In cooperation with the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA), the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Plant Protection and Weed Control Program offers an opportunity for forage and mulch producers and consumers to help prevent the spread of noxious and invasive weeds within the state of Kansas and to other states.

The standards developed as part of this program are designed to:
- Assure that forage and mulch certified through this program meet a minimum acceptable standard
- Provide consistency between states
- Limit the spread of noxious weeds
Certified weed-free forage is required on many U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands, in national parks, military locations, tribal lands and National Fish and Wildlife refuges. Certifiable forage products include straw, alfalfa hay, grass hay, grain hay, forage pellets and cubes. Recreational horse riders using federal property may need weed-free forage to feed their horses, and state and federal agencies may require weed-free mulch for right-of-way projects and on re-seeded areas following forest fires.
NORTH AMERICAN WEED FREE FORAGE PROGRAM STANDARDS
These standards, developed by NAISMA, must be followed for inspection and participation in the weed free forage program.
Participation in the Weed Free Forage Program is entirely voluntary, and inspection will only occur upon request.
Producers can then request bale tags and/or make applications for transit certificates for their certified weed-free forage. The cost of bale tags is $0.20 each.
In order for a field to be certified as weed free, the following species cannot be present unless the field upon which the forage was produced is treated to prevent seed or other propagule viability; or if none of these species is in either the budding or bloom growth stage.
Once we receive your application, an inspector will contact you to set up a date and time for the inspection.
Scott Marsh
Weeds and Seed Specialist
785-564-6697
785-207-2118 (M)
scott.marsh@ks.gov