S.C. Code Regs. 27-1003. Soybean Certification Standards

I. Application of General Certification Standards The General Certification Standards, Clemson University Regulation 27-190, as adopted are basic and applicable and together with the following standards constitute the standards for certification of soybean seed. II. Land Requirements Soybeans shall be grown on land on which the previous crop was of another kind, or planted with a class of certified seed of the same variety or with a variety of a contrasting pubescence or hilum color. III. Field Inspections. A. Time of Inspection. A field inspection shall be made after leaves have dropped and prior to harvest. For Foundation class, a flower color inspection shall also be made. B. Handling of Crop Prior to Inspection Off-type soybean plants or other objectionable plants, such as corn and cowpeas, should be removed from the field. C. Foundation class should be inspected at flowering for blossom color. IV. Field Standards A. General 1. Unit of certification The unit of certification shall be a field but a portion of a field may be approved provided the discarded portion can be harvested separately and is eliminated from certification. 2. Isolation Fields of soybeans shall be separated from any other variety or uncertified seed of the same variety by a strip of ground not in soybeans and at least 5 feet wide. B. Specific V. Seed Standards VI. Size of Lots For the purpose of issuing certification tags or bulk sale certificates the standard maximum lot size for soybeans shall be 30,000 lbs. VII. Size of Official Sample A 2 lb. sample of soybeans is required for official purity and germination tests by the S.C. Department of Agriculture. Note: If soybean seed are to be treated with a pesticide that coats or colors the seed, a sample of the untreated, conditioned seed must be submitted for the varietal purity analysis and a sample of the treated, conditioned seed must be submitted for the germination test.