Minnesota Administrative Rules
Agency 105 - Agriculture Department
Chapter 1510 - SEEDS, FERTILIZERS, FEEDS
SEED POTATO CERTIFICATION
Part 1510.2320 - SEED POTATOES ELIGIBLE FOR MINNESOTA CERTIFICATION PLANTING

Subpart 1. Authorization.

A field may not be inspected for certification unless both the seed potato variety and the particular lot planted have the authorization of the commissioner. In considering seed potato varieties for authorization for certification planting, the commissioner shall consider scientific evidence and expert opinion. To be eligible for certification planting, seed potatoes must meet the requirements of subpart 2 or 3.

Subp. 2. Minnesota grown seed potatoes.

The following classes of seed potatoes grown in Minnesota are eligible for planting: Prenuclear, Generation 1, Generation 2, Generation 3, Generation 4, Generation 5, Primary Foundation 1, Primary Foundation 2, Foundation 1, Foundation 2, and experimental status seed potatoes. The commissioner shall authorize the planting of Certified class or Generation 6 class seed potatoes if there is no source of higher classes than Certified class or Generation 6 class seed potatoes available to the grower, the lot has been winter tested, and the seed does not pose a serious disease threat.

Subp. 3. Non-Minnesota grown seed potatoes.

Seed potatoes grown outside of the state approved for certification planting by the certifying agency in another state or a Canadian province may be planted if requirements for certification meet Minnesota requirements for certified seed potatoes of classes higher than Certified class or Generation 6 class, as indicated on an import affidavit.

Subp. 4. Experimental status.

Seedlings or numbered selections may be accepted for entrance into the certification system in an experimental status. The applicant shall submit a written statement with the certification application from the breeder, originator, or originator's designee that the applicant has full and unrestricted rights to introduce the seedling or numbered selection into the commercial market, and that the seedling or numbered selection must be named within five years from acceptance of the application. If the seedling or numbered selection is not named within five years from acceptance of the application, a two-year waiting period must pass before the seedling or numbered selection may be reentered into the certification program. Seedlings or numbered selections in experimental status must be designated as a class and conform to the requirements of that class. The word "EXPERIMENTAL" must be added on the tag. Lots from a breeder's seed that have not gone through the testing and, when necessary, virus-freeing, are considered either Foundation class 1 or 2, "EXPERIMENTAL."

Subp. 5. Protected varieties.

Before a seed potato variety protected under the Plant Variety Protection Act Amendments of 1994 may be entered into the certification system, the applicant must submit a written statement with the certification application from the breeder, originator, or originator's designee that the applicant has full and unrestricted rights to introduce the protected variety into the commercial market.