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Purpose
Under Minnesota Seed Law 21.85, Subd. 15, 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.
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.
Prohibited Weed Seeds
Prohibited weed seeds may not be present in agricultural, vegetable, flower, tree, or shrub seeds sold in Minnesota.
| 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 |
Note: Genetic testing of any Amaranthus contaminant must be conducted to determine if Palmer amaranth is present.
Restricted Weed Seeds
Restricted weed seeds must be named on the seed label, along with the number per ounce or pound, and must not exceed legal limits. These seeds are considered objectionable in fields, lawns, and gardens but can be controlled through good agricultural practices and herbicides.
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Allysum, hoary | Berteroa incana |
| Dodder | Cuscuta spp. |
| Foxtail, giant | Setaria faberi |
| 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 |
Unlawful Acts Under Minnesota Seed Law
According to Minnesota Seed Law 21.86, Subdivision 1, 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 in excess of 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.
For more details, refer to the Minnesota Seed Law 21.86 or contact the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Seed Regulatory.
