North American Invasive Species Management Association
Certified Weed Free Products Program
The NAISMA Certified Weed Free Products program is the only program in North America that provides land managers with assurance that noxious weeds will not be spread through the movement of forage, hay, mulch, gravel or compost brought into the property. Weed Free Products maintains a list of standards, provides guidelines, and ensures uniform training and participation.
Many federal, state, and local lands require the use of certified weed free forage, gravel or mulch on their properties. Partnering agencies are welcome to include additional species and standards to their own programs. MOU holders are simply required to meet the minimum standards as described.
The Weed Free Products standards are designed:
- to provide some assurance to all participants that forage and/or gravel certified through this program meets a minimum acceptable standard.
- to provide continuity between the various provinces and states in the program.
- to limit the spread of noxious weeds through forage, mulch, gravel and compost.
Agency and Inspector Information
Participating agencies must be a unit of government or subdivision of government — such as a state Department of Agriculture, County Government, Crop Improvement Association — that regulates prohibited weeds. Participating agencies may choose the products they wish to certify (forage, gravel, mulch and/or compost).
MOU Agencies or Organizations
To participate in the NAISMA Weed Free Products Program:
- Download the Memorandum of Understanding. Select the products you intend to certify as weed free and completely fill out the entire form.
- Email the completed form with signature to .
To maintain your Certified WFP program:
- The MOU holder identifies individuals that will work as WFP inspectors and registers them for certification training online (link to registration page).
- MOU holders must pay the WFP program fee of $100 annually.
Individual Inspectors
To become a Certified WFP inspector:
- Complete the NAISMA online training. Click here to register for training.
If you are an inspector and need to take the online training, sign up for online training here. You will receive login information to take the training within 2 business days of receiving payment.
Inspectors, upon passing the certification course, will receive an inspector training certificate good for 2 years.
Program Documents
- Weed Free Products MOU
- Weed Free Forage Minimum Standards
- Weed Free Forage Inspection Certificate Form
Note: Program participants can customize the Inspection Form to meet local needs. Appendix B from Minimum Standards must be included. - Weed Free Forage Transit Certificate Form
- Weed Free Gravel Minimum Standards
- Weed Free Gravel Inspection Form
- Weed Free Mulch Minimum Standards
- Weed Free Mulch Inspection Form
- Weed Free Compost Standards
- Weed Free Compost Inspection Form
Participating agencies must be a unit of government — such as a state Department of Agriculture, County Government, Crop Improvement Association that is contracted by the state, or other government entity—that regulates prohibited weeds. Participating agencies may select one or more products to certify as weed free when electing to participate in the WFP Program.
Academic Work On Weed Free Products
- Weed Seed Survival in Livestock Systems – Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota
- Variation in Weed Seed Fate Fed to Different Holstein Cattle Groups – National Center for Biotechnology Information