Turfgrass Certification

Purpose: To provide assurance that turfgrass sod and sprigs are true to variety name and free from noxious weeds or offtype plants.

Agency: Each state has a crop improvement association or division of state government which establishes standards, procedures and labels for Certified turfgrass. The standards and procedures require regular field inspections to identify the variety and undesirable plants and whether they are other turfgrass varieties or weeds. Some agencies also carry out routine sample grow-outs as part of the field inspection program. Only sod and sprigs harvested from fields which meet the strict inspection standards can be officially identified with a blue Certified turgrass label.

Labels: The Certification label is usually a certificate attached to the shipper’s bill of lading or invoice. It will be blue or have a blue portion listing variety name, quantity, harvest date, field location, etc. The blue Certification label completes the certification process and should be required by the purchaser whenever Certified sod or sprigs are delivered.

Are there other types of turfgrass certification? Most departments of agriculture regulate turfgrass sales by making general farm inspections to identify severe weed, insect and disease infestations. Neither varietal name nor genetic purity is usually questioned by department of agriculture inspectors, however, most departments of agriculture also use the term “certification” to give fitness for sale. In contrast, genetic Certification as conducted by each state’s certifying agency, specifically addresses:

a. Correct variety name
b. Absence of noxious weeds, and
c. Absence of offtype plants, mixtures or other undesirable plants.