The Weed Free Forage Program Handout has the most recent list of Weed Free Forage Providers certified by the ODA in 2023 and through August 2024.
Why Weed Free?
Using weed free forage or gravel is a
proactive method of preventing our natural and working lands from invasion by
noxious weeds. Our natural and working lands are especially vulnerable
following catastrophic events like wildfire and flooding and using weed free forage or gravel can help mitigate the risk of invasion during recovery.
Using weed free forage also ensures
that you are providing the most nutritious and palatable version of a product
to your livestock, free of undesirable and sometimes toxic weeds. For
producers, ODA’s Weed Free Forage and Gravel Program provides an opportunity to
add value to your products while contributing to overall ecosystem resilience.
Forage certification process
- Submit a completed Weed Free Forage application at least 20 days prior to harvest. Each cutting will require a separate application and inspection.
- Applications should be emailed to Shannon.Coulombe@oda.oregon.gov
- The applicant will be contacted by ODA staff to set a date for a field inspection. Fields must be inspected within 10 days of harvest to qualify. If you cannot harvest within 10 days, a new inspection is required.
- After a passed inspection, a certificate will be provided to the applicant reflecting the amount of forage certified.
- ODA will contact the twine provider, Continental Western Corporation (CWC) to confirm the eligibility of the grower to purchase twine for the inspected field.
- From the 2024 harvest onward, ODA Weed Free certified forage will use NAISMA-approved orange and blue twine. Previous years harvests were baled with purple and yellow twine. Please reach out to the department if you have questions related to the certification status of the product you are purchasing.
- Applicants should contact CWC for twine orders:
Gravel certification process
- Submit a completed Weed Free Gravel application via email to Shannon.Coulombe@oda.oregon.gov
- The responsible party will be contacted by ODA staff to set a date for an inspection.
- After the inspection, a copy of the inspection report will be sent via email to the applicant.
- Certification is good for one year.
Fees
- Inspection fees: $60.00 per hour (4 hour minimum) or $3.00 per acre, whichever is greater
- Mileage fees: Inspector's travel will be charged at the current official state mileage rate
- Application fee: $25 for each field, non-refundable
- Customers with ODA billing accounts will be invoiced.
Weed free forage & gravel providers
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