner. See list maintained by a verified source from a seed certification agency. |
(ix) | An ammonia test is required. • Hard, sheep fescue, Festuca ovina, and trachyphylla. • Red fescue, chewings and creeping, Festuca rubra. • Source ID Roemer's fescue to determine presence of other Festuca sp. Other fine-leaved fescue found in the ammonia test will be included with other crop not other grass species. |
(x) | Turf type fescues 97.00% pure seed. Range/reclamation types 92.00% pure seed in the Certified class. Varietal designation of turf or range/reclamation types is to be made by the breeder or variety owner. If no designation is made, the variety will be considered a turf type. |
(xi) | 10.00% slender wheatgrass is allowed in the Certified class of Critana and 5.00% Elymus species allowed in the Certified class of Schwendimar, provided that the total of all other grass species does not exceed 0.25% and total other crop, including all other grass species does not exceed 0.50%. |
(xii) | Grass seed shall be free of prohibited noxious weed seed. Grass seed must not contain more than 45/lb. for Registered seed, 91/lb. for Certified seed singly or collectively, of objectionable weed seed. See (v) of this footnote for bentgrass and redtop exception. |
(xiii) | A standard tetrazolium (200 seed) test may be used in lieu of germination test. Note: State and federal seed laws may require seed be labeled on a germination test. |
(xiv) | A crop exam is required for all Registered and Foundation class grass seeds. |
(xv) | Total viability as allowed in WAC 16-302-170 can be substituted for germination percentage. |
[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.49.005, [15.49].021, [15.49].310, [15.49].370, 15.140.030, and chapter 15.49 RCW. WSR 25-09-035, s 16-302-385, filed 4/9/25, effective 5/10/25. Statutory Authority: RCW 15.49.005, 15.49.081, 15.49.310, 15.49.370(3), and chapter 34.05 RCW. WSR 14-20-050, § 16-302-385, filed 9/25/14, effective 10/26/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 15.49.301, 15.49.370(4), and chapter 34.05 RCW. WSR 11-06-023, § 16-302-385, filed 2/24/11, effective 3/27/11. Statutory Authority: Chapters 15.49 and 34.05 RCW. WSR 10-04-029, § 16-302-385, filed 1/26/10, effective 2/26/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 15.49.310 and chapter 34.05 RCW. WSR 06-15-139, § 16-302-385, filed 7/19/06, effective 8/19/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 15.49.310, 15.49.370(3) and chapter 34.05 RCW. WSR 04-08-044, § 16-302-385, filed 3/31/04, effective 5/1/04. Statutory Authority: Chapters 15.49 and 34.05 RCW. WSR 03-18-072, § 16-302-385, filed 8/29/03, effective 9/29/03; WSR 02-12-060, § 16-302-385, filed 5/30/02, effective 6/30/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 15.49.005, 15.49.081, 15.49.310, 15.49.370(3) and chapter 17.24 RCW. WSR 00-24-077, § 16-302-385, filed 12/4/00, effective 1/4/01.]