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Purpose
The commissioner determines which species are classified as prohibited weed seeds and restricted noxious weed seeds, along with the allowable rate of occurrence for restricted noxious weed seeds under Minnesota Seed Law 21.85, Subd. 15.
The Minnesota Noxious Weed Seed List is a critical resource for the seed industry to ensure compliance with the Minnesota Seed Law. This list is published here and included in the USDA AMS All States Noxious Weed Seed List.
Seed industry professionals should refer to these lists to verify that seed lots meet regulatory requirements. Compliance is typically achieved through best management practices such as:
- Field inspections
- Seed cleaning
- Laboratory testing
The Minnesota Noxious Weed Exam is the official method for determining the presence of noxious weed seeds in seed lots.
For noxious weed seed testing services, including the Minnesota Noxious Weed Exam, laboratories accredited by the Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) and the Society of Commercial Seed Technologists (SCST) can provide assistance.
Agricultural Seeds in Minnesota
Agricultural seeds include grass, forage, cereal, oil, and fiber crop seeds, as well as vegetable seeds grown for processing. The definition also covers seeds commonly recognized in the state as agricultural or field seeds, lawn seeds, or seed mixtures. In some cases, noxious weed seeds may be classified as agricultural seeds if determined by the commissioner. Agricultural seeds are defined in the Minnesota Seed Law Section 21.81, Subdivision 3
Prohibited Weed Seeds
Minnesota law prohibits the sale of agricultural seed containing any prohibited noxious-weed seeds.
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Bindweed, field | Convulvulvus arvensis |
| Hemp* | Cannabis sativa |
| Knapweed, Russian | Rhaponticum repens |
| Palmer amaranth** | Amaranthus palmeri |
| Peppergrass, perennial | Lepidium draba |
| Sowthistle, perennial | Sonchus arvensis |
| Spurge, leafy | Euphorbia esula |
| Thistle, bull | Cirsium vulgare |
| Thistle, Canada | Cirsium arvense |
| Thistle, musk | Carduus nutans |
| Thistle, plumeless | Carduus acanthoides |
*Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L). is classified as agricultural seed when planted intentionally as an industrial hemp crop.
**Genetic testing of any Amaranthus contaminant must be conducted to determine if Palmer amaranth is present.
Restricted Weed Seeds
Agricultural seeds shall be labeled to show the name and number of each kind of restricted noxious weed seeds per pound. The sale of agricultural seed is prohibited if it contains restricted noxious-weed seeds more than 25 seeds per pound.
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Allysum, hoary | Berteroa incana |
| Dodder | Cuscuta spp. |
| Foxtail, giant | Setaria faberi |
| Field Pennycress/Frenchweed*** | Thlaspi arvense |
| Horsenettle | Solanum carolinense |
| Mustard, wild | Sinapsis arvensis |
| Nightshade, eastern black | Solanum ptycanthum |
| Plantain, buckhorn | Plantago lanceolata |
| Quackgrass | Agropyron repens |
| Radish, wild | Raphanus raphanistrum |
***Field pennycress/Frenchweed (Thlaspi arvense) is classified as agricultural seed when intentionally planted as a cover crop, oilseed crop, for research, or for seed increase, using cultivars developed for these purposes.
Unlawful Acts Under Minnesota Seed Law
It is unlawful to advertise or sell agricultural, vegetable, flower, wildflower, tree, or shrub seed if:
- It contains prohibited noxious weed seeds.
- It consists of or contains restricted noxious weed seeds more than 25 seeds per pound, or more than the number declared on the seed container label.
- It contains more than 1% by weight of all weed seeds.
As determined in the Minnesota Seed Law 21.86, Subdivision 1
For more details, refer to the Minnesota Seed Law 21.86 or contact the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Seed Regulatory.
